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phantom power

Description

Phantom power, in the context of professional audio equipment, is DC electric power transmitted through microphone cables to operate microphones that contain active electronic circuitry. It is best known as a convenient power source for condenser microphones, though many active direct boxes also use it.

FAQ

Can voltage fluctuations in the phantom power (PP) cause microphone hiss?

It's very unlikely that voltage fluctuations in the phantom power (PP) could cause hiss.

What are the 3 pins for phantom power?

There are three pins. Phantom power is connected to both pin 2 and pin 3 (but as long as your cable is not broken, simply use it).

X stands for ground (it is connected to the cable shield).

Pin 1 (X) = ground
Pin 2 (L) = + most commonly, or Left
Pin 3 (R) = - most commonly, or Right

Will phantom power damage dynamic microphones?

The risk is higher if it is an unbalanced connection. The Sound Reinforcement Handbook by Yamaha says something like this:

"In a phantom power system, the polarizing supply voltage is placed on both of the signal lines in a balanced connection, with the same polarity on each line. Dynamic microphones connected in a balanced system with a phantom power input are then protected from damage, theoretically, since the system results in a net zero DC potential across the coil. However, a dynamic mic connected unbalanced to a phantom power input may be destroyed."

In other words if you take a sm57 and plug it into a phantom powered mic pre using a normal balanced mic cable then you should be safe.

If you take an unbalanced mic and wire it with a xlr plug so you can connect it to that same input then you could fry the mic. In a balanced connection the 48 volts is running parallel down the 2 signal wires. With an unbalanced connection (2 conductors) you have 1 signal wire and ground and doing this is basically completing a circuit that sends 48volts directly to the mics voice coil.

What are the correct steps connecting a mic to phantom power

So the steps when connecting are:

1. Turn down those master faders.
2. Plug in mic.
3. Turn Phantom Power on.

and when disconnecting:

1. Turn down those master faders.
2. Turn Phantom Power off.
3. Unplug mic.

Ribbon Microphones and 48V - I try to destroy mine!

paulears 31 March 2022

Another video that came to me reading one of the many topics on the internet where people are almost paranoid about the fragility of ribbon mics and how you can so easily destroy them. I figured the science suggests such damage is highly unlikely, so I take my own ribbon - and I only own a single one - and deliberately connect it in place of an AKG 414. I did it as many people could do, using a mic that needs phantom power and then unplugging it and connecting the ribbon - finishing the video on that mic, happily working with 48V supplied to it.

Figure-8 Mics, ribbons and 48V Phantom Power

paulears 24 March 2022

I'd read a few internet posts over the past few weeks about ribbons, and they pulled up the old advice about destroying them with phantom power, so I did a little Googling and also noted many newcomers to recording really didn't ever come across fig-8 pattern mics at all - so I've been doing a few videos and did one featuring just a bit of chat about fig-8 patterns and a little demo of how they actually sound when you move the mic - then I figured I'd plug up a ribbon in place of the condenser and see if it broke - as the usual tales of doom decree they do.

Using Phantom Power through a Yamaha Q2031 analog EQ

molton 28 November 2020

Hello, I need help figuring out if I can do something or not without breaking anything. I got my nephew an M-Audio AIR 192|4 audio interface that came with a condenser mic that requires phantom power to work. He uses to produce some decent stuff, and I'm getting him a Yamaha Q2031 31 band analog EQ to use with it this year. I know he can use it for the 1/4" guitar input no problem but I'm worried that using the XLR connection for the mic with the phantom power input enabled will hurt the equalizer, audio interface or mic.

Sennheiser K6 not working with Phantom P.

JohnSLC 28 March 2019

Bought an ME66 capsule and the K6 power module was still attached when it arrived.
I popped in a battery, and it worked great but heard hum, switched to phantom and got nothing but hum, no signal.
I know about the screw grounding issue, and fixed the hum right away, now battery is crisp and phantom is just silent. Swapped out for my other K6, and the ME66 worked on both battery and phantom power, so I know it's this used K6.

Before i request a quote from Sennheiser service, has anyone seen this and have a solution/suggestion I can look into?

No phantom power from Scarlett Solo 1st gen

Zedramcak 9 March 2019

Hello.

I just bought an AKG P220 and wanted to try recording with my Focusrite Scarlett solo. But I don't get any sound from it. When I connect my Shure SM58, the recording works just fine. The 48V switch is on. And the Scarlett is connected via a USB hub which also has its own power supply.

Can be the problem in the XLR cable?

I need help with Phantom Power and Mics!

TomCopey 13 June 2017

I'm looking at purchasing my first condenser microphone. I currently already own a mixer that I was planning on using with the mic that I buy, this mixer is an Alto ZMX52 however I'm having a big issue deciding which Microphone to buy due to phantom power. The mixer I currently have has an 18v Phantom power output and a lot of the microphones I'm looking at require a 48v supply. Some places say that I could use a 48v mic on a lower voltage supply and others say it wouldn't work at all with some mics.

Blocking phantom power when DB25 connected?

achase4u 15 June 2016

Edited for clarity.

So, I am setting up for some hybrid mixing for the first time and have db25 connected from the analog out of my converters to the input of my radial lunchbox. The lunch box has preamps for recording as well as an eq. I accidentally sent phantom to the analog out of my converters(from a preamp on the radial) for approx 1 minute. It seems to work, so I am thankful there.

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