Is it harmful or completely safe to leave phantom powered microphone turned on all day?

While I don't normally do so, sometimes when I'm using the mic, I just leave it connected for days in between recording. I do shut down the system at night. It's one of the Behringer large diaphragm condenser mic.

Thanks!

Are you plugging directly into the Quad Capture? If so it looks like that interface is USB powered so when you shut down the computer the phantom power should be turning off anyway thus cutting power from the mic. But I wouldn't leave a phantom power mic on if I wasn't using it. I don't know if it will hurt anything but why take the chance?

if you ever have a spike (during a storm) or a brownout (on hot days, it's common) and the thing hiccups, you could fry your mic.

not worth being lazy, eh?

Thanks, Beepster and batsbrew.

Yes, it is plugged to the Quad Capture. It's not plug in most of the time, just on a few occasion of long recording and editing.

I'll make sure it's plug out after use. Thanks again.

Yanno... it's actually good procedure to tear down your mics at the end of a session anyway and put them in a case. It helps keep dust and moisture out of them and prevents anyone knocking them over or dropping them (which can REALLY screw them up). Mics are sensitive and expensive. Especially powered ones. Treat them well and they will treat you well. Cheers.

If you are just talking about phantom power on the Quad Capture, then all that is is a switch that leaves the phantom power on. Don't want to mix up mics and plug in a mic that does not need phantom power. I suppose you can turn on and off the phantom power each time on the Quad Capture, but I doubt if it will harm the unit to leave it on. Thus it is ready anytime the Quad Capture is on. If leaving the mic plugged in to the phantom power, what that does is make the mic work in the first place and the mic will need it anyway. I doubt if most mics take 48volts anyway, as newer ones (and I have one) only take a fraction of that power anyway - like very small in my Sennheiser mic use. So if you likely to not screw it up by plugging in a different mic it may make no difference, once you unplug the mic from the Quad Capture at the end and plug it in at the beginning. I would have the phantom power switch on before plugging in the mic and not turn it on after the mic is plugged in on the Quad Capture.

I would have the phantom power switch on before plugging in the mic and not turn it on after the mic is plugged in on the Quad Capture.

I was taught to do it the other way round - always connect your mic before applying Phantom Power and to remove PP before unplugging.

Well, I really do not know which way is better, except that the mic will not work until phantom power is switched on. I just equate it to having an instrument plugged in to an amp when they state to turn the volume down and everything else before turning it up or really turning it on. In case there is a surge perhaps or something like that. Not that equipment usually goes bad by why take a chance?

what bristol said.

if you do it any other way, but that way....

eventually, you will fry a mic.

Yes plug it all in first, then power up. Main thing I do is turn the phantom switch off when not using the mike. It takes a second.

no!  don't ever plug or unplug a mic with phantom power ON.  always have it off when plugging and unplugging.  turn it on only while the connection is already solid.  removing the connection while power is on could spike hundreds even thousands of volts during the separation and could damage the mic or the phantom power supply because of that arc during the high impedance separation.

Slight threadjack but kind of along the same lines. My new interface takes power from a wall wart adapter. There is no on/off switch so when I want to power it down I have to unplug it. I close Sonar then turn down the input trims, monitor and headphone outs and disconnect any instrument/mic cable but I'm not sure whether I should unplug it BEFORE or AFTER I shut down the computer. My old interface drew power through PCI so it would shut down when the computer did however if I accidentally left my monitors on I could hear a loud nasty "BBBZZZZZZOOOOooooppppPOP" when the power left the unit. I was told that noise is a capacitor or something losing it's charge. Because of that I've been disconnecting power to my new interface (the one with the wall wart) BEFORE I shut down. However when I disconnect the adapter I see the input/clip meters on the front display a quick spike. Not sure if that is harmful and whether I should shut down the computer first to avoid it (I don't actually know if it will avoid it). It connects to the computer VIA USB 2.0. The manual doesn't say anything about this. The only thing that comes close to referencing powering the unit is they say when installing the drivers to leave the device unplugged until they finish installing then plug the unit in so I assumed that it's safe and proper to plug in the interface AFTER booting the computer and have been doing so ever since. Any thoughts? Nothing has blown up on me yet but I'd obviously like to keep it that way. Cheers.

I would never leave my mic set up.  It is too easy to knock over or other unhappy accidents.  Major studios can leave them set up, but around the house there are too many kids, pets, etc. etc.  I just sent off my Oktava 319 to get it fixed after it dropped.  My bad, but the adaptor on the bottom unscrewed from the mic, not the stand while I wasn't paying attention.  Of course, that was breaking it down from a session, so maybe that example ain't the best.

But I was learned to power, plug and then phantom power mics.

@

Beepster.

1. ALWAYS power down your monitors before anything else
2. I then power down the computer
3. Finally I power down everything else (all on one switch)

Bristol_Jonesey


Beepster.

1. ALWAYS power down your monitors before anything else
2. I then power down the computer
3. Finally I power down everything else (all on one switch)

I switch 2 & 3 myself, I don't think that matters too much (tell me if I'm wrong).
 
but to add - do the opposite for powering up.  monitors should always be last powered ON.

@beagle and Bristol Jonesey... Thanks. Yeah, I'm painfully aware of the monitor thing. Back in the day I learned after a few times of accidentally shutting down without powering down my "monitors" (which back then was just my stereo system... as shameful as that is). Spend too many hours in front of the DAW and maybe have a few too many barley pops and I forgot my procedure a couple times. That noise at high volume will wake you up real quick. When I first built this new rig I hadn't touched any DAW related stuff for a few years and sure enough I forgot. Fortunately I hadn't bought my fancy Mackies yet so it was just my cruddy Logitechs that took the brunt. Got my head back in the game now. Anyway I think I'll just keep doing things the way I am if it's not gonna cause any damage. I figure the computer shutting down might send wayward electrical signals to the interface which might cause problems. hmm... maybe I'll email Focusrite and see what they say. Cheers!

My monitors come on line and go off line with no noise. I generally leave them all turned on using their power switches. 

I have my outlets wired to s single switch for the studio. I flip this switch on and they power on with my work lights and external devices. I then power up the DAW with it's power button. 

Not a single thump, beep, hum, purr or buzz. The first thing I hear is when I hit playback on a project.

Shut down is just the opposite.  

Shut off the computer with the normal shut down windows command..... once it is off, I flip the switch to kill power to the externals and lights. 

It is all totally quiet.