How To Set Up Zingyou Microphone

Is phantom power a term you have been hearing a lot lately?

Regardless of if yous are trying to claw up a condenser microphone to your estimator for the first time, or a seasoned pro, phantom ability is something that nosotros need from a very early stage in our careers making records.

I can't begin to tell you how many awkward situations I got myself into but for the lack of this common characteristic. Just so you won't brand the same mistakes I did, I put this guide together in order to spread the knowledge.

Setting upwardly Any condenser microphone with phantom power is the skill you'll have by the end of this article. Are y'all ready? Allow's get!

What Is Phantom Power?

Let's showtime from the starting time and review some facts real quick.

If you always wondered what phantom power actually is, the answer to that question could be electric ability traveling through the XLR microphone cable (in most cases) and reaching the condenser microphone.

Once in that location, the electrical electric current amplifies the audio coming out of the sheathing making it usable in a recording studio.

• If it wasn't for phantom power, the gain of a condenser would exist lower than that of a dynamic microphone.

Mostly phantom power is 48 volts and you might meet the switch to power it on labeled as "48v" or just "phantom ability"

I have written an article on phantom power. You tin read it hither.

Does Phantom Power Impairment Other Microphones?

This is a very common myth yous'll hear considering of an one-time problem with the early models of ribbon microphones.

Ribbon technology tin be traced back to the kickoff of the previous century. It works with a very thin sheet of metal betwixt two magnets. Many of these microphones in the one-time days didn't have an internal transformer.

If yous hit ane of these very rare and one-time ribbon microphones with phantom ability you can destroy it. Luckily, hitting any other microphone with those 48v will non do anything to it; including modern ribbon microphones.

Accept a look at my article on ribbon microphones here.

Big Diaphragm VS Small Diaphragm Microphones

Visually, these two kinds of condenser microphones are very different, merely for those who are not familiar with them, they might sound similar. Do both of them need to be run with phantom ability? The answer is absolutely aye.

Tin I Power More Than I Condenser Microphone At The Same Time?

What happens if I plug two condenser microphones (perhaps a large diaphragm and a modest diaphragm to capture a singer-songwriter playing and singing) to the same mixing console? Will it give phantom power to both? As long as it has two XLR inputs, it will power both microphones.

Can I Merely Use A Dynamic Microphone?

Well, this is a very good question to ask at this moment. Why, if it's and so much of a hassle don't we just go for dynamic microphones that don't require phantom power and get information technology over with?

Well, the respond to that question is very unproblematic: they don't sound the same. In fact, they don't even have the aforementioned amount of gain. If yous were to capture a quiet sound source utilizing a dynamic microphone you would have to really creepo it. Some of these might exist the consequences to the mix of using dynamics instead of condensers:

· Noises – Ambient noises that are hardly perceptible get hugely amplified when you compress and increment the volume of a runway. I know what you are thinking, but fixing your song noises with an EQ is an epic neglect that might even damage the end result (and your reputation).

· Losing the warmth – Voices on dynamic microphones tend to sound thin and lack presence on the lower registers. Well, if you are thinking virtually boosting frequencies with your EQ after on, you'll selection up all sorts of stuff except for a decent low cease for those vocals.

I have written an article on the differences between dynamic and condenser microphones. You tin find it hither.

Best Phantom Ability Sources For Your Condenser Microphone

Now that you are enlightened of what phantom power is and how information technology works, information technology'due south fourth dimension to go fetch your phantom power sources.

• Remember you lot need phantom power with all types of condenser microphone

Sound Interface

For home studio owners this is the most mutual manner of feeding phantom power to your microphone.

A adept audio interface is much more than just a provider of phantom ability; that is not the reason why you should buy one of these. Sound interfaces will translate analog into digital and allow you to catechumen whatsoever PC in the world into a dwelling house studio.

Virtually audio interfaces provide either one or more than XLR inputs featuring a preamp (some better than others) and phantom power.

My Option

If I were as lucky as you are and started my musical journey in this day and age, I would definitely purchase a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Information technology has everything you demand to get started in this cute world of music recording. Plus, if you buy it brand new, it also comes with free bundled software to cover all your bones needs.

