Phantom Power Interface- selects all mic inputs- Help!

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piccws

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I have just purchased a Scarlett 6i6 Audio interface. My Alexsis i02 finally packed up and this seems like a good option, and pretty good price.
However the phantom power selects both mic inputs (there isn't individual switches on). My concern is if I was using one condenser mic and one other mic- e.g. dynamic/sm57, that it might cause problems.
I could still return it but A- I really need it to finish something asap, and B- I don't know if other options in this price range will be that different? So far I haven't seen anything else that could do both.

Can anyone offer me any help with this?

Thanks,

Phoebe
 
Same answer as in the other thread you posted.
(Avoid posting the same thread in multiple forums...one place is good enough.)

Dynamic mics are OK with phantom power...ribbons no, unless they are some of the new active ribbon mics.
 
miroslav said:
...ribbons no, unless they are some of the new active ribbon mics.
Click to expand...

Or use a device like a Cloudlifter or FetHead which adds some nice clean gain and isolates the mic from phantom. Guess that sorta turns it into an active ribbon mic :)
 
arcaxis said:
Or use a device like a Cloudlifter or FetHead which adds some nice clean gain and isolates the mic from phantom. Guess that sorta turns it into an active ribbon mic :)
Click to expand...

Have you tried either of those?
I've been wanting to get one or the other (I like the Cloudlifter with the variable Z option) since I do tend to use ribbons often when recording.
I have a couple of pres that have tons of gain...but those devices are really aimed at ribbons, so I'm curious how good they are.
 
miroslav said:
Have you tried either of those?
I've been wanting to get one or the other (I like the Cloudlifter with the variable Z option) since I do tend to use ribbons often when recording.
I have a couple of pres that have tons of gain...but those devices are really aimed at ribbons, so I'm curious how good they are.
Click to expand...
I've got a FetHead and use it on an SM7b, RE20, an MXL R144 ribbon mic, and even an SM57. The FetHead has a Zin=22kohms which is much higher than typical mic preamps. The HiZ alters the frequency response a bit of the dynamic mics and the ribbon giving them a slightly better sounding top end.
From TritonAudio's site about the FetHead...
"Which microphones benefit
In short, we noticed an improvement on all tested microphones. A Shure SM57 for instance, sounds more responsive over a broader frequency range. When mated with a high-end dynamic microphone like a Sennheiser MD441, or Shure SM7 FetHead really shines. Ribbon microphones benefit greatly too because of a much better impedance match, which lessens the load on the microphone, giving it better transient response characteristics. FetHeads high quality, low noise signal amplification also extends the usable range of a ribbon microphone, making it more suitable for recording softer passages."
 
Ribbons and Phantom Power

As one of the earliest microphone designs, ribbons actually predate phantom power by several years. Some ribbon mics can be destroyed instantly by the inadvertent application of phantom power. However, most modern ribbons were designed to handle phantom power being turned on and off: As long as the microphone cable is correctly wired, phantom power will not be applied to the ribbon element. Of course, active ribbons like the Royer R-122 or SF-24 that require phantom power for their operation will never be damaged by its application.

Just thought I would check BEFORE opening gob! ^ From Royer's horse's mouth.

Modern ribbons should be quite safe on phantom power.

Dave.
 
Thanks for the help everyone.
So would the Sennheiser e383 be ok with Phantom power?
 
Sorry didn't mean to post twice.
Just wrote here also- would this be ok with Sennheiser e838?

I shouldn't try to send back interface to get one which would can control which inputs receive phantom power?
 
piccws said:
Just wrote here also- would this be ok with Sennheiser e838?
Click to expand...
Yes it'll be OK with a Sennheiser e838.

A good habit to get into even with condenser mics, is to connect all mics and cables before you enable the phantom power. Better yet is to have them all connected before powering up the interface or preamp.
 
If you are REALLY still worried! Learn to solder and bash tin and make a spook juice isolator with a couple of 100mfd 63 V electrolytics and a couple of drain resistors.

You would look loooooong and hard for an AI with other than global 48V.

Dave.
 
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