condenser mics and phantom power

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flyboy
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Flyboy

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I have a tascam da-88 and Tascam 1508 8 track mixing board that I just acquired CHEAP. WHen I try to use a sm58, I have to crank the gain and sliders almost all the way up with accompanying hiss! By contrast, when I try an EV BK-1 condenser mic(running on an internal 4.5 volt battery) I get like 3 times the gain - sounds great. I also have a CAD condenser running on a 1.5 volt AA that has about twice the gain, not as much as the EV, but alot better.

Is the difference in gain due to the difference in voltage. I would rather use phantom power but I don't think the board has it - would I get more gain then?
 
If your board doesn't have phantom power to utilize your mics, you may want to look into the purchase of some inexpensive pre-amps.
There is one made by ART called an MP-1, that works wonderfully at giving you the gain you need to get a strong signal, acts as phantom power to your recording unit.
Enjoy your recording projects!
 
Whether your getting phantom power from the mixing board or from an internal battery, it doesn't matter. Except that you have to replace batteries, and very few condensors will take an internal battery. An other draw back is that batteries wear out and you may not be getting a constant voltage, unless you replace often.

As for the low signal on the SM58. If your getting a good signal from the condensors, but not from the SM58 dynamic, it sounds like:

a) the mic cable you were using on the SM58 is shot.
b) the channel you have the SM58 plugged into is funky.
c) the SM58 is toast.

Hope this helps.

Emeric
 
Thanks for the info. It's not the cord, cause I unplugged the EV and plugged the SM58 into the same cord. I also brought the shure back to Guitar Center and they checked the gain against a new one. Checked out OK. Damn peculiar. I guess it's a characteristic of this board.
 
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