Home Recording Equipment

Phantom Power – A Dizzying Description

October 9, 2012 by Ken Leave a Comment

Phantom power is not supernatural, nor is it anything to do with with Andrew Lloyd Weber (snicker). So that is what it isn’t. What it is can be – gasp what a surprise – a bit confusing and “techie” sounding when someone tries to explain it. I asked someone for 400 words on what phantom power is and below was the result. Hint: take a big hit on your coffer, soda or 5-Hour Energy drink before proceeding. I will put up a now-what-is-it-really-and-only-tell-me-what-I-need-to-know post on phantom power soon.

Phantom Power

Phantom power is a technical term used by audio aficionados which is the direct current smeared likewise through the two signal lines of a balanced audio connector. When the concept of phantom power was brought about, one of its benefits was that the same type of balanced and shielded microphone cables that well equipped studios were typically using for microphones, could now be used for condenser microphones. This is different than the uses for the usual dynamic microphones. The traditional circuitry of most of the microphone equipment requires special multi-conductor cables. Phantom power alleviated some of these needs.
Supplying phantom power can be achieved by microphone or other device and obtain DC power from either allowing two capacitors to block DC power from registering at the output or running a signal line to a ground terminal. Appropriate settings for R1 and R2 has to be 6.8k ohms for 48 volt phantom, and R3 will not be used in this case. Phantom power can effectively and seamlessly supply voltage to well-adjusted microphones that do not use it. Most vibrant microphones would be included. The only difference in voltage amid two signal lines of a balanced signal will be noted as phantom powering spaces identical DC voltage on either signal lines of the balanced connection.
In contrast to earlier methods of powering, in which DC had a direct overlay onto the indicator in disparity mode. This method was of German origin and referred to as “Parallel Powering” or “T-Powering”. The connection of a orthodox microphone to an input that had one or the other between T-powering or parallel powering facilitated can harm the microphone.
Phantom powering isn’t without its flaws. It can cause significant damage or equipment malfunction when cast-off with adapters or cables that connect either of the sides of the common input to earth. This is especially the case when different equipment besides microphones are linked to it. To avoid theses perils numerous mixer boards have a switch that serves as a tool for switching phantom power on or off. Most high-end gear this is achieved individually by a channel setting. On lesser mixers most if not all microphone channels can be set either on or off. This can also be done in groupings of most mid-range boards as well as some of the small ones. Disconnecting an individual channel from phantom power shouldn’t prove to be too difficult. This can be completed by means of a 1:1 seclusion blocking capacitors or transformer.

What Is The Best Mic For Home Studio Recording Projects?

October 8, 2012 by Ken 2 Comments

Microphones – Here is the other (very!) frequently asked question by folks new to recording at home. And I confess I asked it when I was just starting out. Though I do agree with the “it depends” part of the answer to a large degree, all the person asked for was “a clear mic” for under $300. The advice as basically this: you can either get a $300 mike (the AT and the AKG are about that), or you can use dynamic mics (the Shures) for about $100. Really? those are the only choices? See the Home Brew Audio answer at the end.
Q: I’m looking to buy a microphone for a home recording studio. I want a really clear mic for under $300. I’d love help from someone who has a good one, or knows one.
A: It really depends on what you want to record with it. What are you recording to? A good vocal mic you can use is Rode NT2-A, which is my “everyday mic”. It is it a large diaphragm condenser mic, so, it will need phantom power to make it work. You can also use it to record acoustic guitar, or just set it up in a room to record music.
Another good mic is the Audio-Technica At2035 microphone. It’s an outstanding microphone to put in a room and just record what is happening. Again, it is a condenser mic so you need phantom power.
Another good mic is the Shure sm57 and sm58. They are both dynamic mics so you don’t need phantom power. these are good study mics that you can use from vocals to guitar to drums.
All in all, its hard to record music with one mic, but you can do it. It’s better to have a couple mics set up so you can get better levels on what you want to record. Good luck.

Here is the Home Brew Audio answer:

While the two condenser mics mentioned above are good, they push or exceed the budget of the person asking the question. I don’t think the either of the Shure mics are particularly “clear” (something else the questioner asked for) for recording purposes (mainly because they are dynamic mics as opposed to condenser mics – see our article What Are The Different Types of Microphones? for a review of that).
the other budget issue for mics like the Audio-Technica At2035 or Rode NT2-A is that though they sound great, they need an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo in order to plug them into your computer, adding another $100.
What I would recommend is one of the new crop of affordable-yet-clear sounding USB mics. The one I have and recommend for the price is the Samson Q2U for about $59. Not only is it cheaper than any of the mics mentioned in the answer above, but for PC audio recording it is definitely better than either of the Shure mics for clarity. You might do even better with some of the more expensive USB mics on the market too, such as the Samson C01U or Blue Yeti. At that point it is all down to budget.
Our two cents.

What Is A USB Microphone?

October 7, 2012 by Ken Leave a Comment

USB microphones have seen significant improvement in quality and price in recent years. High-quality audio recording is much more convenient and affordable with these plug-and-play mics than using a standard microphone, and they’re definitely cheaper than some of the extra equipment that you would need with a standard mic. If you’re anything like me, not adding to the list of “gadgets that give me a headache” is always a good thing.

Less To Do

Most standard microphones require the user to install software on their computer so that the computer knows how to use it. It’s not a huge hassle, but finding that disc when you need it months or years down the road might be. A key advantage of USB microphones is that they do not require you to install anything on your computer in order to use them. Some will come with software that you can use, but it is not absolutely required to use it. Whether you’re changing between two computers at your own home or doing some recording at a friend’s house, setting up your mic can be as simple as plugging it in.

No Interface Box Required

Another difference between these two types of mics is that a USB mic will always be used to provide digital input to a computer. Because of this, the mic makes the analog-to-digital conversion within the microphone itself. With a standard mic a separate interface box with an analog-to-digital converter, or ADC, in it is used. A decent quality ADC can cost more than $100, so having the converter included in the mic is great. The ADC takes analog signals, which are the kind of signals that humans can make and understand, and turns them into digital signals, which computers can understand. When it’s time for playback the digital information is turned back into analog sound by speakers for our ears to enjoy.
With all these great perks about USB mics, why would anyone use anything different? Compared to a USB mic, standard microphones of the same type are generally less noisy, producing better quality recordings that are more clear with less hiss. Depending on what your home recordings are being used for, upgrading to a standard microphone may or may not be necessary in the long run. Plus with some decent quality noise-reduction tools available in most recording software, this may not be a huge problem.

Instead of letting the cost and complication of new equipment keep you from getting started, try a more reasonable combination of an affordable mic and the right know-how to get the most for your time and money.

After “What is a USB microphone?”, the next logical question is where to start? The Samson Q1U is a great value, with the Samson C01 being a step up from there. Either of these mics are available at places like Best Buy or online for about $50 and $80 respectively. There are better, more expensive mics available, but either of these two will start you on the path towards professional recording from home. Instead of letting the cost and complication of new equipment keep you from getting started, try a more reasonable combination of an affordable mic and the right know-how to get the most for your time and money.

Instrument Muse Played On Saturday Night Live – Status Graphite Bass With Kitara?

October 7, 2012 by Ken Leave a Comment

Updating this post because I’m watching Late Night With Stephen Colbert on July 20th, 2017. Chris was still playing the same instrument I wrote about back in 2012. Here is what I wrote about it back then.
If you saw Muse on Saturday Night Live (Oct 7th, 2012) playing the song, Madness (see video here: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/muse-madness/1419951/), you may have noticed the bass player, Chris Wolstenholme, playing a very strange looking instrument that looked like a bass guitar with a back-lit touch screen which he used to play the notes. It was a combination Misa Kitara Digital Guitar Synth Controller on the top and Status Graphite S2-Classic headless bass guitar put together like a double neck guitar.
Misa (misadigital.com) even has the music video for Madness which shows Chris playing JUST the Misa Kitara (not the mashup with the Status bass). So we know for sure that Misa acknowledges the use of the Kitara on the song. And since Chris has a signature series bass with Status Graphite, we can be pretty darned sure his combo instrument on Saturday Night Live was, in fact, made up of a Misa Kitara and Status Graphite S2. Update in 2017 – apparently the Kitara has been replaced with the “Tri-Bass Digital.”

