What is "phantom Power"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keith L
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Keith L

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To save you all the time of having to answer this stupid question, I performed a search on the words "phantom power", and while noone addressed it directly, as best as I can make out, it's necessary when using condenser mics. If I don't use condenser mics, do I need it? I ask, because I'm looking into several diffo portastudios, and some have phantom power, some don't. I assume phantom power and mic preamps are two separate things. Am I right?
 
Phantom Power is a system to send power to a condensor mike or DI box from the console.(does away with lots of power supplies hanging around)

I'd try to get that option as you may wish to add a condensor mike or active DI later.

cheers
john
 
Yo Keith of L & L:

PhaNTOM power is when you are in deep bullfunky in the studio and you call in the "Phantom" from the old comic book lore and since he never dies, he saves you song.\

Well, I was always good at phantasy as an English Teacher.

John has it right.

Just having some phun. [did I spell it incorrectly?}


Green Hornet
 
Yeah the pre-amp boosts the signal. The phantom power is to power the mic itself. Some lower end mics allow you to power the mic with a built in battery. When using a dynamic mic like the sm-57 or ribbon mics you don't need phantom power. And some ribbon mic manufacturers highly recommend that you don't apply phantom power to them. So learn how to discern whether phantom power is applied to any particular channel before you plug in a mic. Even condenser mics don't like it when you plug them in with phantom power applied. Plug them in first, then apply the phantom power. Same with unplugging them. Wait about thirty seconds after the removal of phantom power before you unplug the mic. It's really easy to not ruin a nice mic if you think before you act!
Maybe I'm a little too careful- only real mic freaks like RE can put this into perspective.
I just can't afford to replace ruined mics.
Shit: I can't afford to simply buy the mics I want!
 
I guess C1000's and NT-3's are certainly low end in the grand scheme of things. I leave phantom power on while unplugging and plugging in with no problems, that's what capacitors are for. But, better safe than sorry.
 
Actually the NT3 has it on purpose. Rode tell me they reckon the battery power is more stable than phantom. They use the phantom to recharge the battery.

Cheers
John
 
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