Phantom power
A DC supply, conventionally forty-eight volts, sent along the same two conductors as a balanced microphone signal so a condenser microphone can be powered without a separate cable.
The voltage is applied equally to both signal pins, so it does not appear across the differential input and does not disturb the audio. It is switched per channel on a mixer or interface, and it must be turned off before connecting a ribbon microphone, which can be damaged by it. Active direct boxes and some other equipment also use it, which is convenient for a guitarist recording through a DI with no battery.
Example: an active direct box with no battery will run from the console's phantom supply over the same XLR cable.
See also
Related
- PageCondenser microphone
- PageDI box
- PageAmp mic placement
- PageBalanced signal
- PageCardioid
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock