Why Do Some Microphones Need Phantom Power?
Phantom power is needed to charge the electric plate in condensers to enable it to create an alternating current (refer back to how microphones work). However there are some ribbon microphones that will need it too. As a general rule you can tell if a microphone needs phantom power by reading its specs. All condenser microphones apart from electret ones need phantom power. Applying phantom power to a microphone that doesn't need it however could end with disastrous consequences!
To apply phantom power to a microphone is fairly straight forward. On the audio interface or mixing desk the microphone is plugged into look for a button that say Phantom Power or just '+48v' and press it for the input the microphone is plugged into. If the interface has a general button for phantom power make sure that none of the other microphones that are inputed will suffer if they come into contact with it!
Image: http://www.realtimeaudio.ca/images/blog/avalon-vt-737sp-phantom-power-button.jpg
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