Phantom Power/Battery

[sackbutcharlie]

Good evening.

Maybe someone has some feedback for me regarding microphones.

I have a TASCAM 246 portastudio that does not have phantom power.

I am making an assumption, please correct me if I am wrong. If I buy a condenser mic that uses a 9V battery, I do not need phantom power.

What are the pros and cons (if any) of using a bettery-powered mic vs. one without a battery and using an external phantom power surce (perhaps from a pre-amp)?


Thanks!

 

[Richard Monroe]

The main disadvantage of battery powered mics is that most of them suck. Example-AKG C1000S. The second disadvantage is that you can't buy another mic and use the same power source.
A phantom power supply is more versatile, but the cheap ones tend to add noise. I would always recommend a preamp or mixer with phantom power over the alternatives. Try M-Audio Audiobuddy. For about $80, you get 2 fair preamp channels, at least as good as the ones in your Tascam, and phantom power for 2 mics.
BTW, one exception to the battery powered mic thing is a sleeper, Sony ECMMS957. It's a battery powered -10dBV line level mid-side stereo mic made for remote recording with a cassette or minidisc/MP3 recorder, $250 at 8th street. It's a very good remote location stereo mic. I use it with a Korg PXR4 Pandora, and I'm just starting to see what it's applications might be in the studio.-Richie

 

[sackbutcharlie]

Thanks!

 

[noisedude]

people cleverer with electronics than me have said that the Audio Buddy doesn't provide a steady voltage for your mics, which may affect how they sound. they reckon it's something like 12V short in some tests. i think it was Christiaan or Marik or somebody like that. anyway, it may pay to be wary. the flip side is that i genuinely don't know if the little Behringer mixers for that kinda money are really any better, cos nothing suggests to me particularly that they inherently would be better!!