What the Kitara touchscreen thingy is doing is acting as a combination synthesizer and MIDI controller. There are internal synth sounds that you can select through the synthesizer engine. And then you can apply any number of digital effects to those sounds. The “fretboard” on the neck of the Kitara has no strings, but rather 24 frets, each with a row of 6 buttons, each corresponding to a specific note. The default is that each note is what it would be on a guitar. But you can change those up however you like.
As a MIDI controller, you can connect any MIDI instrument or sound source you have to the Kitara, and trigger them with it, controlling your MIDI gear with the Kitara.
Both Misa and Status Graphite are being very tight-lipped about the dual instrument used by Muse on SNL, probably either because the instrument combo was cobbled together after-market, or is otherwise not available for purchase.

Kitara MIDI Guitar — Click Here For More Info And/Or To Buy Your Own Misa Tri-Bass Digital

If you want a Kitara for your very own (minus the bass guitar hanging off the bottom;)), you may need to check on eBay for a used one, since they are apparently not being made anymore. For the Misa Tri-Bass Digital, check herefor details or to buy one.
Find out more about Status Graphite here: http://www.status-graphite.com/
And below are some more instruments used by Muse

The XJS 5000 Dictaphone From Suits

October 6, 2012 by Ken 24 Comments

Sony ICD-SX712 digital voice recorder — Sony ICD-SX712

I like to keep an eye out for audio recording references in pop culture, such as when watching television shows, movies, etc. This past week (June 21st, 2012) on the USA network series, Suits, the character of Louis Litt (an attorney), received a gift from one of the managing senior partners (the despicable Daniel Hardman). When Louis opened the box he saw what appeared to be a hand-held audio recorder. He said “The XJS 5000 Dictaphone. How the hell did he know?”
Several things went through my mind at that point, such as confusion as to why a guy who wears 5-thousand dollar suits would be impressed by a gift like this, especially since his iPhone could do the same thing; and why he would say “how did he know?” as if he had been longing for one of these dictaphones but had not purchased one for himself. But the most pressing matter was to look up whether there was even such a thing as an XJS 5000 Dictaphone. My wife and I both started with the research, her on the laptop and me on my iPhone/dictaphone.

It turns out that the XJS 5000 was in reality the Sony ICD-SX712 digital voice recorder. (Note: The 712 was apparently discontinued in 2014 and replaced with the Sony ICD-SX733 Digital Voice Recorder – though you can still get them at Amazon). It costs about $190 (US) (though the original 712 is now quite a bit more expensive – probably due to scarcity). And just like the package on Louis’ XJS 5000, the Sony boasts hundreds of hours of recording time, which is probably more than an iPhone. Or at least more than you’d want to put on your phone:).
But still I wondered why a lawyer would need one of these; and why, when he probably spends more than that on lunch, Louis had not dropped the 120 bucks to get his own recorder rather than secretly pining away for one.

I don’t have any really great answers to these questions. But I decided to look into the features of the Sony ICD. I mean what could possibly be so great about being able to record your voice all the time, especially when you’d have to schlep around yet another electronic thing along with your wallet and smart phone.

Louis-Litt-Litt-Up-Mugs — You Just Got Litt Up mug

One feature did catch my eye – the description that said: Software Prints Out Your Recordings. By the way, that last thing is just for the “D” model (Sony ICD-SX712D), which is a bit more expensive because it comes with Dragon Naturally Speaking software, with which you can “have your dictation files automatically transcribed to text when you upload them to your compatible Windows computer.” Since the original 712D is so hard to get now, a great (and cost-effective) substitute is the Philips Voice Tracer DVT2700 for only about $80 US!
That sounds very cool. It turns out that the Sony includes speech-to-text software which converts your recorded audio into text and saves it for you so you can print it out later. Now THAT is handy. I’m constantly grabbing my iPhone to type notes into Evernote. It would certainly be a lot faster to be able to speak to my iPhone and have it create the note for me. No doubt there is a way to make this happen, perhaps via something like the Dragon Dictation app (which is the same company that makes the software for the Sony, BTW).
So I’m still not convinced a lawyer would need a separate digital voice recorder. But for some of us, especially the ones who don’t have smart phones already, this can be a pretty cool little tool. If you’d like get a Digital Voice Recorder for yourself, click right here.