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Joined: Jul 2007
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Journeyman
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Thanks for that Glenn, very interesting and informative and though messed around with sound and amplification in a small way in the past, it is the first I have heard of this technique. Very odd that it isn't very popular or well known as the advantages are clear to see once the principle is understood. Considering that Alan Blumlein patented it in 1933 and used it around that time, why is it not more well known? To be able to change the stereo mix, spread it or narrow it down via the original use of this system is amazing.
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Actually it is quite well known to those who have studied recording. Very useful. I almost always record acoustic guitar with a variation of this.
'Mid-Side' is also a very cool multiband compression technique. I have isolated and brought vocals out of mixes using that one with great success at times.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Anonymous
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Have any of you played with recording guitar cabinets with several mics at different distances? The first time I saw it I thought it was nuts, and then I heard the tracks played back with all 6 of the mics at the same level and it made for a better natural echo than any digital reverb I have heard yet. In fact one of the mics was behind the cabinet. Then the one right in front like always, then 3 feet, then about 6, then about 10 and then one at the other end of the room, like 20-22 feet. Really sounded good and they could play with every channel independently in the mixdown.
Of course it took 6 channels of the mixer to do it, and this was a while back before every kid with a home studio had 24 channels to work with....
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When I've tried, I haven't had good success - but it's been mainly because the noise floor of my figure 8 mic is pretty high in comparison to the dynamic that I used for the cardioid.
I've recently come into a couple different dynamic mics that I'll have to give a try as the mid mic. Still have the same figure 8 mic however.
Here's a quote from the article that highlights my problem: "For the most part, both mics should be fairly similar in sound. This is particularly true when the sound source is large, like a piano or choir, because the channels are sharing panning information; otherwise the tone quality will vary across the stereo field."
I have better luck on acoustic guitar just with a simple condenser in the usual way - around 12th fret, backed away, pointing to the sound hole. Not stereo, but I usually don't need it that way.
The other thing is that you have to ensure you can setup your signal flow like the one shown. If you don't have a way to copy and inverse phase the figure 8 mic signal - then don't bother with M/S.
-Scott
-Scott
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Use of multiple mics to multiple tracks is not as easy as it looks to the uninitiated, one must be very careful that all of the mics are placed such that no two mics are situated such that they are recording the wave out of phase in order to prevent phase cancellations when played back.
That said, sometimes a certain amount of phase cancellation can add that almost "chorusing" effect to the playback, often desirable for guitar work if the phase differences are not too severe.
An old British trick, use two mics on the guitar amp, one close mic and one at the other end of the large room. Big old cathedral or other large area, placing that second mic to face a corner or corner/ceiling area can yield some "huge" sound to the track. this one is for Rock tracks, of course.
--Mac
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Anonymous
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Absolutely right, Mac. I have tried it and it took a lot of tries to get the mics positioned right. The one I saw do it first was Joe Walsh, but of course he had people. He just stood and played while his people moved mics around. Since my people are me.....
Experimentation is such fun, is it not?
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Well, yes. But in my case experimenting is always fun because I'm that kinda personality.
--Mac
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Like it said in the article 'my eyes glazed over'. I thought of doughnuts. I think I'll cancel the phase I'm in. (I never thought I'd end a sentance with the word in.) Now I've done it twice.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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