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Condenser Mic WITH phantom power + maschine mk3?

Discussion in 'MASCHINE Area' started by Herve38, Sep 17, 2018.

  1. Herve38

    Herve38 New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Hi guys !
    I bought a microphone recently (AT2020) and wanted to know if condensers mic WITH a external phantom power could work on the maschine mk3 (used as an audio interface).. I tried last time and it didn't work but .. I guess I just didn't plug the right things. Basically I go out of the phantom power, and i plug it to MIC IN, right ? But after, how to make it recognized in Maschine for recordings ? I also tried in FL studio which is my main daw, but i couldn't do it too .. Maybe I'm dumb ? :eek:
     
  2. franklyn

    franklyn New Member

    Messages:
    17
    The MK3 has no phantom power. So you can not use your mic without a separate phantom power Unit.
     
  3. Herve38

    Herve38 New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Exactly, that's why I said i have a phantom power ^^ What i'm struggling with is : how to set up my mic in the maschine software and any other daw (in my case : fl studio)
     
  4. René must be Unique

    René must be Unique NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    2,128
    But he uses an external Phantom power supply, so his microphone does work on the MK3. How you can use the microphone you have to look up in the Manual.
    René.
     
  5. Stephen Bish

    Stephen Bish NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    170
    Should work but I'll try tomorrow. (Late night here) I have a Rode NT3 which can take a 9volt battery. I imagine it should then function like a dynamic mic as far as Maschine is concerned.
     
  6. D-One

    D-One Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    10,075
    No, you're not dumb, just inexperienced. Yes, a condenser Mic with phantom power will work. What phantom power unit do you have?
    In FL you just need to select which input of your Audio interface you want to use to record, it should be input 1.
    In Maschine, it's basically the same thing, under "Sampling" select External Mono and Input 1 L.

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
    If the signal coming in is to low for some reason you can use the Mic In Input too.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2019
  7. René must be Unique

    René must be Unique NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    2,128
    Yes that's right.

    René
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. bilposey

    bilposey NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    692
    You can always IMHO
    Use an preamp
     
  9. Mystic38

    Mystic38 NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    2,325
    The AT2020 is a great mic for the price, and certainly would benefit from a mic preamp..imho

    if, as a lot of folk suspect, the mk3 interface is based on the KA6, then the mic preamp is at best "ok".. when i moved up to a motu 828, it was like the curtains were opened up in front of the mic..

     
  10. D-One

    D-One Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    10,075
    This is a subject im not particularly knowledgeable, I have some questions for you both:
    Considering the mic is 99$ what preamp would you guys recommend?
    Would you guys say buying a preamp that is more expensive than the mic itself is a good idea?
    If not, is a cheap preamp really worth it?
     
  11. bilposey

    bilposey NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    692
    Hey d
    Any preamp without tubes
    Damn nearly burned my hands
    after long periods of time
    They get hot like TV tubes
    So I went Carnhill transformer
    Sounds nice now
    very quality studio preamp for a bedroom producer's
    So go digital they all have different characters
     
  12. bilposey

    bilposey NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    692
    Any 100 dollar
    Mic is good for Ball Park sound
    So just trying so experimenting
     
  13. René must be Unique

    René must be Unique NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    2,128
    I wonder what the purchase of a preamp has to do with the OP's question, how do I route a microphone connected to an MK3, in Mashine and FL.

    René
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2018
  14. Spekwerk

    Spekwerk NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    276
    What external phantom power supply do you have for the AT2020? That would help to diagnose this.

    Typically, a preamp will let you plug your microphone into an XLR connector - this is at mic level. It then amplifies that signal (hence "preamp") and the output from the unit will be at line level. I assume your external phantom power supply is doing something similar. The output which is at line level can either still be an XLR connector, or a 1/4 jack. You'll need a 1/4 jack to input that signal into your MK3.

    In that case, you'll want to plug into the Line input on the MK3, not the Mic input.

    A couple other things to check:
    1) You have all the inputs setup correctly in your software? FL is looking at the MK3 as the interface?
    2) Are you using a decent cable? I've had things connected correct before, only to get a shitty signal because the cable was garbage and broken.

    As for the general preamp discussion above - don't worry about it. Your $100 condensor can sound better with an expensive preamp, but you are not at a level or stage where it matters even a little bit. And you certainly don't need to spend $800 on a Motu preamp unit, especially if you're using a Maschine MK3 as an interface - that's throwing money away.