Why is the FR2-LE field recorder only 12 volts, when phantom power requires 48 volts?

[Richard Crowley]

I have not done an exhaustive survey, but I don’t think I have seen any modern microphones that really require a full 48V of phantom power. Many people say “48V” when they really mean “phantom power”. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you actually need a full 48 volts.

There are SOME microphones that work fine with 24V, etc. at “normal” levels. But if you are using them on very loud sources, the full 48V gives you extra headroom before clipping. But that is why you should experiment with all your gear offline.

By “offline” I mean playing with all the different combinations of microphones, preamps, recorders, cameras that you own or use regularly. In-between actual production gigs so that you become familiar with how they all work, their little quirks, etc. And especially the combinations of different microphones with different recorders, cameras, etc. To see whether any of your microphones behave differently with different phantom voltage.

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Recording audio without metering and monitoring is exactly like framing and focusing without looking at the viewfinder.

[Ryan Elder]

Oh okay, I see. Well when it comes to offline practice, as well as when I do gigs, it seems that in order to record a normal volume speaking voice in normal conversations, recorded on the AT4053b, I have to turn gain up to about 90% and the volume up to about 85-90%, so it that normal, or is that unusually high?

[Ty Ford]

Ryan,

By chance, do you have the 10 dB pad engaged on the 4053b?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Ryan Elder]

Oh okay. Would the NTG-3 and the 4053b have low selfnoise, and would be considered sensitive?

[Ty Ford]

Ryan, I have already provide the sensitivity of both mics for you. It’s time for you to do some of your pwn footwork about relative selfnoise.

and make sure you don’t have the pad turned on on the mics.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Ryan Elder]

Oh, sorry, what I meant was is that level of sensitivity good quality wise? Do they make for cinematic quality microphones based on those levels I mean.

Is having to turn up the gain and volume to about 90% each is normal then and not unusually high?

[Ty Ford]

Ryan,

once more. please confirm that the 10 db pad is not on.

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Ryan Elder]

Oh sorry, I don’t have a 10 db pad, why?

[Ryan Elder]

Unless the FR2-LE comes with a 10 db pad that I am not aware of?

[Ty Ford]

The pad is on the microphone. In this case the 4035b.

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leder

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog