mic power

Renton Maclachlan · June 5th, 2010, 10:26 PM

I have a couple of Rode mics - NTG2 and NT3

Is there any difference/advantage operating these mics by either battery or phantom power?

I understand they - at least the NT3 - can use 12v phantom power. Is there any difference/advantage operating them in 12v phantom verses 48v phantom power?

Pete Cofrancesco · June 5th, 2010, 11:11 PM

Its mainly for flexibility. It can be used with a camera or device that doesn't supply phantom power. Believe me that is handy if you ever get caught in a situation where you can't provide phantom power. The convenience comes at a price, forget the battery in there and put it in storage it can corrode and ruin the mic, or forget to put a new battery in and it dies in a middle of a performance, or slowly weakens over time and you don't realize its the battery. Battery also adds more weight and size that is noticeable if your using it on a hand held boom. Batteries provide very clean power but I can't say I've noticed the difference between phantom power.

Rick Reineke · June 5th, 2010, 11:54 PM

I have not looked the RODE specs, but in general, Phantom/Battery powered mic's SPL range and S/R noise would be pretty close. As they are 'Electret condenser microphones', a fixed-charge plate mic which does not require a full 48 volts of the 'true' condenser'. Normally just requiring low-voltage 'Bias current',.. either supplied by a reduced Phantom power or a 1.5 or 9v battery.

Jon Fairhurst · June 6th, 2010, 03:45 PM

You will typically get a bit more dynamic range on phantom, compared to battery. Most mic vendors show different specs for the two situations.

Shaun Roemich · June 6th, 2010, 04:05 PM

Plus running on phantom power versus battery ever so slightly reduces your ongoing costs and non-recyclable garbage footprint.

June 5th, 2010, 10:26 PM	#1
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	mic power - battery or phantom? I have a couple of Rode mics - NTG2 and NT3 Is there any difference/advantage operating these mics by either battery or phantom power? I understand they - at least the NT3 - can use 12v phantom power. Is there any difference/advantage operating them in 12v phantom verses 48v phantom power?

June 5th, 2010, 11:54 PM	#3
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	I have not looked the RODE specs, but in general, Phantom/Battery powered mic's SPL range and S/R noise would be pretty close. As they are 'Electret condenser microphones', a fixed-charge plate mic which does not require a full 48 volts of the 'true' condenser'. Normally just requiring low-voltage 'Bias current',.. either supplied by a reduced Phantom power or a 1.5 or 9v battery. Last edited by Rick Reineke; June 6th, 2010 at 12:28 AM.

June 6th, 2010, 03:45 PM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	You will typically get a bit more dynamic range on phantom, compared to battery. Most mic vendors show different specs for the two situations. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

June 6th, 2010, 04:05 PM	#5
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Plus running on phantom power versus battery ever so slightly reduces your ongoing costs and non-recyclable garbage footprint. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

June 5th, 2010, 11:11 PM	#2
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,004	Its mainly for flexibility. It can be used with a camera or device that doesn't supply phantom power. Believe me that is handy if you ever get caught in a situation where you can't provide phantom power. The convenience comes at a price, forget the battery in there and put it in storage it can corrode and ruin the mic, or forget to put a new battery in and it dies in a middle of a performance, or slowly weakens over time and you don't realize its the battery. Battery also adds more weight and size that is noticeable if your using it on a hand held boom. Batteries provide very clean power but I can't say I've noticed the difference between phantom power.