Phantom power with condenser mic/android
- Thread starter Anthonyc
- Start date
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
A lot of cheap so-called condenser mics are designed to work with computers and smart phones which can often provide a "bias voltage" which is low but enough to drive the most basic level of powered mic. I'm guessing that your Android provides such a bias voltage and that the mic you bought will work with it.
Now i just wondered is it suppose to perform netter with the phantom power. I was told this was a decent starter mic.
arcaxis
Well-known member
Anthonyc said:
If you've used it both ways, with and without, which way seems better to you? There likely isn't much difference in the quality of the sound for the price point of the mic whether phantom is used or not. If you happened to have a device that did not provide the "bias voltage" that Bobbsy mentioned, then the extra phantom power would be necessary.
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
In the same way a lamp works better when you plug it in.
Told by whom?
Farview
Well-known member
Don't get confused by the terms "Phantom power" and "bias voltage".
Phantom power is just power that runs through the mic cable to power the electronics in the mic. Without it, the mic would make no sound. If it worked without the Phantom box, the mic was obviously getting power from the phone. The phone is providing the Phantom power to run the mic.
They probably designed the mic to run with lower voltage, so it could be used the way you are using it.
However, if the phone is providing the mic power, you will probably drain the battery much faster than normal. Using the Phantom power box will keep that from happening.
Phantom power is just power that runs through the mic cable to power the electronics in the mic. Without it, the mic would make no sound. If it worked without the Phantom box, the mic was obviously getting power from the phone. The phone is providing the Phantom power to run the mic.
They probably designed the mic to run with lower voltage, so it could be used the way you are using it.
However, if the phone is providing the mic power, you will probably drain the battery much faster than normal. Using the Phantom power box will keep that from happening.
arcaxis
Well-known member
Probably not much more than a small diaphragm electret element mic which can use a low voltage at low current similar to the design of the cheap electret lavaliere clipons that use a coin cell to power it. Phantom power at 48v is likely just reduced in the mic to a voltage suitable for the electronics.
I think Dave(ecc83) may have picked up one of these to play with.
I think Dave(ecc83) may have picked up one of these to play with.