condenser mic to 1/4" input

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lo-fi life

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Weirdo here hoping to record a condenser mic on my old Tascam that only has 1/4" inputs.
This was the setup I hoped would work but does not...

condenser mic > xlr to xlr cable > phantom power box > xlr to 1/4" cable > old tascam

After some research I've found two things that hopefully will make it work...

either a radio shack jack-to-1/4" plug adapter/transformer (This would get the low impedance to high impedance, yes?)

or an ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp instead of the phantom power box.

Should one, both or none of those work?
Thanks for any advice.
 
I'd go with the ART. We used to use those old RS adapters/transformers all the time in the old days, noise and hum problems as they got used and abused.
 
You need to run the mic into a preamp - THEN into the line-in on the Tascam recorder.
 
Is it a line level in or a mic level in?

mic level just needs phantom power box before it, line level needs a preamp before it.
 
Inputs are all "MIC/LINE" i.e. they all run through mic preamps.
With just the phantom power box, the condenser mic is not working.
I've always used a dynamic mic directly into the Tascam in the past, so a preamp is new to me.
Can you tell me something? Will I be able to use any kind of cable set up I want with the preamp?
Will I be able to do this...

condenser mic > xlr to xlr cable > preamp w/phantom power > 1/4" to 1/4" cable > Tascam fourtrack ?

Or even this...

condenser mic > xlr to 1/4" cable > preamp w/phantom power > 1/4" to 1/4" cable > Tascam fourtrack ?

And if so, will the results be the same? Or will the change to 1/4" early on lose some of the signal?

Thanks for any info. I've spent a lot of time looking for the answer to these questions on here and elsewhere and the only answer I've found is "a condenser mic needs an XLR input."
 
lo-fi life said:
condenser mic > xlr to 1/4" cable > preamp w/phantom power > 1/4" to 1/4" cable > Tascam fourtrack ?
Click to expand...

This = No.
Phantom power is never carried over TRS or TS jack.

If the preamp has a jack input socket it will either be instrument level in, line level in, or mic level in with no +48v.
The latter is extremely uncommon, but I did ask because old reel to reel players and stuff can have 1/4 microphone inputs.

If you've plugged dynamic mics into your tascam unit with success before (ie. it has a 1/4 microphone level input), then there's no need for a second preamp as one is built in. All you need is a phantom power box.

What exact model is this Tascam?? If we knew, we could say for certain if you need a preamp or not.
 
The Tascam cassette fourtrack is the classic small blue Porta 02 MKII.
If all I need is the phantom power box then the problem must be the phantom power box is junk. It's a $20 Nady and I just bought it new from Musician's Fiend.
I know the MXL 990 condenser mic works because I recorded with it through my computer interface.
What about all I've read about lo-z and hi-z impedance levels? Wouldn't that be a problem because the signal is going through the 1/4" input before it reaches the built-in preamp?
 
Sounds like you're doing everything right then.

The 1/4 inch inputs are designed to take line level or mic level so there's a preamp in there.

You should have Mic > xlr2xlr > +48 box > xlr2trs > Mic/line socket on porta.

Make sure your phantom to porta cable is TRS, not just TS, and if possible swap your leads out for other ones to eliminate them as the fault.
 
All of my cables are TS, not TRS.
Will the Art preamp make a TS cable work or will I have to get a TRS cable?
 
I'm not 100% sure, I think your inputs are balanced but I'm finding it hard to get the proper specs.

I'd certainly recommend trying an xlr to trs cable though, since you're having inexplicable problems.


Yes, the art has an unbalanced output, so if that is the problem the art would fix it, but that's kinda like buying a new car to fix a flat tyre.

See if you can borrow a cable :)
 
Well if the art is sure to work, that's the better bet. They are $30 and the xlr - trs cable is $25. I don't know anyone with one to borrow, but I definitely would if I could, just to see if it works.
Thanks for the help. I'll follow up with this when I get the art preamp.
 
ok, fair enough. I didn't realise they were so cheap.

Nothings ever sure to work, but i suppose the art takes the phantom power box and the xlr to jack cable out of the loop.

Given that you say the mic worked elsewhere, and the tascam input is fine, you should be rockin. :)

Hope it works out pal.
 
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