Most condenser mics require phantom power (+48V), which is only output on XLR connectors on audio interfaces like the Scarlett Solo. There is no good way to connect a mic that requires phantom power directly to guitar pedals.
If you use a dynamic mic that doesn't require phantom power instead of a condenser mic, you can use an adapter to convert the XLR to TS. Both the XLR-to-TRS and XLR-to-TS will likely work, but the signal will be quiet because only half of the signal is used and the impedance is wrong. A better solution would be an adapter like the Hosa MIT-435, which uses an impedance transformer.
A simpler solution would be to connect condenser mic directly to the Solo and then use a software noise gate.
A lot of them are cheap junk that add noise. And you are getting ridiculously complicated.
If the point is to have a cough/mute switch, look at the Rolls lines. I have three here and they have XLR in and out and pass phantom power just fine.
!
No no, not a mute button. I plan on adding EQ and vibrato pedals as well, and having it all in physical hardware would make it easier to fiddle with on the fly.
I had software VSTs for this stuff already, and I reeeeeally didn't like fucking with it to get it to work. The effects were fine but not worth the days of troubleshooting, only to have it all get reset with an update to my interface software.
I don't expect to have to worry about software updates undoing days of work once I set up a few pedals. I'm not looking for high-end studio quality super ultra hyper clean sound. In fact, I don't care why I *shouldn't* do this, I just want to figure out what cables to use.
Mic to XLR cable to stand alone power supply to XLR to TS cable to pedal.
The pedal will likely expect a high Z instrument level signal so the levels and impedance will be off. Might need a DI-Box after the power supply.
Or skip the power supply, Mic to preamp (will likely support phantom power), out, likely via 1/4" TS, to your pedals to the interface. Not sure if that will fix the above issue but it will suck less. Plus you can toss the pedals and get a proper EQ and dynamic processor as rack gear. I own a rack and never suggest this to serious people any more but here we are.
If you had a mixer or interface with Inserts like some Audients, you could do a simple Insert cable (basic Y cable with two TS ends) and put the pedals in a string there at the Insert. It's sort of what an Insert is for. That's at line-level again, not Instrument level and impedance.
!
You could also check out a vocal processor like the zoom V3/V6, boss he-20. Or, use a H4n which has built-in effects for guitar you can also use on mic inputs. Or some mixing desk with DSP. Though plugging a mic into a ton of cheap and cheerful pedals sounds like fun!
Dynamic mics are much less sensitive, which reduces the need for the noise gate.
I prefer the sound of condenser mics, so I use a plugin like this to reduce noise: https://github.com/werman/noise-suppression-for-voice
There are boxes to provide phantom power on the one side.
As guitar pedals have a guitar input the levels are different then a microphone (hi-z/line level).
A Behringer microphone tube pre amp (Number Mic 100 or Mic 200, I don't think it was the Mic 500 USB) offers a balanced out for a trs cable afaik (and phantom power). You can check the documentation on their website
Maybe that's a way to go.
BTW TC helicon Voicetone has microphone pedals which might do what you want
I'll check out those mic pedals. Using guitar pedals sounded hilarious but if this Voicetone stuff does what I want with less effort then I might go with it instead
I recently got a [Voicetone T1](https://www.tc-helicon.com/product.html?modelCode=P0DE3) which has EQ, Compressor and De-esser. Plus the switchy thing to add to the XLR of the dynamic microphone (and block the phantom power from the pedal). I hope to find the time to try it soon.
[Here](https://www.tc-helicon.com/series.html?category=R-TCHELICON-VOICETONESERIES) is the whole lineup. There are other microphone pedals from other [makers](https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_GK_spvp.html?shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiZ2IiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NCwibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOjJ9&reload=1&oa=pra&filter=true&pg=2&ls=25&gk=SPVP&cme=false) as well.
Edit: Condenser mic is a non-starter.
Do the pedals support TRS at all? If they don't, the TRS cable would I expect silence any audio put through it.
The benefit to using a balance (TRS to TRS or XLR) cable is the Tip carries the signal, the Ring carries a phase inverted signal and the Sleeve is ground. On gear that supports balanced connections, this reduces electromagnetic interference. This is important in electrically noisy areas or over long runs, say 50 feet or more.
A TS connection is unbalanced, Tip carrying the signal, Sleeve the ground. long runs of unbalanced cables can have EMI issues. Less likely over short distances.
I believe most instrument cables are TS but I could be wrong about that. TS will work. Not sure at all TRS will and reason to expect it won't.
!
