At Sigm* Sound (NYC), in the 1980's, we had a 300V Neumann. You had to
connect the mic to the power supply FIRST before connecting the power supply
to wall current. If you didn't, you got 300V across the chest ...
eeooowwwww !!
Jamie
Fort Myers, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Pearce" <bspearce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 9:27 AM
Subject: [OM] [Exceptionally OT] Condensor mikes
> Moose,
>
> Actually, battery powered condensor mikes are a relatively new thing.
Those
> of us that were fortunate to have worked with older large diaphragm
> condensors will remember the large boxes and heavy cords that were
required.
> These mikes (I used a Newmannin the sixties, and yes, we were still using
> mono) were, as our friends across the pond say, mains powered. The box had
a
> cannon connector on the output end, and on the other, a larger connector
for
> the cable to the mike. If memory serves, a quite high voltage was sent
from
> the power supply. All the great recordings from the fifties and sixties
used
> at least some of these.
>
> Later, I was able to use some phantom powered Newmanns that were quite
good,
> as well.
>
> Battery powered mikes were the result of semiconductor advances, that
> allowed lower PS voltages. I think the earliest ones were FET, but there
is
> probably someone more electronically aware that can explain this.
>
> The irony of all of this for me is that of all the older recordings that
are
> valued by the audiophiles [I was once one, but age is working against me],
> all were made with equipment that would never stand up to their standards
in
> their homes. Cables, for example, were made of wire then, just plain wire
> with just plain insulation. Condensor mikes were powered with relatively
> ordinary power supplies. Tape was pretty primative then, as were the
> machines that used it. No trick parts in the mixers, just plain stuff from
> the parts house, pretty much the same as those inside your Zenith TV.
>
> Bill Pearce
>
>
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