Connecting A Microphone - DigiDesign Mbox 2 Academic Getting Started Manual

Each Input section has three analog input
jacks:
Mic For XLR microphone cables.
Line (TRS) For 1/4-inch Tip-Ring-Sleeve cables
from keyboards, mixers, microphones, and
other line sources.
DI For 1/4-inch Tip-Sleeve cables from guitar,
bass, microphones, or similar sources.
Mic DI
Line
(TRS)
Analog input connectors
For information about connecting specific au-
dio sources, see "Connecting a Microphone" on
page 39, and "Connecting Instruments to the
Mbox 2 Academic" on page 41.

Connecting a Microphone

There are several ways to use Mbox 2 Academic
with a microphone, depending on the type of
microphone and cable you use.
Mic DI
Line
(TRS)
Mic Cables and Connectors
Some microphone cables use an XLR connector
to attach a microphone to an input (such as
those on the Mbox 2 Academic); other micro-
phones use a 1/4-inch connector. If you have a
choice, use an XLR connector to connect the
microphone to the Mbox 2 Academic to yield
better results.
XLR connector
XLR and 1/4-inch connectors
Phantom Power
Some microphones require power to operate.
This power, called phantom power, is supplied ei-
ther by a battery in the microphone, or through
an audio interface (such as Mbox 2 Academic)
that can supply power through the microphone
cable.
Most condenser microphones (such as an AKG
C3000) require phantom power to operate. Dy-
namic microphones (such as a Shure SM57) do
not require phantom power to operate, but are
not harmed by it.
Although phantom power can be used
safely with most microphones, it is possible
to damage some ribbon microphones with
it. Always turn off phantom power and
wait at least ten seconds before connecting
a ribbon microphone.
Chapter 6: Making Hardware Connections
1/4-inch connector
39