Phantom Power Query

Podalot · #1 04-02-2008, 01:11 PM

Hey everyone, sorry to bother you with what may or may not be a silly question...!

Have recently purchased pair of Behringer C-2 condenser microphones and didn't really appreciate that they wouldn't be powered by plugging them direct into my Boss BR-600 8-track. A bit of checking around has shown that I need to get a phantom power supply, but I don't really know too much about them and how they work. I was basically wondering if you guys knew of any devices that offered phantom power for somewhere between 2 and...shall we say 8 condenser mics, as I assume you don't need to get individual ones for every microphone!?

Needless to say, having plumped for the cheap option with the Behringer mics (no idea if they're any good yet!), I'm looking for something in the not-too-expensive range (£75 max hopefully!) Thanks very much for your time and any help you can provide me with!

Take it easy, Tristan

deekay911 · #2 04-02-2008, 01:17 PM

You could buy a cheap 4 channel mixer (non-powered) that would probably provide you with the 48V phantom power you need, then out from the mixer to the 8-track. I bought a nice used one on the bay for $50 recently...

hunta · #3 04-02-2008, 01:22 PM

Look into getting a mixer. You probably won't be able to get one with 8 phantom powered inputs for that cheap, but you should be able to get one with 2-4. 4 is plenty for most situations. Something like this might be good http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...DSP?sku=630166. You can probably find a much better used mixer for the same price.

Podalot · #4 04-02-2008, 01:48 PM

Guys, thanks so much for your quick reply - amazing!

Am I right in saying that something like the Behringer Xenyx Series [url="http://www.behringer.com/02_products/group_index.cfm?mid=2&ID=300&lang=ENG#XENYX%20MIXE RS%20SERIES[/URL] would do the job then? Also, how do they work in terms of connecting the preamp up through to the 8-track, does the whole preamp connect into a single mic output? Sorry for asking potentially basic questions, am just beginning to get into the whole recording thing myself, so know virtually nothing about it!

Thanks again!

T

Podalot · #5 04-02-2008, 01:52 PM

Oh, and also...(I'll get there eventually)...how is the Preamp itself powered, just through the 8-track or through an external supply like a pedal power unit or something? Ta!

deekay911 · #6 04-02-2008, 01:54 PM

Your link didn't go to a specific product, but Behringer do cheap simple mixers that would work for you. You would use the mixer as nothing more than a way of getting your 48V phantom power for the mic. It will have some crude EQ controls, panning and so on, but it won't change your signal much. You would use the single master output from the mixer into your recording socket (whether it be audio interface, PC mic input etc). IN normal use, a mixer primarily combines several different inputs into a single output, but in your case you would be using it with a single input and output and enjoying the phantom power it offers.

deekay911 · #7 04-02-2008, 01:55 PM

These mixers have their own external power supplies....wal warts usually on the simpler ones..

detracti · #8 04-02-2008, 02:06 PM

I have a Fostex multitrack with balanced in, and it has phantom power, but you have to switch it on via a menu setting in the LCD panel, and it always defaults to OFF on popwer-up. Countless times, we've recorded, and the drum overhead mic tracks are dead as a result.

So I went and got an external phantom power unit that you can put in-line:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTPHANII

Works great!

Podalot · #9 04-02-2008, 02:16 PM

Brilliant, that's cleared that right up, so I'll go an grab something like that next available opportunity! Thanks everyone for your hasty and thorough replies!

T

anomalybass · #10 04-02-2008, 02:36 PM

i just bought a yamaha 10/2 for 100 bucks new, simply for the 6 tracks of phantom power. the kicker is the preamps actually sound pretty damn nice, and it has full eq and sweep mids. the biult in comp isnt that great, but for 100 bucks its well worth it. im told the preamps are the same ones they use in their nicer boards, but im not sure which boards specifically they are referring to. -joep

Podalot · #11 04-19-2008, 10:31 AM

Hey guys, have decided to go for the Yamaha MG100/2 mixing desk as it seems to fit the bill for what I need and I've always been impressed with their products in the past. I see that it has a variety of different inputs for the microphones themselves, including 1/4 inputs and XLR (I think...?) inputs. Is there any particular difference in terms of quality of sound or reliability in terms of which input you use, as I'm not sure which mic cables to get to link the actual mics to the desk and then the desk to my 8-track! Any help you could be would be much appreciated! Thanks for your time, TP