Phantom power supply at DVinfo.net

Steve Bobilin · June 20th, 2014, 01:47 PM

I want to get a small phantom power supply, such as powered by a 9v battery, that I can use with a wireless XLR transmitter. My wireless system does not supply Phantom power. I plug the receiver into my camcorder.
My camcorder, Sony EA 50, comes with an OK shotgun mic. The camcorder supplies Phantom power. But if I try to use the mic with my Sennheiser SKP 100 G3 plug-on transmitter it won't work because the transmitter does not supply Phantom power. The transmitter works fine with a dynamic mic.

I want something small. A barrel or XLR to XLR microphone cable with a battery?

I've tried searching, but have come up empty.

Don Bloom · June 20th, 2014, 02:17 PM

Here's a page from B&H. Phantom Power Supplies | B&H Photo Video

I have used a Fat Boy power supply when I've needed it. Personally the mic from the EA50 really isn't all that good. I have a few of the older versions sitting around in my bag as just in case mics but honestly haven't used them for years. IMO you'd be better off getting a new mic like an AT897 or something like that. Not that costly and better sound but that's just me.

Gary Nattrass · June 21st, 2014, 12:07 AM

Change your SKP100 to an SKP300 and you have it all in one unit!

Donald McPherson · June 21st, 2014, 02:22 AM

You could try the irig hack. It gets very good results from audio people.

Stephen Brenner · June 21st, 2014, 02:45 AM

I'm happy with my Denecke PS-1A
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/403002-REG/Denecke_PS_1A_PS_1A_Portable_Single.html

Brian P. Reynolds · June 21st, 2014, 03:33 PM

What sort of mic do you want to plug into your XLR transmitter?

Steve Bobilin · June 21st, 2014, 08:00 PM

I would like to use the phantom -powered shotgun mic that comes with my Sony EA-50, the ECM-XM1. I am open to buying a better mic, but I thought I could find a battery-powered phantom power supply—small—like a barrel or built into a microphone cable. I don' t see any products like that.
I don't really want to do the Irig hack—though it is tempting to adapt the idea. I need a standard XLR to standard XLR, just like a microphone cable.

Or I'll buy a battery powered AT897 as Don suggested.

Don Bloom · June 21st, 2014, 08:33 PM

The phantom boxes are generally bigger because of the circuitry involved. Personally I think you're better off with a different mic. First like I said I have a few of the NX1's laying around and I used to use them as a last resort. MY general purpose SHOTGUN mic is my AT897, with my AKG Blueline Hyper as my #1 mic and THAT mic I could power with my Fat Boy Phantom supply and my AT plug in transmitter.
We all hate to spend money but I have to think a better mic that can be powered with an AA battery OR phantom power would be a better investment.
However your money your choice.
Good luck.

Chris Harding · June 21st, 2014, 09:21 PM

Hi Steve

When I had my Panasonic cams I used Rode Videomics ..they are a little bulkier than the NG's but are cheap as chips and have a nice output (around -38dbA) so for general use they work very well and, of course are self powered too ... I used to have one on a boom feeding a transmitter and had good results even if the ambient noise was quite high ... Dunno about Hawaii but here they are $149.00 brand new!!

I keep my EA-50 mic on both cameras so I have a nice backup just in case .. they seem to work well at fairly close range but I have never used them remotely. Maybe look for a used Videomic and try it. It does use a 9v battery but they last for years!!

Chris

Paul R Johnson · June 22nd, 2014, 02:02 AM

Plenty of them around but as most are built around 9 v batteries, the size means it's a big lump.

Peter Riding · June 22nd, 2014, 02:14 AM

Another vote here for a battery powered shotgun mic.

I use a Rode NTG2. It has the option of inserting a single AA cell into the barrel and then phantom power is not required. That is what I always do. I like that it uses AA's as that matches most of my other accessories so cell management is easier.

The shotgun mic itself acts as a second diversity aerial with the Sennheiser G3 transmitter therefore potentially improving the G3's performance.

I've found that the NTG2 with its foamy plus a fury is good outside in a breeze as well.