Back when I started, affording a laptop reckoner was an extreme luxury. Having an audio interface yous could take with you in your haversack was unthinkable. You are very lucky.

• I accept written an commodity all about getting started with sound interfaces. You can read it here.

Mixers

The second about common way to give phantom power to a hungry condenser is to become through a mixer or mixing panel.

The other bully matter about mixing consoles is that they allow you to do a lot of things with the sound also the basic volume upwardly and downwardly. You tin can, for example, larn the fine art of equalizing a live mix with index and pollex and train your ears a lot in the mode besides.

Finally, you lot have the power to power more than 1 condenser or plug in more one audio source. For example, if you are a podcaster you can exercise a live bear witness hooking upwardly external music sources, more than than ane microphone, and making decisions on the fly.

My Selection

My choice, in this case, is the Mackie Mix8. Mackie is one of the biggest names in the world in audio and this minor, portable, and this super useful mixer does justice to its heritage in a tiny, inexpensive package.

Y'all get a main out, a defended headphone level (super useful for the click when recording), two XLR inputs, and phantom ability among many other features.

I thing you accept to know about Mackie, in general, is that they are built like a tank.

External Phantom Ability Supply

Finally, this is something that tin can never be absent-minded in your studio.

For the price, y'all absolutely need to get 1 of these.

What is a case scenario you might need it?

For example, if you happen to accept a USB-powered audio interface like, allow'due south say the amazing Apollo Twin Duo and y'all accept very skillful headphones at a reasonable level, your condenser is going to stay hungry.

Dividing power from the USB connection to power the interface and the condenser might lower the quality of your recordings because instead of 48v, your microphone could be getting less while ability is routed towards speakers or headphones.

Y'all can solve that with an inexpensive external phantom ability supply. I have one in my backpack at all times and if I ever work with a USB-powered audio interface I just employ it for the main vocal mic.

My Choice

I am going to get for Mackie again considering I just think their products are so sturdy they can handle the road.

I go out a lot doing field recordings and carrying a Mackie M48 is corking because it can even run on batteries.

This mode I won't fifty-fifty take to bother looking for an electric socket. If y'all e'er consider working in the super fun globe of picture show audio, an M48 in your backpack set up to go at all times tin can relieve an entire twenty-four hours of shooting (and turn y'all into the hero of the twenty-four hours).

Nail 2 Categories With One Purchase: Go A Preamp

And then, at present that we are talking about providing phantom ability to a condenser microphone with an external source, why don't you simply get a preamp and solve two bug at one time?

Having an external preamp can let yous to dial in a sound you like regardless of the place you lot are working.

Maybe the band hired you and rented a studio that has a mixing console yous don't like considering the preamps sound harsh. Well, get a preamp and your best large-diaphragm vocal microphone into a backpack and do the magic anywhere sounding consistently expert.

My Choice

My option is by an old make that was utterly famous and Avant grade in the eighties called ART (Practical Research and Technology). They made the worst-looking, all-time-sounding pedalboards amidst other rack gear back in the day.

Their Studio V3 Tube preamp is a wonderful manner of coloring the sound in a musical manner and besides feeding that phantom ability your condenser mic was needing.

The voicing knob is such a slap-up addition that will allow you lot to dial in almost anything you want to plug into it. Some other must for my backpack.

Conclusion

If you are going to be recording audio, yous are going to need phantom power. Information technology is a fact. To me, the best way to exercise it is to get an external source that also works as a preamp.

In one case you accept mastered that preamp, y'all'll notice yourself automatizing many of the vocal processing for all projects and saving lots of fourth dimension. Also, yous won't be draining precious USB ability from your audio interface.

I would highly recommend using a shock mountain with your condenser microphone. You lot can read more about them here.

Don't overlook the grooming of your ears; working with preamps is being one step closer to achieving pro-sounding vocals. If vocals sound superb, chances are the rails will sound great too.

Happy (phantom powered) recording!

Source: https://stampsound.com/how-to-set-up-any-microphone-with-phantom-power-2/

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