PHANTOM POWER BASICS
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- Опубліковано 3 січ 2015
- Hello, thanks for looking in to our channel in which we try to pass on helpful bits of information which I’ve picked up over the years working for BBC Television.
Today I’d like to talk about phantom power.
Most of us know that you have to switch it on when you are using capacitor or other powered microphones.
But what are we doing when we switch it on?
Moving coil, or dynamic, microphones don’t need phantom power because they generate the tiny audio current by simple mechanical means - a coil moves in a magnetic field and that generates the audio signal.
When we come to the more complicated capacitor, or condenser, mikes, there is a problem. They have an amplifier inside them.
This is an Audio Technica capacitor mike and you can see the capacitor assembly here, which picks up the sound, and it’s connected with very short wires - these - to the amplifier.
The wires have to be very short with a capacitor mike because the impedance of the capacitor is very high indeed and any wires longer than a few inches would totally degrade the audio signal. That’s why we can’t just put longer wires on to the capacitor pickup device.
So, the amplifier has to be supplied with some sort of power to make it work.
Some microphones have batteries inside them to supply this power.. Batteries go flat; they leak and wreck your mike; they go down in the middle of a recording; and they cost money to replace.
Hence phantom power.
Let’s have a close look at the XLR connector on the back of this mixer.
I’ve got my voltmeter here to check the pins out.
Pin one of this connector is the ground, or earth connection. So I’ll connect the negative meter lead to pin one.
The phantom power switch is off at the moment.
Let’s see what appears on pin two: no volts. And pin three: no volts.
Now lets switch the phantom power on for this channel:
Back to pin two: ah, forty-eight volts!
And pin three: the same, forty-eight volts.
Now you might think that this voltage will harm, say, a moving coil microphone connected to pins two and three. But let’s check the voltage actually ACROSS pins two and three: no volts!
The voltage is only between pins two and three and the GROUND. No voltage exists across the signal pair. That’s why it’s called Phantom power.
So, if there is no direct connection between the signal pair and ground, then the phantom power will only go where it’s supposed to go - to power the amplifier.
It has to be sort of siphoned off to power the amplifier, and that’s done by means of either an isolating transformer, on older designs of microphone, or by using capacitors which block the direct current, the DC, from getting to the wrong bit of the microphone.
This is getting a bit technical, but if you need to find out more, there’s an excellent tutorial on You Tube at EEVblog #616 - “How Microphone Phantom Powering Works” where Doug Ford of Rode Microphones explains the technical side extremely clearly.
To recap: The 48 volts is available between pin 1, ground, (negative) and pins two and three (positive) of the XLR connector. Pins two ands three of course carry the audio signal.
When you are using mikes with phantom power, do make sure that the cable you are using are proper balanced ones, with the standard two inner conductors and the outer screen. If you accidentally use an unbalanced cable, with only one inner conductor, your microphone won’t work and you risk damaging both the microphone and the mixer. And check that your cables are in good condition - faulty cables can cause havoc when you’re using phantom power.
Just before I go, I’d like to show you a handy gadget I’ve used for years. It’s just a slightly modified male XLR connector containing a couple of LEDs and a couple of resistors. It’s called a “bright eyes” and with this simple gizmo you can instantly check your cables and whether phantom power is present.
When I switch the phantom on, both LEDs light. If only one lights, one of the signal wires in the cable is open circuit. If neither lights, either the ground wire is disconnected or the phantom isn’t switched on at the mixer. Brilliant!
I’ll be showing you how to make one of these bright eyes gadgets in the next video.
I do hope this has helped clear up a few of the mysteries of phantom Power.
See you next time.
Thanks for watching! - Наука та технологія
Thank you so much for making this clear. Everybody should watch this video. So, once and forever : if you use professional balanced cables, you can run dynamic microphones as well, even when your phantom power (48V) switch is ON. This is the best explanation of what are the pins 1 2 and 3 doing. And where exactly the 48V goes to.
This is the first video I found that actually made me understand how phantom power works, you're an amazing explainer, thank you so much!
At last! somebody who talks my language. Many thanks, never totally understood this, now I do.
Hello David Attenbroughs brother.
Attenborough*
Jarmsie
David Attenbrother
Your comment does not have anywhere near as many "likes" as it should have.
