ICON Aurora, User Manual, Page: 7 / 11

7
Operating the Aurora
Powering the Aurora (48V)
The Aurora is a condenser microphone and therefore, needs to be operated by
connecting a phantom power supply. Phantom power is standard on most quality
mixers, outboard mic pre-amplifiers and hard disk recorders. If necessary, an
external power supply can also be used. The Aurora receives the phantom
power directly from a microphone cable when connected to a mixer or other
microphone input which includes a phantom supply. The power is actually sent OUT
of the microphone INPUT, riding silently along with the audio signal. Most mixers
have a switch to engage the phantom power so be sure to check that the phantom
power is on.
Setting up the signal level
When connecting the Aurora to a mixer or recorder input, be sure that the input
is at a suitable level. Also, be sure that the 48V phantom power is engaged as
explained above. Most mixers and recorders of reasonable quality will offer a
microphone input with MIC trim (usually called Trim or Gain) control. The purpose of
the MIC trim control is to optimize the amount of good signal to any noise associated
with the mixers electronics. A good MIC pre with trim also will have a peak or clip
LED. To set a good level on the MIC, set the Aurora up in front of the desired sound
source and slowly raise the MIC trim control until you see the Peak LED light up.
Then, turn the mix trim control down until the LED does not light any more. On most
mixers, the ideal setting is that the trim control is turned up as much as possible
without lighting the Peak LED.
Microphone Placement
In order to maximize the sound quality, you must pay careful attention to the
placement of your Aurora and how it is positioned for the instrument or vocalist that
you are miking. All microphones, especially unidirectional or cardioids microphones,
exhibit a phenomenon know as the “proximity effect”. Very simply put, proximity
effect is a resulting change in the frequency response of a microphone based on the
position of the MIC capsule relative to the sound source. Specifically, when you point
a cardioid MIC directly at the sound source (on-axis) you will get the best frequency
response. However, when you start pointing the microphone slightly away (off-axis)
you will notice the low frequency dropping off and the microphone will start to sound
thinner.
For most vocal applications you’ll want to position the microphone directly in front
of the artist. The same may be true for miking instruments. However, you can make
some pretty amazing equalization adjustments by slightly changing the angle of the
capsule to the sound source. This can be a very useful technique in capturing the
optimum sound of drum set, acoustic guitar, piano or other instruments in a live room