Guitar Gear Forum

I went to record the other evening with my SM57 and my Kel condenser mic. Turned on phantom power because the condenser obviously needs it and the SM57 sounded off. Maybe it was my imagination, but I don't think it was not liking the phantom power and sounding quite different.

So I have this Mackie mixer aside from my Mackie blackjack interface and I'm thinking of hooking the SM57 up to that Mackie mixer, panning the signal hard left or right, and running that side's 1/4" out into one of the two 1/4" inputs of my Mackie Blackjack interface. The condenser will be on the other input using XLR and getting phantom power. I figure this is one way to achieve my goal, which is to mic one cab with the SM57 and another cab with the Kel condenser and be able to capture both with one performance vs. double tracking.

Does this all make sense. Does it sound like it will work. Do I kinda know what I'm doing here, or am I trippin?

M.Mike LX-R wrote:I went to record the other evening with my SM57 and my Kel condenser mic. Turned on phantom power because the condenser obviously needs it and the SM57 sounded off. Maybe it was my imagination, but I don't think it was not liking the phantom power and sounding quite different.

So I have this Mackie mixer aside from my Mackie blackjack interface and I'm thinking of hooking the SM57 up to that Mackie mixer, panning the signal hard left or right, and running that side's 1/4" out into one of the two 1/4" inputs of my Mackie Blackjack interface. The condenser will be on the other input using XLR and getting phantom power. I figure this is one way to achieve my goal, which is to mic one cab with the SM57 and another cab with the Kel condenser and be able to capture both with one performance vs. double tracking.

Does this all make sense. Does it sound like it will work. Do I kinda know what I'm doing here, or am I trippin?

I think I understand what you are trying to do, but wouldn't you have power going to the output of the mixer from the interface? I have a PV 27 or something channel PA mixer board and it says don't have any other mics hooked up when phantom power is on or it will cause damage to the mic.. I think It's the same thing with my focusrite.. phantom power is on, it sends it out to both mics.. not sure bro.

Phantom power won't hurt the SM57 and what you propose makes sense...
However, if you turn on the phantom power on the Blackjack, does it sent phantom power to the 1/4" jacks or, just the XLR?
Not sure how your board will like phantom power running into it from the Blackjack.
If the Blackjack doesn't send phantom power to the 1/4" jack, you are perfectly OK.

Does you mixer have phantom power? If so, run the condenser through the board and the 57 directly into the Blackjack.

I did that and the SM57 sounded off to me, that's why I'm considering going this route. From what I understand phantom power only works on an XLR input, so if I run the SM57 through the mixer and it hits my interface with the 1/4" input it won't be getting phantom power.

I don't like my 57 with 48V. Sounds funky. Run one or both into their own channels on the mixer and just line them into the Blackjack on 1/4" plugs.

M.Mike LX-R wrote:I did that and the SM57 sounded off to me, that's why I'm considering going this route. From what I understand phantom power only works on an XLR input, so if I run the SM57 through the mixer and it hits my interface with the 1/4" input it won't be getting phantom power.

Then, you are good to go and what you are doing makes perfect sense.

TurboPablo wrote:I don't like my 57 with 48V. Sounds funky.

Yup. I thought so too.

A 57 should not change at all , if it does there are a few things that may be causing it , first if you are using 2 mics you may be experiencing phasing issues . Or the cable is bad , or a cheap power supply may be degrading the signal . It's a good rule of thumb though to not use phantom power on things that don't need it . Assuming things are wired correctly and cables are all good a 57 will not be affected , that is by design .

before you go nuts try recording with the 57 with the PP on and then with it off. Post a clip. Let the masses decide if theres a difference.

Probably you just had shitty mic position