The Shure SM58 is a dynamic microphone, which means that it does not require any external power to operate. It does not have any active electronics, so it does not need any voltage to convert sound waves into electrical signals.
Phantom power is a type of DC voltage that is supplied to microphones through the XLR cable. It is typically used to power condenser microphones, which require external power to operate.
So, to answer your question, the Shure SM58 does not need phantom power to operate. In fact, using phantom power with the SM58 is not recommended, as it can damage the microphone.
What happens if you use phantom power with an SM58?
Using phantom power with an SM58 is unlikely to cause any immediate damage. However, over time, the phantom power can cause the internal components of the microphone to overheat and fail.
In addition, phantom power can introduce noise and distortion to the audio signal. This is because the phantom power voltage can interfere with the microphone’s internal circuitry.
Is it safe to leave phantom power on with an SM58?
No, it is not safe to leave phantom power on with an SM58. As mentioned above, phantom power can damage the microphone over time. It is best to only turn on phantom power when you are using a condenser microphone that requires it.
How to avoid using phantom power with an SM58
There are a few ways to avoid using phantom power with an SM58:
- Make sure that phantom power is turned off on your audio interface or mixer before connecting the SM58.
- If you are using a microphone preamp, make sure that the phantom power switch is turned off.
- Use a passive microphone splitter or DI box to connect the SM58 to multiple inputs. Passive splitters and DI boxes do not pass phantom power.
The Shure SM58 is a dynamic microphone that does not require phantom power to operate. Using phantom power with the SM58 is not recommended, as it can damage the microphone over time. It is best to only turn on phantom power when you are using a condenser microphone that requires it.
