Topic: split signal = fried mic?

[ingsy]

still a newbie...
i taped 'the duo' last night in SF.  i ran a 3 mic nak mix w/ the UA-5, having the center mic run mono into the back of the UA-5.  this mic goes xlr into a Y-splitter for 2 outs for the UA-5...the sound guy took a look at my rig and said i should never try to split the signal from the mic in this way...he actually said i would 'fry' the mic.  he gave reasons using the word 'impedence' but i couldn't really follow him.  anybody agree or disgree with the soundguy.  i don't plan on running this rig for too much longer, but i would also hate to fry a mic.  thanks.  cheers,

[1st set only]

what type of mics?
sounds like he has never seen a u-a5 before

[ingsy]

what type of mics?
sounds like he has never seen a u-a5 before

the mic in question was a nak300, battery powered.  his argument was the voltage (he may have used a different term here) coming out of the mic was designed in such a way that if you split the signal some voltage could go back into the mic and 'fry' it.  i know next to nothing about electronics and not much more about microphones and i have no idea what this guy knows either.  at least i know you have never heard of this so i feel a little better....gonna run the same thing tonight onstage for 20th congress.  thanks for the response.  cheers.  ingsy

[C.Clark]

ive never heard of this happening either, more digging would be a good idea to see what he was trying to say

[jpschust]

the only thing i can think of would be feeding it 48v phantom while battery powering...

[BobW]

The DC voltages are usually blocked by capacitors (which allow audio signal to pass).  My gut says that if you didn't fry the mic on the first plug-in, you're OK.

But why risk it ?
Why not ask Doug Oade ?
He's usually good for an answer on a question like this.

[Matt Quinn]

Was the guy under the impression that the rear RCA's on the Edirol provide phantom power? I've heard no-no stories about turning phantom on with a mic that has an internal battery, but I can't imagine why there would be any problem with the rear RCA's.....

[ingsy]

thanks for all the responses, i would +T you all if i could.  i still have no idea what the guy was talking about, but i think i will let it pass for now.  cheers, ingsy

[Mark]

Please post what you find out.  I am a Nak CM300>UA-5 user also.  I gave up my MX100 to a friend but like the idea of a 3mic mix someday.  

[Matt Quinn]

I also had a "sound guy" walk up to me and tell me that my UA5 was clipping because the red light was flashing briefly on & off. I tried explainging to him that it came on at -3 dbs & that I had plenty of room, but he insisted that when I got home it'd be unlistenable. He was wrong.

[plucks]

well, if your Naks were using batteries, NOT, phantom power, and you didnt have the phantom power on on the ua5, then most likely, there was not any power being sent to your mics.  
The sound guy does have a valid point (but is also probably not familiar with the ua5).  I have heard this before.  Splitting a signal from the mics before phantom power can supposedly harm the signal or mics.  I have done this multiple times, however, and never had a problem.  
So, you can fry your mic, but it probably wont happen!