recording with phantom power *and* without phantom power simultaneously

[SweetSoulSound]

Hi, Everyone-

Hoping to get some helpful "how to" info. Here's my situation:

I have two mics, an AT4047 and a CAD Trion 7000. What I want to do is record my saxophone playing while printing both mics at the same time (à la Joe Ferla, Rich Breen, et al.).

My problem is that I'm running a Pro Tools LE 7.4 Mbox2, and the AT4047 needs phantom power, whereas the CAD Trion 7000, being a ribbon mic, would be damaged by phantom power. I can only turn phantom power on globally for both Mbox inputs, not just for one input only.

I also have a Mackie 1402-VLZ mixer (which has phantom power). I'm wondering if there's some good way to use the mixer in combination with the Mbox in order to use both mics at the same time while feeding phatom power to one mic and not the other.

Many thanks in advance to everyone for any help/advice you can offer.

~Arun

Arun Luthra - saxophonist, composer, arranger
www.ArunLuthra.NET
myspace.com/arunluthra
cdbaby.com/cd/arun

[Ryan Young]

Hi Arun,

Welcome to the DUC.

I haven't had much experience with ribbon microphones, but I would assume that the following setup would work.

Plug your CAD into input 1 on the Mbox2 with no phantom power. Plug the AT4047 into the Mackie, using phantom power. Then send it either to the main left channel, or to one of your aux outs. Run a 1/4" cable from that output to the other (line) input on the Mbox2.

I've never done this with your setup, but I would think it should work just fine. There may be some better suggestions out there, but that's all I got. Good luck.

[flommer]

Use the AT via the Mackie(with Phantom) > Mbox
Use the ribbon via the Mbox (no Phantom)

[SweetSoulSound]

Hi, Ryan Young and flommer-

I just now went ahead and tried what you both suggested (thanks for the specific instructions, Ryan), and it worked great! The Trion 7000 and the AT4047 really complement each other well and bring out the best qualities in a tenor saxophone. I'll try it with soprano next.

Thanks again!

~Arun

[Pepo]

Also, if it is a portable set up, you could just buy a phantom power box to use with the AT and skip the mackie altogether. I dont know about your mbox, but if the line ins cant bypass the mic preamp circuit, you will run the signal thru 2 preamps, wich may not sound very clean.
Or maybe try the mackie for the ribbon.
Good luck
Pepo