Audacity Forum

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

Thomas Engelhardt wrote:“The PPM Series provide +15V DC phantom powering on pins….”

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-audi ... 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/psf ... 2598ef.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- ... 1134895.gc
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... er-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.