Pete

June 20th, 2014, 02:17 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Phantom power supply Here's a page from B&H. Phantom Power Supplies \| B&H Photo Video I have used a Fat Boy power supply when I've needed it. Personally the mic from the EA50 really isn't all that good. I have a few of the older versions sitting around in my bag as just in case mics but honestly haven't used them for years. IMO you'd be better off getting a new mic like an AT897 or something like that. Not that costly and better sound but that's just me. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

June 21st, 2014, 12:07 AM	#3
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Phantom power supply Change your SKP100 to an SKP300 and you have it all in one unit! __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

June 21st, 2014, 02:22 AM	#4
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Phantom power supply You could try the irig hack. It gets very good results from audio people.

June 21st, 2014, 02:45 AM	#5
Stephen Brenner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brownsville, OR Posts: 116	Re: Phantom power supply I'm happy with my Denecke PS-1A http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/403002-REG/Denecke_PS_1A_PS_1A_Portable_Single.html

June 21st, 2014, 03:33 PM	#6
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Phantom power supply What sort of mic do you want to plug into your XLR transmitter?

June 20th, 2014, 01:47 PM	#1
Steve Bobilin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 53	Phantom power supply I want to get a small phantom power supply, such as powered by a 9v battery, that I can use with a wireless XLR transmitter. My wireless system does not supply Phantom power. I plug the receiver into my camcorder. My camcorder, Sony EA 50, comes with an OK shotgun mic. The camcorder supplies Phantom power. But if I try to use the mic with my Sennheiser SKP 100 G3 plug-on transmitter it won't work because the transmitter does not supply Phantom power. The transmitter works fine with a dynamic mic. I want something small. A barrel or XLR to XLR microphone cable with a battery? I've tried searching, but have come up empty.

June 21st, 2014, 08:00 PM	#7
Steve Bobilin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 53	Re: Phantom power supply I would like to use the phantom -powered shotgun mic that comes with my Sony EA-50, the ECM-XM1. I am open to buying a better mic, but I thought I could find a battery-powered phantom power supply—small—like a barrel or built into a microphone cable. I don' t see any products like that. I don't really want to do the Irig hack—though it is tempting to adapt the idea. I need a standard XLR to standard XLR, just like a microphone cable. Or I'll buy a battery powered AT897 as Don suggested.

June 21st, 2014, 08:33 PM	#8
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Phantom power supply The phantom boxes are generally bigger because of the circuitry involved. Personally I think you're better off with a different mic. First like I said I have a few of the NX1's laying around and I used to use them as a last resort. MY general purpose SHOTGUN mic is my AT897, with my AKG Blueline Hyper as my #1 mic and THAT mic I could power with my Fat Boy Phantom supply and my AT plug in transmitter. We all hate to spend money but I have to think a better mic that can be powered with an AA battery OR phantom power would be a better investment. However your money your choice. Good luck. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

June 21st, 2014, 09:21 PM	#9
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Phantom power supply Hi Steve When I had my Panasonic cams I used Rode Videomics ..they are a little bulkier than the NG's but are cheap as chips and have a nice output (around -38dbA) so for general use they work very well and, of course are self powered too ... I used to have one on a boom feeding a transmitter and had good results even if the ambient noise was quite high ... Dunno about Hawaii but here they are $149.00 brand new!! I keep my EA-50 mic on both cameras so I have a nice backup just in case .. they seem to work well at fairly close range but I have never used them remotely. Maybe look for a used Videomic and try it. It does use a 9v battery but they last for years!! Chris

June 22nd, 2014, 02:02 AM	#10
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: Phantom power supply Plenty of them around but as most are built around 9 v batteries, the size means it's a big lump.

June 22nd, 2014, 02:14 AM	#11
Peter Riding Major Player Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Reading Berkshire UK Posts: 872	Re: Phantom power supply Another vote here for a battery powered shotgun mic. I use a Rode NTG2. It has the option of inserting a single AA cell into the barrel and then phantom power is not required. That is what I always do. I like that it uses AA's as that matches most of my other accessories so cell management is easier. The shotgun mic itself acts as a second diversity aerial with the Sennheiser G3 transmitter therefore potentially improving the G3's performance. I've found that the NTG2 with its foamy plus a fury is good outside in a breeze as well. Pete