I was just given a SE2200a microphone and have a couple of questions and concerns.
First, when I plug it into my Mackie mixer, I can’t get the clip light to light up like it does with my other microphones.
Also, I seem to have to really crank the input volume to get the signal to come through.
I have phantom power and it works for my other mics.
I feel like such a dunce; is the above normal for such mic’s?
It’s normal for a microphone with the pad (attenuator) switched on by accident.
Koz
So far I’ve been unable to get the actual instructions for your microphone. Is it discontinued? There is a very thorough book on the seUSB2200a. If you locate a book, forward the link.
Koz
The clip light on the mixer should not be lighting up when using the mic as that indicates that the input signal is too high.
Check the pad switch as suggested by Koz.
Are you using the microphone the right way round? These mics have a front and a back - you record from the front side of it (look at the logo while you talk).
Steve, I’m talking about normally setting the clip to just before it lights up continuosly as per my Mackie instructions. No matter how high I set the input level volume, I do not get “clipping”. I suspect this is related to the volume control issue.
I did discover that there is a back and front to the mic during my experimentation. THe pad switch is set to 0dB.
To be honest, I’m not sure there is an issue, I strongly suspect there is because of the level I need to set the volume control to hear a signal being processed. I would love to hear from another sE2200a owner and compare notes with them.
Thank you for your efforts.
Koz.
First, thanks for your efforts. I tried to post a reply to you first but it seems to have failed miserably.
The “pad switch” is set to 0dB, I played with it and didn’t notice any difference. I suspect that is because my vocal volume wasn’t enough to kick in the 10dB reduction.
The “low cut switch” is currently set to the right position as suggested in that sEUSB2200a manual. Neither position made much difference in my experimentation.
I just emailed sE and shall post any response they send, if any. They advertize the mic as “Mic of the year” in 2004 and 2006 and I can find it for sale everywhere so I don’t think it’s discontinued.
Oh well.
Thanks again.
my vocal volume wasn’t enough to kick in the 10dB reduction.
It doesn’t “kick in.” The attenuator switch and attenuator switches in general are used when you expect loud sounds. They reduce the sensitivity of the microphone permanently until to you change it back.
I question the choice of 10dB as an attenuator value. In a live performance, 10dB isn’t very useful or significant. Live performers can blow through that with no effort. Shure Brothers microphone attenuator products start at 20dB and work up.
Is this a USB microphone? Is my instruction book for the seUSB2200a the right one? We can only go by what you tell us.
And yes, I would be concerned if I could not get the microphone channel to intentionally overload. The USB version of this microphone also has gain settings in software, I understand in addition to the attenuator.
I was given this microphone
To finish the sentence: …because the original owner couldn’t get it to work right…?
Koz
The “Pad” switch should make a noticeable reduction of the signal level.
Have you tried monitoring the mic signal by plugging headphones into the mixer?
Koz:
This is not their USB version. I have a sE2200a, not a USB2200a. It is a new one, I unwrapped it myself. There is not specific manual that I can find for the sE2200a, just a general manual for all microphones. Oh well.
Steve:
I have been experimenting with it using my headphones plugged into my UCA202 U-control. I hook the mic up to the Mackie, the Mackie to the UCA202 and the UCA202 to my PC which is running Vista.
The Pad Switch DID NOT make a noticeable difference, perhaps that is a clue to the problem.
Thanks again for your efforts and suggestions. I truly appreciate your assistance. Using another phantom powered mic works just find so I’m thinking I got a lemon but I’m just not sure. Oh well.
Thanks again……
The next thing on my list that I’m checking is if my Mackie puts out 48V phantom power. I’m hoping that this is a standard and that this is not an issue but I figure I should check that since it would explain my problems.
Oh well, I may have figured it out. My Mackie manual has the following….
“The PPM Series provide +15V DC phantom powering on pins….”
And, the lame sE Electronics Microphone Manual has the following….
“…require a phantom power supply (48V nominal)….”
Does this seem like the issue to you guys? If so, how would you suggest I deal with it? Can a preamp address this?
Thanks again.
if my Mackie puts out 48V phantom power.
Which Mackie?
There is not specific manual that I can find for the sE2200a, just a general manual for all microphones.
What came in the box?
