VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Chuck Davis · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:34 am Post subject: Phantom Power question

I'm wondering what's the best/safest way to power up a mic.

Just leave the phantom switch on on the preamp. Or...power up the preamp and then engage the phantom power. I've heard some pre's tend to "ramp" the power up rather than just slamming the mic with full current from the git go.

The reason that I ask is that I, though my own carelessness, cooked my Audio Technica shotgun mic by connecting and disconnecting the mic with the phantom on. The mics back from AT service and sounding fine now.

I want to make sure I'm being as easy on it as possible though since I've never had a problem like that before.
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

I always have the pre on then engage the phantom power and let it warm a few seconds...havent had a problem doing it that way.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I usually turn on the preamp, and then engage the phantom power. I always turn the phantom power off before shutting down the pre-amp.

How do you like the AT shotgun? Can you post some samples? cool

Chuck Davis · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:48 am Post subject:

Thanks Guys. That is what I've been doing....pre first then phantom on. Reverse on shutdown.

Rob here's a quick sample from the Decibel session last Friday.

It's the 835b into my Focusrite Voicemaster. No processing save for a -1db cut at 3k and 1k and a +2db at 250hz. I was working the mic 30 degrees off-axis from about 5 inches away. Not perfect yet...but kinda cool all the same. Best for really intimate stuff...worked very close.

http://www.chuckdaviscreative.com/Decibel-835b_sample.mp3
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Thanks. Sounds good!

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:38 am Post subject:

Always power up the unit, then turn on the Phantom. Then turn off phantom and power down unit.

When you power up any device there is usually a peak serge. Phantom power is often taken from the same inboard transformer and is often on the same PSU, that's connected to pins 2 & 3 of you mic cable. Thusly if there is any place for error to occur it is here --even when shutting down-- which is why I install arc quenchers on the units I build to kill that telltale 'pop' you get when shutting some audio gear down.

But for safety sake you should have the unit checked out too.