Ribbons, dynamics & Phantom Power
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Posted on Mar 18, 2011 05:28 am
PMB
Member Since: Aug 29, 2010
My audio interface applies 48v phantom power to all 4 XLR microphone connectors. I want to use condesers, ribbons and dynamics at the same time, so have to have phantom power switched on for the condensers, but I'm not sure if the phantom power will damage the ribbons and dynamics. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Mar 18, 2011 11:23 am It won't mess with the dynamics (although depending on the circuitry, I've heard many get all noisy when phantom is applied). The ribbons should theoretically be in the same boat if they were made in the last 20 years, but I'd still want them isolated somehow.
You might look into an independent phantom power supply...
PMBMember
Since: Aug 29, 2010
Mar 18, 2011 02:02 pm I've done a bit of reading on this since posting and it concurs with what you say, that modern ribbons and dynamics that come with XLR connectors are going to be isolated internally from phantom power on the basis that if they've got an XLR connector then they're going to get hit with phanotom power at some time or other in their life. Even so, there's all sorts of advice out there about being careful connecting and diconnecting them from phantom power, so I think it's great advice to use a separate phantom PS. I hadn't thought of that, and that's the way I'm going to go. Thanks.
Mar 19, 2011 12:37 am No problem. I haven't bought a PS supply in eons, but I remember a few being out there that aren't too expensive. I think even ART has one... And you're right -- The typical modern ribbon won't have a problem when you apply phantom -- But if you plug it in and hit the wrong pin along the way, it can liberate itself without notice.
