Phantom Power
Electrical power supplied through microphone cables to operate condenser microphones and active DI boxes during recording and live performance.
Definition
Phantom power provides +48 volts DC through standard XLR microphone cables, enabling condenser microphones and active direct injection boxes to function. Most professional audio interfaces and mixing consoles include phantom power switches for each input channel.
This power source eliminates the need for separate power supplies or batteries for compatible equipment, streamlining studio and live setups while ensuring consistent performance from sensitive recording equipment.
Why It Matters
Understanding phantom power prevents equipment damage and ensures proper microphone operation during critical recording sessions. Accidentally sending phantom power to ribbon microphones can cause expensive damage, while forgetting to enable it renders condenser mics useless.
Proper phantom power management is essential for professional recording workflows and live sound operations, affecting everything from vocal recordings to acoustic instrument capture and direct instrument inputs.
Examples in Practice
Studio engineers routinely enable phantom power for condenser microphones when recording vocals, ensuring the microphone's internal electronics receive adequate power for optimal sensitivity and frequency response.
Live sound technicians check phantom power settings during soundcheck, particularly when switching between dynamic microphones that don't require power and condenser mics that do.
Home studio producers must verify their audio interface provides phantom power before investing in condenser microphones, as some entry-level interfaces lack this essential feature for professional recording.