Thanks for the close up shots, makes it much easier to follow and understand.
So simple and easy to understand. Thank you so much!
Thanks ! Nothing like a good video with words and not just music to explain things!!!
Thank you for this video! I appreciate that you understand and explain the terminology so thoroughly. I learned a lot!
What a great explanetion! Thank you!
Amazing video! Loved your clarifying explanation, much obliged. Cheers from Argentina
Fantastic video. Thanks!
Your lesson here is so useful! Thank you.
brilliant video informative and eloquently spoken cheers
amazing explaining for Phantom Power. Thank you so much !
Excellent! Really clear.
This is my first time watching on this channel. The whole thing was very informative but I gotta love the most your recommendation and reference of exact EEV episode. EEV is amazing and I'm watching that next. I'm gonna 3d print that Bright Eyes gadget cause it's a genius design.
excellent video easy to follow and very informative
Thank you very much for this video. I have been struggling to find this info!
Thank you so much sir for your packaged information.
Great explanation! your voice reminds me the voice of David Attenborough
Love the 80's grunge at the background
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS! :D
✔Great Info - Thx u ...
that is what I call a proper audio video
Thank you very much for this greate video. your voice is excellent for those demonstrations. greetz from germany
Thank you think helped me a lot! ☺️👍
God bless this man!
Thanks for sharing. I’ve learned something new today.
Thank you Backspin! Knowing the basics is very good when things don't work!
Best
Joe Driver
Thank you Sir for this excellent presentation on phantom power
Thank you for your kind comment Sandeep! Much appreciated.
Thank you so much ..LOVE
Very well said and helpful tips i like the diy gadget that you used in testing the power of the phantom hope i can see a demo on how you build it, and also id like to ask a question, if the phantom power is on at the mixer, is it still safe to put a 1/4 jack playback source on a line input? and also by the way if phantom power is on, will it affect a wireless mic reciever? Thank You so much!
Learning about phantom power for my lights and sound class this really helped clear some stuff up, great video thanks for the help!
Thank you very much Charles, I hope to do some more soon!
Joe Driver
Nice vid, thanks. Subbed. :)
Super helpful, thanks!
Thanks very much Carl, much appreciated!
Joe
ASMR before ASMR was a thing. This man should do audio books!
Hello Joe.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!! VERY informative.
Wanted to know how to make the little "Bright Eyes" gadget you used in this video.
Look forward to learning more from your channel.
KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDEOS!!!
+Desiré Vargas
Hi Desiré, thanks so much for your kind comments! I wonder if you have tried to make the bright eyes!
The videos are actually quite a lot of work to do and that's why we haven't done as many as quickly as we could have liked. If there is any aspect of audio (or video for that matter) engineering or production that you'd like to know more about, do let me know and if I can I'll try and shed some light on that subject. Very best wishes! Joe
Amazing video. I think I'll watch it again. :P
Thanks Michael, it's always very nice to receive these comments.
I will be making more in the future but I seem to be extremely busy at the moment trying to earn some dosh!
Very best, Joe
Thank you for sharing. Hope your channel picks up. Subscribed
OK Smith Hi OK, yes, it's difficult to know what people want to know about. Many thanks for your kind comment about the channel. And thanks for subscribing. I'll do some more when I feel it's worth it! Cheers, Joe
great help :) you know your stuff :)
This video helped and explained a lot! Thank you!
Cesar Saldivar Thank you Cesar. If there's a subject you would like more infomation on I'd be glad to do a video on it if I can.
Thank you :)
What kind of power phantom do a mxl 990 need
Thanks!
Can I mix regular mic with the phantom on the same mixer??
thank you
I need phantom power for 2 condenser mics on my drums, but the other 4 mics don't need it. If I turn on phantom power and plug my regular mics into a channel that has phantom power to it, will it ruin my microphone? I believe my mixer has 6 channels that will have phantom power to them when turned on. So if using channels 1 & 2 for the condenser mics, and channels 3-6 for the other, will I cause damage to the mixer, or the mics? I'm just learning how to mic drums, so I don't want to ruin equipment, it's to expensive. Thank you for your help!
instant subscribe!
Can the right cord or adapter power on a condenser mic like a Aukey Usb C adapter typec 3.1 male to usb 3.0 type a female or any other cord like it ?
