question about phantom power

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ron82

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hi all!

ok, i have no clue about phantom power really, i just know that some (all?) condenser mics do need it, and that my behringer ub-1204 fx pro supports phantom power (48V, that is).

1) the mentioned mixer i have has one switch to turn on phantom power, i guess that this will affect all of the XLR inputs right?

2) is it possible to damage mics, that do not need phantom power? or, how much "extra" power can i give them without harming them. like if i would want to plug (a) condenser(s), and as well dynamic mics into my mixer..

i have searched this board and found ppl saying, phantom power will not damage dynamic mics. but i also heard different from someone who actually knows about this stuff (at least he was able to help me out in this genre earlier).
so i'm sorry for asking this question again, i just really dont have the money, neither the nerves to wreck one of my shure mics; i hope you understand that i'm scared about that and r willing to explain this to me.

thanks alot!

PS:
this place really rocks i already found so much info i needed by searching for it here! cheers to the ppl who run this place, and to those who post all the valuable info!
 
You should be fine using phantom power on condensers when dynamics are plugged in...it seems it sorta beats up some ribbon mics but you dont need to worry about that..I guess if the mic is wired wrong/defectively it l get fried
I always turn all my outputs and faders down when I put phantom power on just for safety sake...but I use it all the time with dynamics plugged in...

So in a condensed non-rambling response - youll be fine...
 
It won't harm ribbon mics either. It would only be a problem with any mic if it's mis-wired.
 
Thats is what I was, rather unclearly, trying to say...that ribbon mics get fried - but I think its if the mic is mis-wired...
Thanks for the clarification
 
It is a good practice to turn off the phantom power when plugging/unplugging in mics. You should wait 20sec or so for the phantom power to shut down before you disconnect a microphone.
 
thats cool thanks :)
but, what does it means for a mic to be miswired? sorry if thats a dumb question :(
 
If someone that doesn't know what they're doing has their dickbeaters inside a mic and cross up some wires, then that 48 volts can do some damage and the preamp/phantom power source can be damaged too.
 
Usually, if phantom power fries a mic, it's not the mic that was mis-wired, it's the cable. What Trackrat said is generally true for newer ribbon mics, but the good old ones can and probably will be fried by phantom power. Your dynamics are unlikely to have any problem at all.-Richie
 
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