Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: measurement mic, phantom power & soundcard
References: <[email protected]>
"Rusty Boudreaux"  writes:

> I'm building a room measurement system.  So far I have tentatively chosen:
> 
> Behringer measurement mic ECM8000
> Carvin Phantom power supply PHW22
> TrueRTA software and SoundBlaster Live! soundcard
> 
> Do I need a preamp or can I just connect the output of the phantom supply
> directly to the mic input on the sound card?  I assume I'll need an XLR to
> 1/8" plug.  Should the XLR be male or female?

My recommendation is to use a small preamplifier. 
If you choose one that supplies phantom power, you will not need 
a separate phantom power supply. 

The reasoning for separate microphone preamplifier is that 
the performance of the built-in microphone inputs on the 
sound cards is not often very good (at least used to had
bad frequency response). With external preamplifier connected 
to soundcard line input, you will generally get better 
more reliable performance. This advice is from experience. 
I have done some loudspeaker measurements with PC.

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/