Question About Phantom Powered Mics & EX3 at DVinfo.net

Jay Gladwell · November 2nd, 2008, 03:50 PM

Having never used a mic that uses phantom power, I have a question.

Using a mic on the EX3 that uses phantom power requires nothing more than switching to +48V, and the mic draws power from the camera's battery is that correct?

Jon Sands · November 2nd, 2008, 04:20 PM

Perfectly correct.

Jay Gladwell · November 2nd, 2008, 05:30 PM

Thanks, Jon.

How much power consumption does a mic put on the battery? Is it significant?

Ted OMalley · November 2nd, 2008, 06:08 PM

Nearly none at all. I can't tell any difference with my mic. Bear in mind, a lot of these mics optionally have a battery compartment. A single AA battery can power the mic for weeks.

Jay Gladwell · November 2nd, 2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted OMalley

Nearly none at all. I can't tell any difference with my mic. Bear in mind, a lot of these mics optionally have a battery compartment. A single AA battery can power the mic for weeks.

Thanks, Ted. I'm looking at the Sanken CS-1. It doesn't take a battery. That's why I was asking.

Ted OMalley · November 2nd, 2008, 07:51 PM

And I selected the Rode NG-1 because it was small due to no battery compartment. EX3's phantom power does its job and it works well and I don't notice any increased battery draw.

Dave Morrison · November 2nd, 2008, 09:59 PM

Jay, this chart is a good place to start to see what brands and models of mics draw in mAh from the phantom power circuits. Some mic pre's are not very robust in their voltage reserves and can cause all sorts of anomolies if they are loaded down with a power-hungry mic.

Sound Devices: Microphone Phantom Powering

Bob Grant · November 3rd, 2008, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Gladwell

Thanks, Ted. I'm looking at the Sanken CS-1. It doesn't take a battery. That's why I was asking.

I've got the CS-1 on my EX1. Good combination as the CS-1 is quite short. Get the K-Tek mount made specifically for that mic and all will be good. The mic body is quite short so most of the other mounts will not hold it properly.
Be aware though, the CS-1 has a quite narrow pickup, remarkably so for how short it is.

Jay Gladwell · November 3rd, 2008, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Morrison

Jay, this chart is a good place to start to see what brands and models of mics draw in mAh from the phantom power circuits.

Thanks, Dave, for the link--good resource! Just wish I could understand what it was saying. According to the Sanken, the mic's current consumption is <3mA. It sounds good, but I really don't know what it's saying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Grant

Be aware though, the CS-1 has a quite narrow pickup, remarkably so for how short it is.

That's my understanding. It should work very well for the majority of the work I do.

Ted OMalley · November 3rd, 2008, 09:48 AM

Bear in mind, there are two different K-Tec styles - the regular and the short. The short one has the brackets much closer together and that is what you'll want for your mic.

K-Tek | Camera Shoemounting Shockmount | K-CAM-SSM | B&H Photo

November 2nd, 2008, 03:50 PM	#1
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Question About Phantom Powered Mics & EX3 Having never used a mic that uses phantom power, I have a question. Using a mic on the EX3 that uses phantom power requires nothing more than switching to +48V, and the mic draws power from the camera's battery is that correct?

November 2nd, 2008, 06:08 PM	#4
Ted OMalley Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 596	Nearly none at all. I can't tell any difference with my mic. Bear in mind, a lot of these mics optionally have a battery compartment. A single AA battery can power the mic for weeks. __________________ Sony EX3, Vegas 9.0 64bit, Windows 7(64), Core i7, 12GB, RAID1 & 0, HotSwap SATA, 30" LCD(2560x1600)-GTX285 & 24" LCD(1360x768)-7800GT

November 2nd, 2008, 07:51 PM	#6
Ted OMalley Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 596	And I selected the Rode NG-1 because it was small due to no battery compartment. EX3's phantom power does its job and it works well and I don't notice any increased battery draw. __________________ Sony EX3, Vegas 9.0 64bit, Windows 7(64), Core i7, 12GB, RAID1 & 0, HotSwap SATA, 30" LCD(2560x1600)-GTX285 & 24" LCD(1360x768)-7800GT

November 2nd, 2008, 09:59 PM	#7
Dave Morrison Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 762	Jay, this chart is a good place to start to see what brands and models of mics draw in mAh from the phantom power circuits. Some mic pre's are not very robust in their voltage reserves and can cause all sorts of anomolies if they are loaded down with a power-hungry mic. Sound Devices: Microphone Phantom Powering __________________ EX1, Nikon D750 http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.com

November 3rd, 2008, 09:48 AM	#10
Ted OMalley Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 596	Bear in mind, there are two different K-Tec styles - the regular and the short. The short one has the brackets much closer together and that is what you'll want for your mic. K-Tek \| Camera Shoemounting Shockmount \| K-CAM-SSM \| B&H Photo __________________ Sony EX3, Vegas 9.0 64bit, Windows 7(64), Core i7, 12GB, RAID1 & 0, HotSwap SATA, 30" LCD(2560x1600)-GTX285 & 24" LCD(1360x768)-7800GT

November 2nd, 2008, 04:20 PM	#2
Jon Sands Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 107	Perfectly correct.

November 2nd, 2008, 05:30 PM	#3
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Thanks, Jon. How much power consumption does a mic put on the battery? Is it significant?