Actually it is highly likely if someone is using your pre with an Erirol R44 or other recorder with phantom (Fostex, Marantz etc).Oh okay... good to know. Either way, our backend is covered
BTW: What happens if I short XLR output pins 1 & 3 (I know my MixPre would not like this as it has an active balanced output)...Like when you connect to an unbalanced input? No problemo. The drivers I'm using, according to the manufacturer, "uses a dual feedback-loop design that prevents the excessive ground currents typical of cross-coupled output stages (CCOS) when clipping into single-ended loads."
I've shorted these outputs accidentally during the course of my working with my SC-1 pre, and have not had any driver failures...
But if you read Rane Notes interconnection guide, use pins 2 and 3 when hooking up to unbalanced inputs. That's the recommended method... rather than shorting 1 and 3 and using both as gnd and pin 2 as the positive. You get better signal if you use pins 2 and 3 to connect to your unbalanced inputs.
UPDATE:
Finally fixed the phantom power error on my PCB design. I soldered the (2) 6.8K resistors on the bottom of the PCB and it was just a short bridge to the trafo inputs. It's a kludge, but it works.
OKAY.... did some testing... connected my power hungry FET condenser mic, set the battery to 4.5Volts and no go... my FET mic wouldn't come alive... 28V phantom power is not enough for my FET mic. I can hear a tiny faint signal, but no go.
Set the battery to 5.0Volts, turned on phantom power and IT'S ALIVE. The FET mic works! Nice and clear.... 6.0Volts and higher, and it's smooth sailing.
Note: Less power hungry condenser mics will work with 4.5VDC input to the pre.
SOFT START PHANTOM POWERI can't remember if I mentioned this but my preamp is equipped with "soft-start" phantom power. Normally, when you turn on phantom power, 48volts is suddenly applied, full ON, in a split-instant, to your expensive mics. And you hear a big THUMP/THUD on your speakers.
Instead with my soft start phantom power, 48volts is gradually applied to your expensive mics. Like this:
Depending on your condenser mic, it may take 2-3 seconds for it to come alive... and you also don't get that nasty popping/thumping/thudding sound.
BTW... tested this preamp with my FET mic... Ooooohhhhh WOW! It's thick and phat, very solid lows but the high frequencies are still clear. I really really like it.
