presonus firestudio project and phantom power
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Posted on Apr 11, 2010 03:11 pm
Metalstorm
Member Since: Apr 05, 2010
Hey just had a question for you guys, and just wanted to mention thanks for all the help in general from this forum.
I just picked up the presonus firestudio project and I dont know much about phantom power.
It has the 8 inputs and a button to turn on phantom power for them, they are grouped into 2 channels with phantom power.
So the first button turns on phantom power for input 1 and 2.
If you use phantom power on one of them will it cause problems if the other input is using something without phantom power? I know the phantom power only gets used through xlr so kind of a few questions.
will it cause problems if I have say something with phantom power on input 1 and then something without on input 2?
also if phantom power is on can you still connect something with a 1/4" jack and use that while the other input is using phantom power. As far as I know 1/4" doesnt use phantom power at all but I dont know if it will damage anything if it tries to send phantom power.
Also kind of the same question but the first 2 inputs will switch to high impedence so you can just plug a guitar or bass directly into them or use them as a normal input. If one is being used high impedence with say a bass connected directly would i not want the phantom power on while doing that. Like say I have a bass plugged right into port 1 should i not use port 2 with something thats not high impedence like a mic or something with phantom power?
hope that makes a bit of sense, still learning and the manual for this thing doesnt really go into much of that.
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Apr 11, 2010 04:59 pm the phantom power will not screw up anything else plugged in to the phantom powered input. I use condensers in junction with normal dynamic mics as well as using the input for guitar or bass all the time on my firestudio with no problems
Apr 11, 2010 05:54 pm Thanks thats all I needed to know
Apr 12, 2010 03:32 pm One other quick question, will the first 2 ports auto detect what is connected? like should I only run direct into those 2 ports or can i plug anything into those and it will use what it needs to?
example is guitar going direct in i know to use either port 1 or 2, but if i run it through an amp first and use the line out or the headphone out of the amp in to the firestudio can i do that through port 1 or 2 as well or do i have to use the others?
thanks, and sorry for the noob questions, dont know much about using one of these yet.
Apr 17, 2010 10:55 am you can use any input for any signal (mic or line) on the firestudio....if you're recording the direct guitar dry (strait from the guitar) you must use input 1 or 2 as these are also "instrument" inputs....this refers to the impedance of the guitar as it is different than a microphone. (er something to that effect).....so in theory, you can split your guitar signal and record your guitar dry (say input 1, then run the other to an amp, and connect the line output of the amp into input 2, AND grab a mic and plug it into input 3. if ya like...as for "auto detect"...im not sure i understand what you mean.
i'm using a presonus firestudio project with the universal control driver...lemme know if you have any problems.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 18, 2010 02:23 am You should only use the LINE out, if you're going to a LINE input on the presonus. Headphone outputs can deliver higher voltages (signal) than a LINE output (i think) so you could overdrive the LINE inputs circuit, causing digital clips.
As for autodetect, I'm assuming you mean having the LINE input inside the XLR input. I'm gonna also assume that when you plug in a 1/4" plug, the insides of the jack will break the XLR connections, so the MIC preamp is left 'open'. When you don't have a 1/4" jack plugged in, then the MIC circuit is 'closed' and the LINE circuit is 'open'.
That's my assumption, but it makes sense that the devices knows what is plugged into it's inputs, and processes the signal accordingly.
Quote:
like should I only run direct into those 2 ports or can i plug anything into those and it will use what it needs to?
For this, you should only use instrument level signal going into the instrument inputs, and only use LINE level signals for going into the LINE inputs. They're built for seeing the appropriate impedance, and signal level, so keep them right, and you'll have happier tracking / mixing.
I'd also be concerned sending active pickup signal to the instrument inputs. I'd think active p-ups can send out a pretty hot signal. My Hartke bass amp has passive and active inputs, so I'd guess that there can be a big difference.
of course, ymmv, imho, etc.
