![]() ![]() When the diaphragm moves closer and further from the other plate, it causes that plate to release varying amounts of voltage. The other is the diaphragm that vibrates due to the sound waves hitting it. One of these plates is stationary but electrically charged. What's happening inside this transducer is that there is a capacitor made up of two plates. What Does Phantom Power Do?Įarlier I mentioned a transducer inside condenser mics, commonly just called the capsule. It being a phantom circuit played a role, too, I'm sure. That's the summary of the history of this power source and how it got its name. We no longer have external power supplies, but tiny and efficient ones hidden away inside of other necessary recording equipment that is always coupled with a microphone.īecause the power source is hidden away, it was decided that it should be called a phantom, as in an invisible ghost. It also meant that manufacturers that made mixing boards, preamplifiers, and audio interfaces could start to refine the process and make the parts tiny.Īnd that's why you see a +48v button on certain pieces of gear. This meant that future condenser mics would be designed for this amount of power and all phantom power supplies would deliver that amount. Pretty much everybody hopped on board because it benefited us all by reducing complexity. They led the way to creating a standard for powering condenser microphones using 48 volts of direct current. You've probably heard of Neumann and Schoeps, both German microphone companies. That was the problem back then, and in the 1960's audio engineers sought a solution. You can see how annoying this could be if every mic we used was like this. When I use this mic, I have to have this big box out on the desk, eating up space. You'll still find microphones like this to this day, like my favorite vocal mic, the Rode NTK. Why is it Called Phantom Power?Įarly condenser microphones from the 1930's to 1950's were designed in such a way that each needed its own power supply. It is used to power the active circuitry as well as for polarizing the transducer element, which is the part that turns sound waves into an electrical signal. ![]() This power is transmitted as DC electric power (direct current, as opposed to alternating current) to the microphone typically through the microphone cable. Specific types of microphones, mainly condenser mics, contain active circuitry that needs a power source to drive it, as opposed to passive circuitry which does not. Phantom Power is the name for a specific amount of voltage required by some microphones to function properly. We'll go in the same logical order that the questions tend to come up in conversation. This is the most complete but down-to-earth and easy to understand guide on the topic. Hopefully they, like you, have landed here. They look in the manual and for the first time see this mysterious phrase and are off on an investigation. Usually what happens is a newcomer gets their first microphone and preamplifier or audio interface and see that little button that says +48v on it. Now I can just send people here and save myself the trouble. What is phantom power? How does it work? Why does it have that name? Which mics need it? Anybody who's been in this industry hears these questions a million times a year, including me, which is why I'm writing it up. ![]()
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