Topic: Condensor mics and stage snakes

[balou2]

If I run my 184's through the stage snake, does that provide phantom power? 

[bluegrass_brad]

Ive done this many times.  Plug your XLR's into your mics than into the snake, then where the snake comes back to the board unplug those two channels from the board and plug those into your pre (your pre provides the phantom).  Voila, your golden.  If there are no free channels than see if you can use a couple of the turn-around channels, but you will need XLR adaptors for those as they are opposite (see pic)

[easy jim]

Or, if the SBD has direct outs for each channel, you can ask the engineer to provide power for you if you think the SBD has better mic pres.  Then, take the direct out feed, generally 1/4", and make sure to have phantom power OFF on your end.

[bluegrass_brad]

You can do that too, but IME the only SBD that has pre's that are better than any of our field pre's is a Midas.  Mackie, Allen & Heath, Soundcraft (except for the higher end Soundcrafts) and Crest have only fair preamps. Also the board can introduce noise as the direct goes through a gain stage at the main gain control for the channel.

[easy jim]

You can do that too, but IME the only SBD that has pre's that are better than any of our field pre's is a Midas.  Mackie, Allen & Heath, Soundcraft (except for the higher end Soundcrafts) and Crest have only fair preamps. Also the board can introduce noise as the direct goes through a gain stage at the main gain control for the channel.

Funny, I had Midas boards in mind when I wrote that.  However, I generally will choose the direct outs from an Allen & Heath over the mic pres in my MOTU.

[BayTaynt3d]

The potential for ground-loop buzzes increases when going through the board, I personally try to avoid it whenever possible cause I've been burned by that a few times. Also, I think some snake boxes are active and can provide phantom (not from the SBD, but from the snake box itself). You're best bet is to turn phantom off, then plug everything in and see if you have a signal. If not, switch phantom on.

[bluegrass_brad]

Also, I think some snake boxes are active and can provide phantom

As far as I know only digital snakes do this. I have never seen one of those in any venue Ive ever worked in, although I have worked on a digital board by Roland (A CM7200) where you could keep the control unit onstage and run it by coax. so there was no actual snake, just a loooong coax cable from the stage to the FOH position.