A way of powering the tiny
preamplifier in a
condenser microphone. Phantom
power is a
DC voltage (between usually 11 and 48 volts) that is applied to pins 2 and 3 with respect to pin 1 (
ground) on an
XLR cable. The
voltage is usually supplied by the
microphone mixer, or a separate phantom
power source. The
mixer will usually provide current-limiting
resistors which prevent a bad
microphone from damaging the phantom
power supply.
Makes you wonder where the
Tragically Hip got the title for their
CD from.