EEVblog #616 - How Microphone Phantom Powering Works

[JackOfVA]

Although audio isn't my main or even secondary interest, I've found the Doug Ford videos extremely interesting. 

 

[dentaku]

I find all thins audio related interesting so Having Doug's practical information has been very educational.
I may never use a microphone (synths don't need mics) but it's all audio so the same concepts apply.

[ecat]

That's pretty selective statistical analysis.  I could say the same thing about test equipment.  I would bet that most of us are less enamored by analysis of test gear and consider it just a utilitarian tool like a screwdriver.  And what's the obsession with soldering irons?  As a newcomer here, I perceive that this community really has its fetishes. I strongly suspect that after Dave is finished doling out the episodes from Mr. Ford, we will likely never hear of microphones again.  But I will still regularly slog through DMMs and soldering irons until the end of time.  At least the mailbag brings some variety.

Dave's most popular video is/was the soldering tutorial, it's a simple fact that anything mentioning soldering or soldering irons will attract an audience. Thanks to the internet, every year thousands of people discover a need for a soldering iron and go in search for advice and information and soon learn they also need a multimeter and the knowledge that V = IR. Soldering, test equipment, basic theory make for popular videos.

I think this is great news for everyone with an interest in electronics: At the hobby level the market is increasing in size, people become more aware of the quality of the devices they buy, interest in electronics leads to the application of logical thought which hopefully will spill back out into the individual's other interests and activities... The list goes on.

Microphones:
Thousands of people out there have a web cam or mobile phone and are wondering why their Youtube videos suck. One big reason is audio quality which, of course, brings us to microphones. A quick search of Youtube for audio/microphone problems brings up a familiar list of ill-informed videos made by people with an ego, a big mouth, a video camera and often, funnily enough, a poor quality audio recording set-up. More quality information on microphones is needed.

Rod Elliott:
It was Rod's site that brought back my interest in electronics, at last I'd found a site that not only contained some interesting projects and articles but was written by someone who knew what they were talking about. That was long ago. Today I have Rod's phantom powered microphone amp in front of me ready for assembly in the hope that it will solve the problem with the low gain and noisy mic. input on my PC.

[SeanB]

I learned a bit from the series, and quite enjoy Doug's style of teaching. Only thing is the hum from the aircon every so often, quite amusing ( but shows the good mic you have there) but a little intrusive at times on an otherwise very quiet audio track. The extra insulation you want to install should help a lot with that.

[HKJ]

My interest in microphones is not that great, but I enjoy listening Doug talking about them, probably because I like learning stuff.
Of course, a lot of the stuff is pretty obvious, at least when Doug talks about it.

My biggest complain is that David only gives us small pieces at a time, I would have preferred an hour each time, not only 20 minutes.

[Macbeth]

It's not just about microphones though is it? It's about differential lines like the XLR connectors and stuff vs. the fucking shit Monster cable gold plated silver oxygen free copper bollocks phono connectors. It's very interesting. I had a PA system recently and wondered what "Phantom Power" was all about, considering the cheap arse mic I had was just a battery powered jobby going through coax to a proper XLR connector. Indeed every device I had was just shitty coax going into some sham XLR rigged up by a roadie with a shit soldering iron.

Years back when I helped crack the Ford ACP protocol for their car head units I found they used a balanced design with twisted pair. It was 10V peak to peak as i recall. A simple line-in or phono would not work whatsoever.

I tell you, all those ground paths and stuff can seriously fuck up your audio experience, especially in such a noisy electrical environment of a modern car, if you don't follow some of this stuff. I find it very interesting.

Audiophools can stick with their shiny phono cables.

[ThisDoesNotCompute]

Dave, thanks for doing this microphone series. I know it's not interesting to everyone, but as a self-taught hobbyist audio engineer I find the videos very educational.

One question I have about this video in particular: Doug does a great job of explaining "traditional" phantom powering of condenser mics over balanced connections. What about bias powering, which is typically done over an unbalanced connection? (Example: a lot of video cameras offer 3.5mm mic inputs that have "plug-in power" for electret condensers.)

[EEVblog]

I just thought that 42% of EEVblog videos about microphones was a bit too much. If 6 of the last 14 videos had been about that little electric vehicle I bet you guys would be up in arms.

They have to be uploaded at some point. And uploading one huge multi-hour episode would be a disservice to everyone who wanted to watch.
I'm already spreading the material out enough I think. Any closer together and I'd be accused of flodding the channel, the current level I get a few complaints, and if I wait wait month between videos to those few who care about content ratio, then I get complaints about not getting them out soon enough.
It is what it is. I can't win, and those who don't like the videos or the frequency of them will never be happy anyway.

[Rory]

It's a pleasure watching you two go at it about microphones, Dave. I wish I had a good friend like Doug. You're a lucky guy to have all these interesting people to talk with.

[David_AVD]

I haven't watched all the mic videos, but don't see any problem with having a series of them.  There was clearly a lot of content to get through.

If someone doesn't want to watch, they don't have to.  You can bet if you did a series on their (the complainers) pet subject, they wouldn't be upset.   

[SeanB]

Dave, thanks for doing this microphone series. I know it's not interesting to everyone, but as a self-taught hobbyist audio engineer I find the videos very educational.

One question I have about this video in particular: Doug does a great job of explaining "traditional" phantom powering of condenser mics over balanced connections. What about bias powering, which is typically done over an unbalanced connection? (Example: a lot of video cameras offer 3.5mm mic inputs that have "plug-in power" for electret condensers.)

that has been done earlier when discussing electret microphones and the pitfalls of the PC phantom system with noise.

[lewis]

Dave, don't listen to the nay-sayers, you're doing a great job. Doug is effing awesome, and, how'd-you-puddit, really knows his stuff. Meh!

Also, DEFINITELY get Rod on the blog if he's up for it, it was his site that encouraged my interest in audio electronics many moons ago, and he really knows his stuff too. Ask him about light bulbs.

In fact, some more guests more regularly would be great!

[zapta]

That microphone guys is a natural showman. I enjoy watching him, maybe because he reminds me of Robert California.  He also knows his stuff through and through and knows how to explain it.

For me one or two microphone episodes would be enough. Hopefully he does not have a tween brother that specializes in headphones.

[atw60444]

Yeah, keep getting Doug back, I really enjoy his talks. I've got no particular need to know all about microphones. But I find the videos really interesting. The train PA / communication system teardown was another great example of Doug talking through something that he'd actually designed, the whys and wherefores of it all 

[Towger]

I am sure it will get complaints.
But how about getting Doug to do an episode or 3 on different types of microphones and their correct use in different situations. There is much more to recording sound than picking a generic Mic and placing it in front of its source.

[DrGeoff]

But how about getting Doug to do an episode or 3 on different types of microphones and their correct use in different situations. There is much more to recording sound than picking a generic Mic and placing it in front of its source.

Plenty of good videos already by well respected recording engineers on mic usage and placement.

[jaxbird]

Thanks, great video 

Looking forward to more Doug / Dave videos.

And if you can, as suggested previously, do some sessions together with Rod Elliott, that would be really great

Rod has for many years been a voice of reason.


 

[Dave]

I have never given microphones too much thought, so it really is interesting to get insight like this from a pro. I look forward to seeing more of these.

[ciccio]

I build audio gear for a living, and the microphone series was interesting: I knew about everything Mr.Forf explained, but he gave a good refresh to my knowlwdges.
Decades ago I spent days searching some informations about the design of a phantom powered mic preamp. It was an urgent project, and  not many infos were then available.
The video could have saved a lot of my time....
What about a video on low noise mic preamplifers?
Best regards