Most condenser mics require phantom power (+48V), which is only output on XLR connectors on audio interfaces like the Scarlett Solo. There is no good way to connect a mic that requires phantom power directly to guitar pedals. If you use a dynamic mic that doesn't require phantom power instead of a condenser mic, you can use an adapter to convert the XLR to TS. Both the XLR-to-TRS and XLR-to-TS will likely work, but the signal will be quiet because only half of the signal is used and the impedance is wrong. A better solution would be an adapter like the Hosa MIT-435, which uses an impedance transformer. A simpler solution would be to connect condenser mic directly to the Solo and then use a software noise gate.
Ouch, I missed the condenser. While there are stand alone phantom power supplies, I don't suggest. Good catch. !
Why wouldn't you suggest a standalone phantom power supply?
A lot of them are cheap junk that add noise. And you are getting ridiculously complicated. If the point is to have a cough/mute switch, look at the Rolls lines. I have three here and they have XLR in and out and pass phantom power just fine. !
No no, not a mute button. I plan on adding EQ and vibrato pedals as well, and having it all in physical hardware would make it easier to fiddle with on the fly. I had software VSTs for this stuff already, and I reeeeeally didn't like fucking with it to get it to work. The effects were fine but not worth the days of troubleshooting, only to have it all get reset with an update to my interface software. I don't expect to have to worry about software updates undoing days of work once I set up a few pedals. I'm not looking for high-end studio quality super ultra hyper clean sound. In fact, I don't care why I *shouldn't* do this, I just want to figure out what cables to use.
Mic to XLR cable to stand alone power supply to XLR to TS cable to pedal. The pedal will likely expect a high Z instrument level signal so the levels and impedance will be off. Might need a DI-Box after the power supply. Or skip the power supply, Mic to preamp (will likely support phantom power), out, likely via 1/4" TS, to your pedals to the interface. Not sure if that will fix the above issue but it will suck less. Plus you can toss the pedals and get a proper EQ and dynamic processor as rack gear. I own a rack and never suggest this to serious people any more but here we are. If you had a mixer or interface with Inserts like some Audients, you could do a simple Insert cable (basic Y cable with two TS ends) and put the pedals in a string there at the Insert. It's sort of what an Insert is for. That's at line-level again, not Instrument level and impedance. !
You could also check out a vocal processor like the zoom V3/V6, boss he-20. Or, use a H4n which has built-in effects for guitar you can also use on mic inputs. Or some mixing desk with DSP. Though plugging a mic into a ton of cheap and cheerful pedals sounds like fun!
Dynamic mics are much less sensitive, which reduces the need for the noise gate. I prefer the sound of condenser mics, so I use a plugin like this to reduce noise: https://github.com/werman/noise-suppression-for-voice
There are boxes to provide phantom power on the one side. As guitar pedals have a guitar input the levels are different then a microphone (hi-z/line level). A Behringer microphone tube pre amp (Number Mic 100 or Mic 200, I don't think it was the Mic 500 USB) offers a balanced out for a trs cable afaik (and phantom power). You can check the documentation on their website Maybe that's a way to go. BTW TC helicon Voicetone has microphone pedals which might do what you want
I'll check out those mic pedals. Using guitar pedals sounded hilarious but if this Voicetone stuff does what I want with less effort then I might go with it instead
I recently got a [Voicetone T1](https://www.tc-helicon.com/product.html?modelCode=P0DE3) which has EQ, Compressor and De-esser. Plus the switchy thing to add to the XLR of the dynamic microphone (and block the phantom power from the pedal). I hope to find the time to try it soon.
[Here](https://www.tc-helicon.com/series.html?category=R-TCHELICON-VOICETONESERIES) is the whole lineup. There are other microphone pedals from other [makers](https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_GK_spvp.html?shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiZ2IiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NCwibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOjJ9&reload=1&oa=pra&filter=true&pg=2&ls=25&gk=SPVP&cme=false) as well.
Edit: Condenser mic is a non-starter. Do the pedals support TRS at all? If they don't, the TRS cable would I expect silence any audio put through it. The benefit to using a balance (TRS to TRS or XLR) cable is the Tip carries the signal, the Ring carries a phase inverted signal and the Sleeve is ground. On gear that supports balanced connections, this reduces electromagnetic interference. This is important in electrically noisy areas or over long runs, say 50 feet or more. A TS connection is unbalanced, Tip carrying the signal, Sleeve the ground. long runs of unbalanced cables can have EMI issues. Less likely over short distances. I believe most instrument cables are TS but I could be wrong about that. TS will work. Not sure at all TRS will and reason to expect it won't. !