I live in Thailand, and grounding is almost unheard of in the region I'm in. As a result, appliances and computers discharge current on their metal parts. If I use phantom power to power my shotgun condenser mic, do I risk burning out said mic, or will it just behave like my computer and give me a buzz every time I touch (ground) it. Thank you!
Hi, how will i use my shure sm 91 without phanthom power supply.... Can i make/ convert mini xlr to xlr connector... Thanks
Hi its a good video and really helpfull, i have a doubt.
You show one microphone with batery power and conector xlr, can i plug one micro like that on a recorder using phantom power? or will be damaged?
Sorry for my english.
Hi David!
The microphone I showed with a battery in it wasn't a phantom powered microphone. It needed power from the battery inside it. Some mikes can do both - they can be battery powered or phantom powered.
Maybe if you tell me the make and the model of the mic you want to use I can check it out for you?
And has it got a 3 - pin XLR connector built in?
Best regards,
Joe Driver
I really don't want to know all this jargon, im just looking for a mic to play my
acoustic guitar through, but when I picked one it requires 48v phantom power..
but my amp produces only 24v (Fishman artist amp) what do I do ???
I hate all this stuff.. I just want to plug in & play !!
Thanks
I love this video. Question, if I have a mic that doesn't need phantom power, but, my vocal processor only has 48v XLR input. Will that blow up my
mic over time? I want to check before I buy, that's all. Thank you for this awesome video!
No
My take on building a tester similar to the Bright Eyes would use 48V LEDs and a couple diodes, all built into a male XLR connector. The diodes would prevent the LEDs from illuminating if the phantom supply or the cable being tested was accidentally wired in reverse phase. Should be easy to construct for a guy like me, who has all kinds of free time. I've never done this because I've had a multimeter for a long time, but I can see how it would be easy and cheap to build for someone who doesn't want to buy a meter, carry one all around on gigs, or who simply doesn't have the money to purchase one.
Hi,sir my mixer is having phantom power power not working problem. If i connect my xlr output from my mixer to the xlr input on the phantom power & then use the output xlr from the phantom power to be able to use my condensor mic will it work sir,thanks🙏
hey i have an issue where i plugged an xlr to 1/8 jack into my stienberg UR22 audio interface and now it has stopped working. is there a possibility that i could have damage the interface.
I have an xls Connected Mikrophone that Connects to my Computer via an xlr/chinch adapter. It has no batteries. Where is this mic being powered from? It is an Aukey GD-G1 Kondenser microphone.
i accidentaly plug my phone to a input with phantom power and I hear pop when i use my headphones
Great info, thanks.
Only one question. My desk can't select phantom power channel by channel and as I use both capacitor mics and the di from my bass amp I'm very concerned that my bass amp will be damaged if I send 48V to it. I suspect my question has been answered but I'd just like some reassurance before I try it. Thanks.
Hi Nick.
Two things here. It sounds as if the DI is built into the bass amp. And presumably it's outputting the bass on an XLR connector. Do you have a choice on the mixer as to plugging it into a jack or an XLR? If you can plug the amp into a jack on the mixer it won't carry phantom anyway.
A simple guaranteed solution is to get a Behringer Ultra-DI model DI100. I've got three and they were very inexpensive.
This model uses the phantom power from the mixer (it's got an XLR male to go to the mixer) to power the amplifier inside it, and gives you the option of an XLR INPUT or a 1`/4 inch jack input from the bass amp/guitar/whatever which doesn't carry the phantom through. I've just tested it to check. It's also got handy 20dB pads, two of them, to pad the input down if neccessary.
Hope this helps!
Best
Joe D
Thanks for your response.
Yes, my amp does have a built in DI (XLR output) but my stage snake only has XLR connections, so I cant use jacks.
Would dc blocking via a transformer or capacitor work?
Again, thanks for your input.
Yes, you could make up a transformer easily enough, 1:1 ratio but it might possibly affect the response of the system. Just leave the earth off one end. You'd have to use a good quality transformer, and you would have to ensure that it didn't get saturated with too high an output from the bass amp. That would sound awful.
If you could get one of those DI boxes it would be much less trouble though!
Very best
Joe
Thanks Joe, that was great.
