dummy question I know... but....

[Bludongle]

I just got a GREAT deal on a APX430 with a ART tube pre-amp. 130 for the set.

I am now reading the top post concerning Microphone 101 and am enjoying it. (I work for a division of Bell Labs! A national treasure if there ever was one!)

Anyway, The mike comes with the pre-amp and I would love to experiment with the sound. NOW! Is the APX phantom powered? Does it REQUIRE the pre-amp? If I connect it to my Mackie 1402 what settings should I use? Standard cabling ofcourse but do I turn on the phantom power and only use the mike on the board? Or, if I use the pre-amp, do I leave the phantom power off?

I have only used a SM57 on my board up to this point so I am itchin' to use the new mic but not crazy enough to just plug everything in and turn it on.

Any help that would lead to a dose of immediate gratification would be much appreciated!


Bludongle
(or Neophyte)

 

[SteveMcB]

If (as I understand it) the Apex is a condensor, then:

Yes, it needs phantom power

Yes, it needs a preamp - either the MP or the preamps in your 1402 will do

If you're using the MP, plug it direct into your recorder (why run a preamp into a preamp?- just gives more noise from more components in the signal path).

Whatever the mic is plugged into should be doing the phantom power duty - if you do plug the mic>MP>board (which I don't recommend, MP should have phantom on, board - well ,it shouldn't matter if it's on or off, but leave it off.

If you connect it to your mackie, as long as you turn on the phantom power, you can send it to your recorder whatever way you like - via direct out from the insert (avoids eq and faders etc as potential sources of more noise), or via the aux sends, main outs, Alt 3-4 out. Conventional wisdom says the less unnecessary stuff in the signal path the better - I have a 1402 and some condensors, and I run mic into 1402, out via insert jacks to compressor, out of comp into recorder.

Good luck, and happy first condesor fun!!!

Steve