Show dictionary · Audio
Phantom Power
Also: +48V · P48
Phantom power is DC power (standardized at +48 V, "P48") sent from a console or preamp down the same balanced cable that carries the microphone’s audio, applied equally to both signal pins relative to ground. It powers condenser microphones and active DI boxes invisibly, hence "phantom."
In practice
Because both signal legs carry the identical DC potential, balanced audio is unaffected and dynamic microphones connected properly simply ignore it. The scheme’s elegance is why one XLR cable serves every mic type on the input list.
The cautions are practical: ribbon mics with center-tapped transformers and some vintage or miswired gear can be damaged by phantom, unbalanced sources fed from adapter cables can pass DC where it does not belong, and hot-plugging with phantom engaged produces the thump every A2 learns to mute first.
How you’ll hear it
"Channel 9 needs phantom for the podium condenser; confirm it is on before line check."
Related resources
Part of the eventools.io Show Dictionary, a free glossary of live event production terminology.