You can see where that would put a hitch in things. Only you can touch and feel the actual microphone. We’re helpless and likely to stay that way.
Our Mackies have overload lights on each individual channel. Do yours and can you make yours overload? If your Mackie is big enough, it may have “trim” controls at the top of the channel.
Did we establish if your microphone is ribbon or condenser? Ribbon microphones can sound very nice, but nobody is giving out awards for their output power.
Koz
The three PPMs I found all supply 48v phantom power.
???
Koz
That is very strange. It clearly says 48v phantom on their web site: http://www.mackie.com/products/ppmseries/splash.html
If the desk really does only push out 15v then that is probably the reason for the problem as the sE2200a specifies:
“Power Requirement: Phantom power 48V±4V”
…
It looks like you are correct about 15v phantom
(do you not have an equivalent of the Trade Descriptions Act in the US?)
I would suggest (if possible) testing the microphone plugged into something that has 48v phantom just to check. If you don’t have anything that has 48v phantom and you don’t know anyone who has, then perhaps a local music shop will be able to help you. Standalone phantom power supplies are available, though it’s a shame if you can’t simply use phantom from the desk. Here’s an (inexpensive) example of a standalone phantom power supply: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/PS400.aspx (I’ve not tested one of these. Similar devices are available from ART, Samson and others).
I have a 406M six channel Mackie mixer. The manual is online at…
http://www.mackie.com/pdf/ppm_om.pdf
I downloaded the PDF some years ago so I had to look around for this manual on line. On page 19 is where you will find the quote I supply….
“The PPM Series provide +15V DC phantom powering on pins 2 and 3….”
I looked at a couple of the other Mackie manuals for similar mixers (408M, 408S, 808M, 808S) and they also stipulate +15V.
I note that the above mixers are “discontinued”. I see where the PPM1012 stipulates 48. So, perhaps the current models supply 48 whereas the discontinued models supplied 15. That’s my best interpretation of what I’m reading.
The manual that came in the box is the similar to one on line…
http://www.seelectronics.com/pdfs/sE_Mic_Manual.pdf
This seems to be a general manual and then you are sent to the web site for specifics.
http://www.seelectronics.com/sE2200a.html
I’m looking to test my theory out and appreciate your advice. I may just spend 30 bucks….
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/art-tube-mp-studio-mic-preamp
….since the more I look at this the more confidence I have in my theory.
One obvious question is why does the condenser mic I’ve had for years work. The answer is found in the manual….
http://www.akg.com/mediendatenbank2/psfile/datei/7/C535EB4055c242598ef.pdf
…” Operates on phantom powering from 9 to 52 Vdc”.
Oh well.
You guys have been very helpful and I truly appreciate your efforts. Thanks again. I’ll let you know how my experiment works.
For years the electronics makers have struggled to get rid of that stupid 48 volt phantom thing because it’s hard to make and manage and it adds cost to the product. The problem is you need all the microphone makers to follow you to wherever you decide to go. Few did. I have a new AKG microphone that can manage a wide range of supplies, but it’s happiest at the legacy 48v.
Even little field sound mixers will cheerfully supply 48 if asked. The Peavey PV6 supplies 48V.
As I understand this: 48 volts is the highest you can send around the house without special wiring and licenses. It’s also relatively easy to make 150 volts out of that to supply your vacuum tube microphone. Remember this is all happening before the days of tiny monolithic DC power generators which didn’t much care.
I can plug a legacy Neuman microphone into my modern mixer and it will work just fine. You can’t do that if your mixer won’t supply 48v.
Koz
In one of the boxes I have a Phantom Inserter whose sole job is to supply 48V and pass the sound onto whatever mixer you have. That’s all it does. No amplifier, limiters, etc. etc.
I’ll see if I can find it.
Koz
Here it is. It’s a Rolls PB23 Phantom Adapter. It has a switch to go between 12 and 48.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Rolls-PB23-Phantom-Power-Adapter-100315986-i1134895.gc
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/rolls-pb23-phantom-power-adapter
I’ve never used it.
Koz
I bought a Sterling AUdio PHP1 Phantom Power Supply…problem solved. The clip light clips and the mic pics up the TV in the other side of the house. I’m having fun recording a new song I wrote. All is well in Minnesnowda.