Phantom Power

[Eboy87]

I've been using 12V phantom mics plugged into a mixer with phantom power on(duh). However, I also am using a dynamic mic to mic a guitar. Is it a good idea to plug it into the same mixer as the phantom mics?

[mbenonis]

It shouldn't make a difference. I use SM58's with phantom power all the time.

[Eboy87]

That's what I thought. I'd been using this arrangement for some time, but one day the dynamic mic wouldn't work and I tried everything I knew to fix it, but to no avail. I thought that phantom power was the culprit.

[PATech]

I'm assuming that your mixer has one global phantom power switch. I've heard some argument over whether phanton power effects the sound quality of dynamic mics, but I haven't noticed any difference. A dynamic mic should work 100 percent with phantom power running on its line. There shouldn't be any issue. I hope that helps.

[DMXtools]

Under normal circumstances, phantom power won't hurt a dynamic mic. 12 volt phantom power is unusual in pro boards, by the way; 48 volts is standard. I've been using an assortment of dynamic mics on a 48-volt phantom-power board, some of them for over 10 years, with no problems. 12 volts should be less likely to cause problems. The only phantom power problem I've had was when I had to use a 12-volt board - some of my condensers absolutely need 48 volts and won't work on 12.

John

[Eboy87]

The mixer I'm using is a Carvin studio mixer (I know, it does suck). I'm prettey sure it is 12v. The phantom mics are made by either crown or sure. I don't remember off the top of my head. I'll find out.

[The_Guest]

Larger mixers did not have global phantom power its selectable for each channel. Some DI's and special mics can get damaged from phantom power. I believe one the SWR bass head's DI can fry out when phantom power is active on that channel.

[MikeJM]

It is nice to have phantom power selectable on every channel rather than a global phantom power switch on a console. Even if I know that the extra power wont damage the perticular mics I am using, it is always nice to have that control. On smaller consoles it is more rare to see this option, but I do know, that the new Mackie Onyx has this feature, when the previous smaller mackies don't. You can also sometimes buy battery packs to use instead of using phantom power. I know the Audio Technica At853a and the Shure Beta91 can both be purchased with battery packs, and use just a simple 9V battery. I used the battery packs with the Shure Beta91's in 6th grade in additon to phantom power, that was because I had no idea what phantom power was, it just sounded good.

Cheers,
Mike M

[The_Guest]

Or you could just buy a phantom power supply, why spend the money on all the batteries.

[dvsDave]

Our church just got a brand new Allen & Heath PA28... it's gorgeous... It's the first time we've had phantom power per channel, instead of global. I was up on stage playing bass and they couldn't get a signal from my Behringer DI100 (which is an active DI box powered by phantom power)

So, after the song ended, they asked me if I was correctly plugged in. Realizing the issue, I asked them if my channel had phantom power on, they then hit the phantom power button without muting the channel and all the sudden my bass could have been heard in the next county. So, lesson to take away: if you have per channel phantom power, mute or fade the channel down before switching it on or off.