I have a studio condenser mic and a dynamic mic, question is can I connect both of them in a same mixer with phantom power is on??? is it not dangerous to the dynamic mic???? need some help...
Hi Tiborsyo,
You should be fine using the dynamic mike with phantom power connected unless it's a very cheap one. If it has an XLR connector on it then it will be "balanced" which means it will simply cancel the phantom power out. But make sure you use balanced cables.
You might find two other videos I have made helpful - one is called "how to connect a microphone to your audio equipment" and the other is called "moving coil microphones".
Very best! Joe Driver
Rode and others, make some shotgun mics that use a 1.5v AA battery. I would assume that the electronics do not boost that voltage to 48v, but that the mic is designed to work on a lower voltage. Is that generally correct? For example, I have an AT lapel mic with a powering module. The module takes an AA battery. Measuring the voltage across the input pins I only get 1.4v. I did think that it would be 48v, I was mistaken.
Hello Rob,
Yes, I suspect the pick up element will be of the electret type, which is prepolarized during manufacture and the 1.5 Volt supply will power the preamplifier. Preamplifiers can run on much lower voltages than 48, but a true capacitor mike needs this relatively high voltage to polarize the capacitor plates.
Hope this answers your question!
Best
Joe Driver
I have ribbons , condensers, and dynamic mics I wish to use at the same time. However, my mixer has just one switch to engage phantom power for all channels at once. Can I make some kind of adaptor cables that prevent the phantom power from reaching some of the mics when the phantom power on the mixer is in use? Do ready-made adaptors like this already exist?
Hi Randolph,
if you are using reasonably up-market dynamic mikes (like the Shure SM58) then you can go ahead and use them with the phantom power on, no harm will come to the microphones.
Your ribbon microphones presumably have batteries in them if the aren't phantom powered? Check the documentation that came with them and make sure that they won't be OK on phantom power - they have to get their power from somewhere. A ribbon mic. will always have a preamp in it because the output of the ribbon is so low.
All depends on the quality of the mic really. All the more expensive ones will be OK on phantom. If you haven't got the documentation you can always go online to check.
If there really is a problem, the professional way is to use a 1:1 audio transformer. There are plenty of these on e-bay, it doesn't matter if it's an ancient one or a new one, it will stop the phantom power from getting to the mike.
Or a much cheaper way is to just disconnect the earth wire, the screen, at the microphone end - that way the lead is still screened up to the mike, but the negative of the phantom power supply is prevented from getting to the mike.
You might like to have a look at my tutorial "connecting your microphones" which explains all about this.
You mention the bright eyes - I think you may have got a bit confused about this - an LED is a Light Emitting Diode, and is already a diode. Adding extra diodes will not achieve anything. And the phase of the cable won't be revealed - the voltage on both pin 2 and 3 is the same, so if they are reversed, it won't make any difference, they'll still light up.
The only purpose of the resistor in the circuit is to prevent the LEDs burning out as on their own, they offer a low resistance to the phantom power which will mean excessive current which they won't tolerate for more than a few seconds.
I hope this helps. Best regards, Joe Driver
+TECHGROUNDINGTV Yep I was confused, I was thinking about some grain-of-wheat- lamps in my parts chest.
Not all stereo receivers have phantom powers that right?
Hi, really helpful information, thanks. in a situation where I need to connect a dynamic mic and a condenser mic in the same board but i can only turn on phantom power for all channels, is it necessary to cut the ground in the cable I'm using for the dynamic mic to avoid any damage to it? or can I use a normal cable to connect it and current won't reach my dynamic mic even tough phantom power is switched on for all channels? thanks a lot!
+Silvia Yepez
Hi Silvia,
I'm glad you watched my video about the grounding etc. of various types of mics., thank you for that!
If the microphone is a recognised , that is, a well known make and has an XLR male connector built into it, it should be fine. If you tell me the make and model of the dynamic mic. I can easily check for you. Anything by Shure or Electrovoice or Sennheiser for instance will be perfectly safe. Don't try and use an unbalanced microphone or cable with phantom power - that means, stay away from mikes that have jack plugs on the end of their cables!
Hope this helps. The more expensive route which shouldn't be necessary is to use a 1:1 transformer.
