OT: Phantom power options

tomjgill wrote on 11/5/2004, 2:31 PM
Hello. Long-time reader, first-time poster here. I have purchased and installed an M-audio delta 1010LT card to capture audio to Vegas. I would like to connect my AKG C3000 condenser microphone to one of the XLR inputs on the card to take advantage of the mic preamp on the card - I have no external preamps. The microphone requires phantom power which I previously obtained by running through my Mackie mixer. I was under the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that I would obtain a better sound from the preamp on the M-Audio card. My mixer has only 1/4" outputs not XLR. What are my options (short of buying a different mixer) for getting phantom power to my microphone while using the XLR input with preamp on the sound card, or will I get a better sound by simply running through the mixer into one of the other inputs on the card? Thank you in advance,

Tom

Comments

vanblah wrote on 11/5/2004, 2:34 PM
You can buy a phantom power supply.

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

There are many more models to choose from besides the one I linked.

Doug
tomjgill wrote on 11/5/2004, 2:40 PM
Thank you Doug. I appreciate the help. Am I correct in assuming that I will obtain a better sound (all other things being equal) by using the preamp on the M-Audio card rather than simply going through the mixer?
MJhig wrote on 11/5/2004, 2:48 PM
Check your Mackie manual, my Mackie 1604 has balanced 1/4" outputs, they are TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve). It's simply cables with TRS (also called Stereo) 1/4" males on one end with XLRs on the other.

MJ
Geoff_Wood wrote on 11/5/2004, 5:12 PM
Hi Tom,

The output on your Mackie are balanced, and no difference electrically or in quality to an XLR. A simple TRS jack-to-XLR cable is fine.

You can buy phantom adaptors that connect inline - the C3000 works down to 9V I believe.

However the C3000 is a ghastly mic, with a most unpleasant HF response. I sold my pair years ago , and replaced with Rode NT1000s. I doubt there would be any significant improvement in the nature of the sound by bypassing the Mackie.

geoff
tomjgill wrote on 11/5/2004, 5:25 PM
Thank you all for your responses. I greatly appreciate the assistance. I know the main output is balanced. If, however, I would like to use the channel inserts as direct outs, will a TRS to XLR cable work there as well. Thanks again,

Tom

Thanks for the recommendation regarding the microphone as well.
MJhig wrote on 11/5/2004, 7:40 PM
No, the channel inserts are multi-function. Insert a mono plug to the first click and the channel's signal is tapped without interrupting the channel's signal to the Mackie's main buss. Insert the mono plug all the way in and the channel's signal is tapped and the signal to the buss is interrupted.

Insert a TRS (stereo) plug and the tip is out, the ring is in so you can use an FX processor on that channel.

MJ
tomjgill wrote on 11/6/2004, 6:06 AM
Many thanks to all for the responses. I now have a couple of options to consider. I appreciate the time people take to help others on this forum. The Vegas forum is the best I have visited, and I hope that, in the future, I will be able to contribute as well.

Tom
scottshackrock wrote on 11/7/2004, 9:15 AM
I think your Mackie preamps would hold up against the 1010lt's. Mackie's are pretty standard, especially for home recording - and it will by no means sound bad.