Phantom Power: Understanding It for Your Presentation

[chaoseverlasting]

Im have to give a presentation on microphones soon, and most of the material I am pretty good with, with the exception of Phantom Power. I could work around it if I had to, but it would be better if I understood it. Could someone help out?

 

[berkeman]

Im have to give a presentation on microphones soon, and most of the material I am pretty good with, with the exception of Phantom Power. I could work around it if I had to, but it would be better if I understood it. Could someone help out?

Can you provide a pointer or intro to what Phantom Power is in the context of microphones?

 

[f95toli]

Phantom powered microphones use the same wires for power (DC, usually +48V) and the signal going back to the microphone amplifier; this is possible because the signal is AC (from about 20 Hz and upwards) meaning you can quite easily "filter out" the DC-current.

It is basically just a clever way of reducing the number of wires+you can use standard XLR connectors/cables.

edit: Note that this is only relevant for condenser microphones, dynamic microphones do not need to be powered.

 

[isly ilwott]

As stated above^^^^.


http://www.tangible-technology.com/power/Phantom_Power_connect.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power

http://www.sounddevices.com/tech/phantom.htm

http://psbg.emusician.com/ar/emusic_phantom_power/index.htm

http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html#phantom

 

[berkeman]

Ah, thanks for the clarification. This is called "Link Power" or "Power over Ethernet" in the data networks that I work with. Now I know what it's called in the audio world.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

Thank you! I'd already looked at the wikipedia article when I asked this question, but it didnt make much sense to me. The simplest things can sound so complicated sometimes.