Topic: Okay to plug in mics/PS-2 to the CA-9100?

[su6oxone]

Just wondering if there are any reasons not to use the 9100 in conjunction with my km184 mics that are powered by a PS-2.  So, the km184s to the PS-2 mini to the 9100 to the R-09.  Any problems with connecting the 9100 to the PS-2 like this?  Thanks in advance!

[su6oxone]

C'mon Chris... I know you're out there...

[stantheman1976]

I don't believe you can use a 48V phantom supply in conjunction with a 9V preamp/power supply.  Those mics are meant to be used with a 48V preamp.  The 9100 is meant for small diaphragm mics like the CA mics.

[su6oxone]

I don't believe you can use a 48V phantom supply in conjunction with a 9V preamp/power supply.  Those mics are meant to be used with a 48V preamp.  The 9100 is meant for small diaphragm mics like the CA mics.

Thanks for replying, +T.  So this might theoretically damage my mics and/or preamp/ps-2?  I did test it out briefly and seemed to be okay, but I think I won't press my luck any more. 

[su6oxone]

Still awaiting some definitive word from Mr. Church... 
C'mon... stop ignoring my posts, I love your products!

[stantheman1976]

It might not damage your mics but it serves no purpose and won't do any good.  The 9100 preamp is meant for driving mics that typically run on 9V of power.  Your mics are 48V so they need a phantom supply like the PS-2 for best results.  If you need more gain you'll need a 48V preamp.

[su6oxone]

It might not damage your mics but it serves no purpose and won't do any good.  The 9100 preamp is meant for driving mics that typically run on 9V of power.  Your mics are 48V so they need a phantom supply like the PS-2 for best results.  If you need more gain you'll need a 48V preamp.

Thanks stantheman1976, you're the only one to reply to this thread, +T. 
I'm running the mics into the ps-2, which has a 1/8" miniplug output, that I normally run into the R-09 directly.  But for acoustic stuff, I figure I will need extra gain (loud rock shows still need high input levels on the R-09 when using the ps-2).  Since the 9100 I have has 1/8" input/output, it seems simple to simply plug the ps-2 into the 9100 which plugs into the R-09.  I briefly tried it and got higher gain, but not sure if it somehow might damage something or other through some voltage-related mechanism (how's that for vague).  I would prefer to use the 9100 if it's not risky rather than buy another bulky xlr preamp (like the ad20).

[Sunday Driver]

The only thing that would prevent you from using the Church Audio preamp with your PS-2, is knowing if your PS-2 has a DC blocking cap to prevent any voltage entering from the preamp. Therefore, I wouldn't try this unless I absolutely knew. I have the same "1/8th jack mod" PS-2 though. By the time you plug in the 1/8th jack from the PS-2 into your Edirol R-09, the signal is already unbalanced and a good opamp (much like the 9100 providing 20db of true gain) could be used to boost it. In fact, that is what is happening inside the R-09 when you turn up the gain anyway with just the mics and PS-2.

Alternately, what you could do is plug your mics and PS-2 into the "mic" jack on your R-09. Turn plug-in power "off" and set the mic gain to "low". I would not tape anything more than someone strumming away on an acoustic with this though.

[su6oxone]

The only thing that would prevent you from using the Church Audio preamp with your PS-2, is knowing if your PS-2 has a DC blocking cap to prevent any voltage entering from the preamp. Therefore, I wouldn't try this unless I absolutely knew. I have the same "1/8th jack mod" PS-2 though. By the time you plug in the 1/8th jack from the PS-2 into your Edirol R-09, the signal is already unbalanced and a good opamp (much like the 9100 providing 20db of true gain) could be used to boost it. In fact, that is what is happening inside the R-09 when you turn up the gain anyway with just the mics and PS-2.

Alternately, what you could do is plug your mics and PS-2 into the "mic" jack on your R-09. Turn plug-in power "off" and set the mic gain to "low". I would not tape anything more than someone strumming away on an acoustic with this though.

Thanks a lot for the info Sunday Driver, +T.  Do you know, then, if the ps-2 that we have has a DC blocking cap?  That was one of the things I was concerned about theoretically happening.  I might try the mic-in suggestion, although I'm a little concerned that using mic-in will increase the noise more as well due to it being noisier than the line-in. 

[heyitsmejess]

FWIW ive read that the ad-20 (which is designed to be paired with the ps-2) will not function if there is any power coming in through the xlr inputs.

[Sunday Driver]

I just had a look at your other post about this and it seems to work! Excellent.