1 Topic by afrothunder (edited by afrothunder 2012-03-05 01:25:37)

  • Registered: 2012-03-05
  • Posts: 18

Topic: RME UCX : A couple microphone related questions from a newbie

Hi, I did not know where else to turn with this so if you guys could help me out that'd be greatly appreciated! (i couldn't find specific answers to my questions in the RME manual). I'm pretty new to all this so excuse me if my questions are worded improperly.

1. I do not know how to turn on the RME UCX preamp. When I'm using my Sennheiser e609 in the first microphone input, i get sound easily by adjusting the gain knob in totalmix (is the gain knob the preamp of the interface? if so, when it is at 0, then does that mean the preamp is completely turned off?).
But when I try to use the same input with my josephson e22s microphone (a cardioid microphone, brand new, never used), I get no sound! Is it because I need to turn on a preamp or do i need something specific to activate a cardioid microphone?

2. I also have a ribbon microphone, a Coles 4038 (again, brand new, never used). I've heard that you're not supposed to use phantom power with ribbon microphones so i don't want to have to plug it in and accidentally ruin the microphone! How do i make sure phantom power is turned off,
and what is the recommended approach to hooking up ribbon microphones to the rme interface?

If these questions can be answered, I would be extremely appreciative. Thanks for taking the time to read!

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,782

Re: RME UCX : A couple microphone related questions from a newbie

1. The preamps can not be turned "off" or "on", and don't need to be...
The gain is the amount of preampliication. For the Josephson, you may have to activate phantom power (48V).

2. No specific approach. Make sure the 48V LED is off and check with Coles whether this mic will have a problem with phantom power.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

3 Reply by david-p (edited by david-p 2012-03-06 17:24:30)

  • From: Wien
  • Registered: 2007-05-01
  • Posts: 99

Re: RME UCX : A couple microphone related questions from a newbie

I have a couple of 4038 ribbon mics -- the best still!  I advise you ALWAYS to make sure that phantom power is turned OFF before plugging them in (the light on the front of your RME UCX will indicate this).  The act of plugging one in when phantom power is active can fry the ribbon, as there is no reason to expect all the connectors to mate simultaneously.

David

Classical ambisonic surround recording: UFX, FF400, Alesis HD24, Edirol R-44/88, Samplitude ProX 3.

david-p's Website