cable problem?

[alexis]

If you will refer down to my last email(power adaptor question for preamp), I contacted the manufacturer and was told my solution would work.
So.....
I hooked everything up. Mic to preamp to soundcard on computer. (Yes the phantom power switch was turned on as well)
Nothing.
I stupidly spent half and hour screwing with the soundcard settings before I realized that since VU meter on the preamp is showing nothing.
The power readings on the preamp appear to be fine, so I don't think thats it, which leaves either the brand new mic or the brand new made in China audio cable, which I think is the problem. When I went back and reviewed the manual that came with the Mic it states "To avoid phase cancellation or poor sound, all mic cables must be wired consistently..." The mic cable I use is a 3 Pin to a quarter inch jack. Is this what the manual is reffering to when it says "wired consistently?" Am I barking up the right tree? If not, any ideas as to what I am doing wrong?

 

[Tifstorey]

If it was the cable, i would think it would be just poor quality, or a hell of a lot of crackling, as theres no sound at all, and no signal in the pre amp, i would think something other. Is there any way of you using your mic with an amp? Using a different mic with your set up?

Im not saying this is definately 100% not your cable, but before you go out and buy a new cable, maybe you want to try and see if everything else is working fine.

 

[Track Rat]

The mic cable I use is a 3 Pin to a quarter inch jack. Is this what the manual is reffering to when it says "wired consistently?" Am I barking up the right tree? If not, any ideas as to what I am doing wrong?

This is your problem. You can't use the 1/4" connection with a phantom powered mic. No power on the 1/4" input. You MUST use XLR to XLR.

 

[alexis]

just to be clear

The quarter inch is going into the preamp. That is the problem right? It must be xlr to xlr?

 

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Sounds like the problem to me.

 

[mattamatta]

Yep. That as track rat said, that cable will not work at all for a condenser mic that needs phantom power, no matter what.

Anything that puts out phantom power is going to want to put it out on a 3 pin xlr (one pin +, one -, and one ground).

If you can go from xlr to xlr, it's a good idea regardless, as by going to 1/4" (unless it's TRS balanced, but I'd bet it isn't) you're losing the advantages of having the balanced cable (rejection of common mode noise caused by electromagnetic fields around the wires).

And on top of that, it's just so darn cool.