Condenser mic not working with Audient iD22

I can't get any signal through my iD22 from an Audio Technica AT4033SE connected to either of the two XLR mic inputs. Flicking the phantom power switch on or off makes the meters move momentarily, but otherwise I get not even a faint signal from the mic even with the input level turned up full. Substituting a dynamic mic (SM58) in its place, everything works perfectly, so its not the connections that are at fault. But it's apparently not the AT4033SE either, as this mic works perfectly well with another interface (Line6 UX2) on my laptop.

I reported the problem to the Audient Helpdesk a few days ago. Their initial suggestion was that the phantom power circuit might have failed. I'm a bit sceptical about that. This is the first time that I have tried to use a condenser mic with the unit. Why would it have failed on both inputs?

I am still waiting for Audient to get back to me. Meanwhile I was wondering if anybody here has any suggestions.

fireberd
That is a bus powered unit (from what I read).  Thus it gets its power from the USB bus +5VDC and uses that to run the iD4 and internally generate the needed voltage for condenser mics.  Normally that is 48VDC but some lesser voltages usually will work, but too low and it won't work or won't work with some mics...

 
You are confusing it with the iD4. It's an iD22 and it's mains-powered.

Interesting suggestion though. The power supply is 12VDC 1.25A, although the socket on the back of the iD22 says 1.5A and the spec on the Audient website actually says ">1.5 Amps". There is a thread on Gearslutz in which a user criticises the iD22's power supply as being too weak and that he is using a 5A one instead. Although this seems like overkill he might be correct.

Yes, check the voltage is actually present.

A failed phantom power circuit would affect both mic inputs if there's only one charge pump (basically a DC transformer) or other circuit supplying 48V which is then split in parallel to the XLR sockets. Which is how it's often/usually done.

If underpowering is the issue, I was wondering whether a shorter mic cable might make a difference. So I have just tried connecting the mic via a 2m cable instead the 7½m one that I was using earlier. No difference.

I was preparing to send the unit away for repair, but I decided to test it again one more time first. Strangely, now it seems to be working just fine. Previously it didn't work; now suddenly it does.

I have a multimeter now so I measured the phantom power voltage. It was 46.5V on Input 1 and 44.0V on Input 2. Presumably this is sufficient. I also measured the phantom power voltage on my Line6 UX2 and it was exactly 48V.

Jim Roseberry

Kev999
...now it seems to be working just fine. Previously it didn't work; now suddenly it does...

Is the unit under warranty?
If so, I'd get it swapped out.
Intermittent issues will persist.  

 
It's still under warranty. Audient are leaving this case open for a few weeks longer.
 
I still suspect that the weak power adapter might be the source of the problem.