SOUND ON SOUND

[alansalty]

I really fancy getting one of these Aston Stealth mics. So I bought one and it didn't work. It didn't recognise the phantom power on my focusrite pro 24. Indeed, the mic was less sensitive with the phantom power, and the light doesn't come on which it should when phantom powered and you press the switch. My condenser mic works fine. So I sent it back to the retailer and they replaced it and it's just the same. I'm no stranger to user error and I've never heard of anyone making this complaint. Any ideas anyone?

[zenguitar]

You posted this as a reply in another topic. As it is a topic in it's own right I've split it off.

Andy

[CS70]

I really fancy getting one of these Aston Stealth mics. So I bought one and it didn't work. It didn't recognise the phantom power on my focusrite pro 24. Indeed, the mic was less sensitive with the phantom power, and the light doesn't come on which it should when phantom powered and you press the switch. My condenser mic works fine. So I sent it back to the retailer and they replaced it and it's just the same. I'm no stranger to user error and I've never heard of anyone making this complaint. Any ideas anyone?

This sounds odd - it can happen a mic is a dud, but two in a row is unlikely.

Which cable do you use? A XLR-XLR, right? Not an XLR/Jack?

[MOF]

Check that all three of the connections in the cable are working, a faulty earth sounds possible here as that would stop phantom power from working.
I’m assuming you’re using another cable than the one connected to your condenser mic’.

[blinddrew]

Worth also checking a different input channel on your mixer/interface. Especially if p48 is switched in banks.

[Hugh Robjohns]

It didn't recognise the phantom power on my focusrite pro 24. Indeed, the mic was less sensitive with the phantom power, and the light doesn't come on which it should when phantom powered and you press the switch. My condenser mic works fine. So I sent it back to the retailer and they replaced it and it's just the same.

This is a perplexing one.

The Occam's Razor answer is that the second mic is duff too...

But I have to hope that Aston's quality control is much better than that!

The fact that your capacitor mic apparently works normally implies the preamp is working and at least some level of phantom power is available. It also implies the cable screen is intact, but it doesn't guarantee that both signal wires are intact -- a transformerless capacitor mic would still work if the cold signal wire was short or open circuit, for example.

However, a passive dynamic mic wouldn't work if either signal wire was open circuit, and its possible that the reduced phantom current available in that condition might be insufficient to persuade the Stealth electronics to fire up.

So my hunch is that you have a dodgy mic cable with one leg open circuit.... Time to break out the cable tester and prove me wrong.

[Folderol]

Just my 2d...
Also look out for a plug with a slightly undersized pin, going into a worn socket with a slightly stretched receptacle.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Sounds like something the actress said to the bishop....

Yes, that's my coat over there, thank you.

[alansalty]

I’ve learnt about Occam’s Razor which I’d never heard of before. There is also that Sherlock Holmes thing:
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
l have tested all three of my XLR cables and used every combination of the Aston mic and a condenser and a dynamic on both mic inputs of the audio interface. I have sacrificed my cat on the alter of the God of sound recording, Microphones.
The Aston Stealth still doesn’t work, but my philosophy - classical, popular and fabricated - is coming along a treat.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Then faulty it must sadly be!

[CS70]

Sounds like something the actress said to the bishop....

The thought crossed my mind as well

[Dave Rowles]

Try retailer again, or get in touch with Aston directly. 2 in a row, might be a manufacturing error with a batch, which I suspect Aston would rather know quickly....

[Sam Spoons]

Difficult times I know but have you got a mate who could try it on his rig?

[alansalty]

I can't get someone else to try it. I've sent it back for the second time. The retailer found a fault but Aston said there wasn't one, so I might have to stick to a more established manufacturer.

[alansalty]

i'm on my third Aston Stealth now and still haven't got it working. I think we can be pretty sure now that it isn't the mic. I have a 12 year old focusrite saffire audio interface which successfully supplies phantom power to my condenser mic. I've tested my XLR cables and tried both channels in the audio interface. I have read in a highly respected music magazine that the input on the power supply should be reading 46 - 52v across pins 1/3 and 2/3. Mine is reading a bit less, about 30v according to my rather old analogue meter, and only between pins 1/3 - not 2/3. Is it possible that phantom power standards have changed, so that my old interface is out of date?