+TECHGROUNDINGTV thanks for the quick response. I'm using a shure sm57, a shure pga52, a sennheiser e835 and an audiotechnica at 2020 condenser mic, maybe I'll be using a cheap line of shures too but all of them XLR, so in this case, I can plug in all these mics together and turn on the all channels phantom power and the current will reach only the at 2020? and the other dynamic ones will stay safe?. just one more question. if I'm recording guitar and voice using the at 2020 condenser mic and plug in the guitar directly to the interface with a 1/4 " cable, I need to turn on the phantom power to feed the at 2020, the question is, is my guitar going to be OK? the current pass through 1/4" cables? thanks a lot again , best videos of these topics out there. and you are so kind.
+Silvia Yepez
Hi again Silvia,
I'm glad you checked this point. You mention "interface", not mixer, so I guess you aren't using a conventional mixer but some kind of USB or other interface with XLR sockets on it.
If you are using a guitar plugged into the interface directly, you really need a DI box, as the impedance will be wrong - the guitar won't sound right - and the DI box, (there is a nice one made by Behringer which is a very good price) can be plugged into the microphone channel and will get it's power from the phantom. You will get the best of both worlds then, as the DI box is expressly designed for guitar input and will amplify the guitar signal to improve the signal to noise ratio; then you can use a longer cable from the DI box to the mixer/interface. I have four of these Behringer DI boxes and have used them for years. Get the "Active" one. It has both male and female XLR connectors on it, and two quarter inch jack sockets so you can get the signal out again for an amp. or whatever.
Regarding the microphones - all will be well, they are all proper mics. and will work fine with the phantom power turned on.
Hope this helps!
Very best
Joe Driver
+TECHGROUNDINGTV
I forgot to say: DON'T plug the guitar in with the phantom on. Not a good idea!
Joe
It is actually a behringer u-phoria UMC 404 HD USB interface, and all my questions here are related to recording and production mostly, not really to live situations. Maybe some times I'll get the signal of the guitar after a pedalboard o from the back of a fender amplifier, in any case do I need the DI box? Or just when I'm connecting it directly to the interface? Is the DI box just to convert the connector to XLR and make it balanced, or it does other functions?
In my case the mixer I am using , in the mixer the phantom power is not working. But if i will provide an external phantom power going to mixer will work? from Microphone > phantom power > mixer w/ phantom power
Hi Timothy,
Yes, there should be no problem doing that.
If the phantom power built into the mixer doesn't work, then I would advise switching it off to avoid damage. So it won't be sending power to the new phantom power supply.
If you had a multimeter you could check that the phantom power is definitely not working, and the fault is not with the microphone. Just a thought. And check with another cable.
Hope this helps.
Best regards
Joe
Desr Sir, Why Phantom power is always 48v????? Not change???? What is the specific???? Thanks!!
I have studio master air 8 mixer I am planning to buy condenser microphone but I don't have Idea that studio master air 8 have panthom power or not its ac 240v power supply so can condenser mic work with it!?
Hi Nikul,
I've had a look at your mixer and unfortunately it doesn't have phantom power built in.
However, you only need to buy a phantom power supply and I have just looked on e-bay and found a Behringer PS400 Micropower Ultra Compact Phantom Power Supply and it is £25.10 and postage is free.
It doesn't say it comes with a mains power unit but you could check that with the seller on e-bay.
They are plenty of others, cheaper too, but I have found the Behringer products pretty reliable.
Just enter "phantom power supply" into the search on e-bay.
Hope this helps!
Best regards
Joe D
thanq u so much
How would the connection diagram making a switch for a pantom power microphone, using the elements it mentions? Thanks!!...
Hi Ehud, have a look at my video "how to connect a microphone to your audio equipment" - I hope it will make things clear. If it doesn't , get back to me. Sorry about the delay in replying by the way.
Joe D
Thank you! The video was very well made!
is it a battery powered dynamic mic that i can take on the go ?
Hi - I don't know which microphone you are referring to!
Have a look at my other videos on this subject and I hope it will all be clear. One is called "how to connect a microphone to your audio equipment" and the other is called "moving coil microphones".
Best regards
Joe Driver
I'm thinking portability.Something like Audio Technica 2500 usb mic's cause i believe it take 5 volts to cut it on ? I'm trying to find other condenser can do the same thing ? The portable phone charger can give it the power to monitor the mic's to hear it, try it.It would be sweet if you can tell me other mic's that can do that ?
