Powering Mics

[Jaster]

So I have just about everything I need to record. Or so I thought. It never dawned on me that you have to power a mic to use it. I just bought a cheap little mic from wal mart to record my band's demos because quality doesn't matter to me right now. What does matter is getting something actually recorded. So my question is, whats the cheapest way to power a microphone?

 

[Ronan]

Not sure what kind of mic you can get at wal-mart but if its a mic that needs power or depending on the mic it needs either batteries or uses 48volt phantom power. Mic mic pre provide phantom power to the mic, but if your mic pre or mic input does not you would need a stand along phantom power unit

 

[mjbphotos]

I find it very hard to believe that Walmart sells a condensor mic that needs phantom power. Nothing showing on their website. The condensor mic they do have is USB!

Jaster - give us a mic model number so we can see what you have.

 

[Jaster]

I honestly don't even know if its a condensor mic. I'm a complete noob here. On the mic its says its a MVM-80 and the brand is First Act. It cost around $12. Ive never seen this exact mic anywhere online. Just the MVM-88 which costs a lot more

 

[darrin_h2000]

Check to see if the shaft unscrews somehow...Ill bet that it is a rebadged Nady...Ive seen some nady mics sold at my walmart.

...I did get lucky there....when they blew out the GHS boomer bass strings sets at $1 each...I picked up 20 of them.

 

[Kingofpain678]

im betting its just one of those crappy mics that are powered by just plugging it into a soundblaster type soundcard.

this was also the first "mic" i had ever bought. i have never gotten it to work unless i had just plugged it into the 1/8" jack on the back of my computer....

 

[darrin_h2000]

Maybe it is just broken.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Or maybe, when the OP says "power" he means "amplify." As in there's no sound without a preamp of sorts (that could be anything from the sound card on up...)

 

[Jaster]

The mic works fine if I try to sing it to it when its plugged into my guitar amp. I just don't know how to power it when its hooked directly to my PC

 

[Kingofpain678]

then i would have to say that whitestrat is right.

you need a preamp my friend.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Or maybe, when the OP says "power" he means "amplify." As in there's no sound without a preamp of sorts (that could be anything from the sound card on up...)

He should have a mic in on the sound card with a preamp built in...but there is a reason the worlds top engineers have shied away from using them...I have never tried mine...but I know it is there.

I dont think it is a priority of his to get a preamp...maybe he could find an old AudioBuddy for 20 bucks on ebay...but with a ten dollar mic how far can you go?

 

[Jaster]

Hmm. Would this solve my problems?
http://www.guitarcenter.com/MXL-Mic...face-with-Phantom-Power-104615877-i1326025.gc

 

[darrin_h2000]

That might just be the ticket here...not much in the way of quality...but better than a USB mic alone.

 

[gecko zzed]

I went to the First Act website.

The only microphone I could see there was the MVM84.

See:

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/Professional-Vocal-Microphone,277,95.aspx

I'm not sure that it's the same or a similar one (it's more expensive and has a different catologue number).

It's advertised as a dynamic mike.

The chances are high that what you have is also a dynamic mike. That makes sense if you can plug it into your amp and get signal from it.

That means you don't need to power it up, nor do you necessarily need a pre-amp.

That also means that the problem is not with the mike, but with the connection some where between mike and computer, or with settings within the computer.

I gather that you are using the 1/8 mike input on your soundcard? Which means you have an adaptor. Adaptors are simple and fairly robust, so that shouldn't be the problem. However, it is worth trying a different one if you have one laying around.

It is worthwhile going into your computer, into the control panel, into sound and audio devices, click on the 'audio' tab and check the recording settings to make sure that particular input is not muted, or has the volume turend right down.

 

[KillahKane860]

If its a condensor mic, you need 48v phantom power.. although I highly doubt walmart sells condensor mics... but I could be wrong, it IS walmart lol

 

[Harvey Gerst]

If it "worked fine when he plugged it into his guitar amp". that tells us two things:

1. It's a dynamic and doesn't need phantom power.
2. It's got a phone jack on the end of it, and can't use an XLR to USB preamp, like the MXL unit.

If your sound card has a "Mic In" hole on the card, you'll need a mono 1/4" plug to mono 1/8" jack adapter. If you're running a PC, you'll also hafta go to "Control Panel" and screw around with the sound settings.