{"id":552578,"date":"2023-02-15T19:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T16:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/"},"modified":"2023-02-15T19:00:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T16:00:07","slug":"what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Is Phantom Power, and Does Your Microphone Need It?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a316b80e13c1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a316b80e13c1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/#%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Phantom_Power_and_Does_Your_Microphone_Need_It%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;What Is Phantom Power, and Does Your Microphone Need It?&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/#What_Is_Phantom_Power\" >What Is Phantom Power?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/#Do_Condenser_Mics_Need_Phantom_Power\" >Do Condenser Mics Need Phantom Power?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/#Do_Dynamic_Mics_Need_Phantom_Power\" >Do Dynamic Mics Need Phantom Power?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-phantom-power-and-does-your-microphone-need-it\/#Can_Phantom_Power_Cause_Damage\" >Can Phantom Power Cause Damage?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Phantom_Power_and_Does_Your_Microphone_Need_It%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;What Is Phantom Power, and Does Your Microphone Need It?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<!-- UNCACHED CONTENT --><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-869449\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/52615157647_62a65e87e2_k-1.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Audio-Technical AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone at CES 2023.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Justin Duino \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Phantom power is a way of carrying electric current to power microphones without using a separate power supply. It&#8217;s typically used to power condenser microphones and the 48V DC power itself is supplied by most mixers, audio interfaces, and preamps.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re shopping for a microphone or audio interface, you\u2019ve probably seen the term phantom power. But what exactly is phantom power, where does it come from, and do you need it to power your microphone?<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Phantom_Power\"><\/span>What Is Phantom Power?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Phantom power is a method of providing power to a microphone without an external power supply or battery.\u00a0While some microphones don\u2019t require phantom power, other, more sensitive microphones do.<\/p>\n<p>Phantom power works by carrying DC electric current over an XLR cable that plugs into your microphone. This way, a single cable carries power to the microphone as well as the audio signal from it.<\/p>\n<p>The official standard for phantom power specifies that it can carry anywhere from 11 to 52 volts of DC power. Studio microphones most often run at 48 volts, so you\u2019ll see phantom power referred to as +48v.<\/p>\n<p>The power needs to come from somewhere, and in most cases it comes from a mixer or audio interface. While most audio interfaces feature phantom power, not all of them do. You can tell by looking for buttons labeled +48v or similar, usually near the gain controls.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-848747\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/focusrite-vocaster-one-connections.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Focusrite Vocaster inputs and outputs\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Kris Wouk \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Phantom power isn\u2019t the only way to provide power to a microphone. Lavaliere mics, for example, typically rely on internal batteries for power. Larger vacuum tube microphones also require more power, so they use their own bespoke power supplies.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Condenser_Mics_Need_Phantom_Power\"><\/span>Do Condenser Mics Need Phantom Power?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Every condenser microphone requires power, due to the way this type of microphone operates. In the majority of cases, this is phantom power. There are only two cases where condenser microphones use other power sources, which we\u2019ll look at in a moment.<\/p>\n<p>Condenser microphones are very sensitive, with a conductive diaphragm next to a solid metal plate. As the diaphragm vibrates, the distance between it and the metal plate creates changes in capacitance.<\/p>\n<p>This signal requires a built-in preamp to lower the impedance and amplify it. This is why condenser microphones require power, and, in most cases, this is phantom power.<\/p>\n<p>The first of the two exceptions is tube condenser mics, which, as mentioned above, use their own power supplies, so they don\u2019t require phantom power. The other exception is USB microphones, which get their power from the USB connection.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Dynamic_Mics_Need_Phantom_Power\"><\/span>Do Dynamic Mics Need Phantom Power?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dynamic microphones don\u2019t require phantom power because they work differently from condenser microphones.<\/p>\n<p>A dynamic mic essentially works like a speaker in reverse. Instead of sending a sound through a speaker, which vibrates and makes noise, dynamic microphones vibrate from noise in the air. This signal then <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a>s through a circuit in the mic and to your XLR cables.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-848981\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/beyerdynamic-m-70-pro-x-with-pop-filter.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X with pop filter\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Kris Wouk \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These signals are high enough in volume that the signal can go directly to your mixer, preamp, or audio interface. The only issue is that some dynamic microphones, like the Shure SM7B, have very low output.<\/p>\n<p>For these mics, you can use an inline preamp to boost the signal. These inline preamps sometimes use phantom power instead of an external power supply. In this case, it\u2019s the preamp that is using phantom power, not the microphone.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Phantom_Power_Cause_Damage\"><\/span>Can Phantom Power Cause Damage?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While it\u2019s possible to damage microphones with phantom power, it\u2019s not common or likely.<\/p>\n<p>One type of mic more prone to damage from phantom power than others are ribbon microphones. There are two types: active ribbon microphones, which actually require phantom power, and passive ribbon microphones.<\/p>\n<p>Passive ribbon microphones used to be more prone to damage from phantom power running to them. These days, these microphones have circuitry built in to avoid this type of damage. The only way you\u2019ll likely damage a ribbon microphone with phantom power these days is from an XLR cable with faulty wiring.<\/p>\n<p>The only other way to damage a ribbon microphone is a mistake you should avoid with any type of microphone when using phantom power, and that\u2019s forgetting to ensure it\u2019s off before plugging or unplugging cables. Never plug in a microphone with phantom power enabled. Switch it off, make the connection, then switch it on.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the above, and you shouldn\u2019t ever have to worry about damaging anything with phantom power.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Is Audio Distortion, and What Causes It?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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It&#8217;s typically used to power condenser microphones and the 48V DC power itself is supplied by most mixers, audio interfaces, and preamps&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":552579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/52615157647_62a65e87e2_k-1.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-552578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=552578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/552579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=552578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=552578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=552578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}