Wireless mic (the receiver) requires phantom power? Thank you
+whitedove Hi Whitedove,
I don't fully understand your question - can you be more specific? Radio mike receivers usually have internal batteries to power them or a mains adapter for non-camera use. I don't think I know of a receiver that uses phantom to power it but there's no reason why it shouldn't be so.
Can you give me a bit more detail of exactly what you need to know?
Many thanks!
Joe Driver
all my mics are wireless(headworn and lav mic). should i turn on the phantom power of my mixer? thank you
+whitedove Hi Whitedove,
No, you don't need phantom power for the radio mikes.
Just make sure you have batteries in the transmitters and the receivers. Phantom power simply supplies a source of power to a microphone, usually, or sometimes to something like a Direct Injection box.
So in your case, the power the receivers need comes from the internal batteries or mains supplies as I mentioned before.
Best wishes
Joe Driver
thank you so much. you are very kind
that was great info but will you plss do a giveaway for your condenser microphone i really need it plsssssssss
Hi Aditya,
I'm sorry but I don't know what you are asking me. What is a giveaway? I'm not a young person so it might be a phrase I haven't heard! Let me know what you mean.
Best
Joe Driver
TECHGROUNDINGTV It is basically a contest which nowadays' youtubers do in which they pick a comment and give him the some of their tech for free e.g. mobile phone, audio mixer, microphone etc. Hope you understood😊😊
SAMSON C01 RECORD VERY LOW VOICE PLZ HELP ?
Hi, I'm sorry I've been a while getting back to you but I have been away.
Can you be a bit clearer with your question? I don't really understand what you are asking. I appreciate that English might not be your first language. Best regards, Joe Driver
He just said UA-cam
I thought this from like 1982 and someone uploaded it to UA-cam later
Whaat....
It’s the David Attenborough of the modern age
My question is how in the world do these battery powered things like the Zoom recorders like all the handy ones even manage to spit 48 vults? Where the hell are they even jucing that from? Hell even 12 vults. I don't know the power of 4 double a batteries combined. But I can't emagin it's anything to get 48 vults from. Well let's start at 12. Let alone 48 or 24. Apparently they do some how though. Blows my mind. Well is phantom power anything like the electricity out of your wall outlit?
Hi MrHamit,
It's all about power, not voltage.
The current in amps multiplied by the voltage in volts gives the power required by the microphone.
If the microphone only uses say 7 mA which is fairly typical (7/1000ths of an Amp) then multiplied by the voltage, say 48, gives a power (Wattage) requirement of less than 0.4 of a Watt.
This is a very tiny amount of power and can easily be supplied by some low-voltage batteries; the voltage is stepped up from 3, 6 or 12 to 48 by an integrated circuit dc to dc convertor. Ib the case of a 12 Volt battery it would only be about 35mA.
Voltage is the pressure of the current; Amperage is the amount of the current; Watttage is the product of the two, the power.
Hope this helps!
best
Joe Driver
Mind blown. So what's all this mean for battery life? Zoom says with alkaline you can get 20 hours with the H6. I assume that's with out phantom though. Am I correct? They don't state it by the way. They just say 20 with the H6 and I think 15 with the H5. By the way. How much do you know about external phantom power supplys? Do they all require wall power? I ask cause were I to get the snapp off peace with 2 more XLRs for the H6 this peace won't spit phantom. Thus if you wana power 6 condencers it's 4 from the H6 and the other 2 you need something else. Thanks.
Eh-lo!
1:42 _Wreck the mic_
*PSYCHE*
I'll move along...
lol
Thank you :)
Thanks
does a usb audio interface get enough power from a usb? i want to record sound with a at2020 xlr, and im gonna use a audio interface that plugs in as usb into my computer, but my mic is xlr, my mic wil i put in to the interface and the interface with a usb into my computer, so now is my question, will the interface get enough power to use phantom power to power my mic?
Hi DangMR, sorry about the late reply I've been away.
Depends on your USB interface. If it has got XLR connectors, then you should be able to plug the AT2020 straight in and switch the phantom power on with the software.
It is possible that the interface will need extra power from the computer but it will be obvious from the connectors on the interface or the manual with the interface.
I don't think you will damage anything by just trying it out.
Best
Joe Driver