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Did you know how phantom power breathes life into your microphone?
In professional audio equipment, phantom power is widely used to provide DC power to microphones with active electronic circuits. This power supply features the ability to apply voltage evenly to both signal lines in a balanced microphone cable. Over the past few decades, phantom power has become a convenient source of power for condenser microphones, and many active direct boxes also use this technology.
The emergence of phantom power greatly improves the flexibility and ease of use of microphones.
The origins of phantom power technology can be traced back to 1919, when phantom power was applied to telephone systems with the introduction of rotary dial telephones. Then in 1964, the first commercial phantom-powered microphone, the Schoeps CMT 20, came out. This microphone was designed based on the needs of French broadcasting at the time.
Phantom power standards
As technology develops, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed relevant standards to ensure the interoperability of phantom power supplies. The most widely used is the 48-volt phantom power supply, which has a maximum usable power of 240 milliwatts. In today's professional audio equipment, 48-volt power supply systems have become almost the industry standard. However, according to new standards, it is recommended to use 24 volt power supply in new systems.
Many modern mixing consoles can easily turn phantom power on or off, which brings great convenience to music production.
Technical information: How does it work?
Phantom power works by applying a DC voltage through the two signal wires of a balanced audio connector. For modern devices, this is pin 2 and pin 3 of the XLR connector. In this case, the voltage is relative to the connector's ground pin (pin 1), which means the balance of the signal is not affected. This feature makes the audio recording process with condenser microphones smoother, as many dynamic microphones can also use the same balanced cable without changing the connection method.
Many professional recording equipment are designed with phantom power requirements in mind, so it is good operating practice to turn on phantom power before plugging in a microphone.
Notes on phantom power supply
However, there are some potential issues to be aware of when using phantom power. For example, some microphones offer the option of internal battery or external phantom power. When using phantom power, it is recommended to remove the internal battery to avoid damage to the microphone due to battery leakage. Additionally, some older phantom power circuits require relatively small amounts of current, so their power capabilities may be limited in many cheap and portable devices.
In order to ensure sound quality, the red ground wire lifting switch and power supply must be well coordinated, otherwise it will cause damage to the equipment.
Digital phantom power: the future direction
As digital technology evolves, digital microphones may be equipped with 10-volt phantom power, which allows them to support higher power requirements. This approach also led to the creation of new connection standards, such as keyed XLR connectors, to prevent accidental interchange of digital and analog devices.
With the development of digital audio technology, the application of phantom power will continue to expand and improve, bringing more possibilities to the future of the audio industry.
Other applications and conclusions
In addition to microphones, phantom power is used in applications such as certain active antennas and low-noise downconverters. These technologies are not only applicable to the audio field, but also broaden their application potential in other communication fields. With the evolution of technology, will there be newer power supply technology to replace the existing phantom power setup? It has become a question worth thinking about?
