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Phantom Powering Basics

“Phantom powering” is a method of providing power to microphones by applying a voltage to the same wires that carry the audio signals. Phantom power can be generated from mixing consoles, mic preamplifiers, or in-line phantom power supplies. All of Sound Devices microphone inputs supply phantom power.

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Earthworks Microphones and Transformer-Balanced Inputs

Condition: Early models of Earthworks microphones (see Models Affected) and Earthworks model M30 microphone will become unstable and oscillate with transformer-balanced microphone inputs such as Sound Devices MP-1, MP-2 and MixPre.

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NiMH Rechargeable Batteries with Sound Devices Portable Products

Rechargeable AA batteries for internal powering of pro audio gear have historically been poor performers. Alkaline primary cells, and more recently Li-ion cells, are usually the preferred cell chemistry. Fortunately, battery chemistries have evolved — in some applications there is actually a runtime advantage when using the newer NiMH rechargeable batteries with portable gear versus […]

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302 and 442 with Line Inputs

The line-level inputs on the 302 and 442 are attenuated by 40 dB from mic-level and go through the mic transformer. We chose this topology to maintain transformer isolation of line inputs. For our portable field mixers we chose to keep their size small and not have transformers large enough to handle line inputs. The […]

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302 Noise on Power On

Q: I experience a loud output noise when the mixer is powered up. It blasts the camera audio levels to maximum. The sound is a low thump combined with a much higher “beep” sound. Why?

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302 Input Channel Peak Indicators

The input channel peak LEDs indicate both pre- and post- fade peak levels on the 302. In early production mixers (before 2005) there are two resistors which make channel 2 and channel 3 not indicate post-fade peak levels. This minor condition is fixed on later units. Note that if the channel fader is below unity […]

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