| Question: What is phantom power? |
Answer: Phantom power is a method of powering a condenser microphone from the connected audio component. If a component provides phantom power, it should be listed in the features section of the manual.
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| Question: What is impedance and why is impedance matching for microphones necessary? |
Answer: Impedance is the electronic measurement of a device's resistance to the flow of an AC signal, such as audio. It is similar to resistance, which indicates a device's resistance to the flow of a DC signal. Both impedance and resistance are measured in ohms.
When referring to microphones, low impedance is less than 600 ohms, medium impedance is 600 ohms to 10,000 ohms, and high impedance is greater than 10,000 ohms.
"Low impedance" inputs on audio mixers usually have an impedance between 1000 and 2000 ohms, and can be used with both low and medium impedance microphones. A low impedance microphone may always be connected to an input with a higher impedance. However, the microphone may not always be able to provide enough signal strength to properly drive the mixer's audio input. For the best signal strength, you should always compare the microphone's output level (or sensitivity) to the required mixer input level.
High impedance microphones should be connected to high impedance inputs for the best performance. When a high impedance microphone is connected to a low impedance input, there will be some loss of the microphone signal.
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| Question: What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced line? |
Answer: A balanced (or directionally balanced) line is a circuit that uses two conductors and a shield for connection, in which first conductor carries the standard audio signal and the second conductor carriers an inverted signal, which is re-inverted and added to the first signal at the destination. This inversion also inverts any line noise which is picked up by the cable, so that the line noise is cancelled out. Compare to the illustration of an unbalanced line, such as a mono microphone cable, shown below.
 
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| Question: Can I use a telephone headset as a microphone headset with my computer? |
Answer: Yes. You will need to use an 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo Jack to Two 1/8" Plugs adapter (Cat. No. 420-2495) to convert the 1/8" stereo plug for microphone and earphone to two 1/8" mono plugs. One 1/8" mono plug will connect to the speaker output of the computer and the other 1/8" mono plug will connect to the microphone input on the computer.
For those headsets that use 3/32" (2.5 mm), you would also need to use a 3/32" Stereo Jack to 1/8" Stereo Plug adapter (Cat. No. 274-0397) to convert the 3/32" plug to a 1/8" stereo plug; then you would use the adapter above.
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| Question: Why does one wireless microphone cut out when two microphones are used close to each other? |
Answer: They will do this if the microphones are on the same channel or adjacent channels (such as channels A and B). We recommend that microphones that are to be used at the same time be at least 2 channels away from each other.
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| Question: What is the maximum distance between the microphone and the receiver? |
Answer: We do not test the distance as there are too many variables involved.
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| Question: Do 170 MHz wireless microphone and PA systems require an FCC license? |
Answer: Yes. You will need to contact the FCC directly for information on license applications and fees.
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| Question: Do 49 MHz wireless microphone and PA systems require an FCC license? |
Answer: No, they do not.
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| Question: When I record using my microphone I hear "pops" and 'hissing" when listening to the playback. What can I do to prevent this? |
Answer: Popping noises that are heard on the playback after recording using a microphone are usually vocally induced distortions due to hard consonants like "b" or "t". The hissing noise known as sibilance is also usually vocally induced and caused by "s" sounds. The use of a microphone windscreen will reduce or prevent this.
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