Recorderman sounds very mono. Is this right?

[Kroy]

I threw up a couple of 421s in recorderman. Then I panned both channels hard left and right. The result sounds really quite mono. Is this the way it's supposed to sound? I tried flipping phase on one channel and it sounds like my brains are being sucked out of my head so that's not the solution. The drums sound great though. Very punchy. But is it supposed to sound this mono?

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Kroy

But is it supposed to sound this mono?

Not at all. There's something weird going on if it is. Recorderman should give you a nice stereo spread on your toms, hats, cymbals, etc....Of course, your snare and kik should come right up the middle, though.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Kroy

But is it supposed to sound this mono?

Not at all. There's something weird going on if it is. Recorderman should give you a nice stereo spread on your toms, hats, cymbals, etc....Of course, your snare and kik should come right up the middle, though.

Flipping the phase will sound weird, as you discovered. The reason we measure the exact same distance from the snare/kik and the mics is to keep them in phase.

[crankz1]

Need more info on your signal chain and crap ....
What are you recording to? digital, analog ...
How are you monitoring?

[drossfile]

it does seem strange. i have to wonder if using dynamics has anything to do with it. after all, they're going to be less sensitive and as a result maybe the differences in relative volumes going to each mic is less noticable than using condensers...idk, i'm just speculating out loud.

you should try doing a scratch track where you slowly strike each component of the kit, like a sound check, and listen back. if your floor tom sounds like it's in the exact same location in the stereo field as your hi-hat, then something else is going on (such as monitoring or inputs, as crankz is suggesting).

i only pan 3 and 9 o'clock, and my stereo spread is very wide. hard panning should make the different positions pretty obvious.

can you post a pic of your setup? if it's small and you have it tightly put together it could conceivably narrow the field. idk, again just speculating...

[PhilGood]

Wait, recorderman? or Glyn Johns?

I always thought recorderman couldn't end up anything but mono.

[Kroy]

Thanks for the replies.

I accidentally recorded each mic to both tracks!

It sounds good though. Even though it's very mono it's also very punchy and focussed. I'll add this to my accidentally discovered arsenal of tricks.

The 421s sound good as OVs.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

I always thought recorderman couldn't end up anything but mono.

No, it should end up stereo, too.

[mshilarious]

The goal of Recorderman is to be mono for the kick and snare, but stereo for the rest of the kit. But it's not an exaggerated stereo spread. I have to think that using 421s has something to do with this though--they are going to have less transient response and less high-frequency response than a condenser. That information is critical for stereo location. While 421s might sound good in a different, more widely spread configuration (where there are more phase differences to create a stereo image), they might just be a bad match with Recorderman.

You might try a modified Recorderman that rotates the mics counterclockwise (looking down at the kit), a bit more towards the ride for the right rear mic and the hat for the front left mic. The kick and snare will go slightly out of phase between the two mics, but it should still be acceptable. Heck, it might even help.

Another thing to try is stay with Recorderman, but toe the mics towards ride and hat. There you are taking advantage of the directionality of the 421's response, while still keeping the low- and mid- frequency info from the kick and snare intact and in phase. The danger here is the loss of high frequencies from the crash cymbal, so I probably would be hesitant to try that with rock music. Could work well for jazz.

[mixsit]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

.. I have to think that using 421s has something to do with this though--. .

I think someone hasen't had his coffee yet..

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by Kroy

I accidentally recorded each mic to both tracks!

That would do it.

Originally Posted by Kroy

It sounds good though. Even though it's very mono it's also very punchy and focussed. I'll add this to my accidentally discovered arsenal of tricks.

Nah, it'd sound the same in stereo, only... stereo.

Originally Posted by Kroy

The 421s sound good as OVs.

That, on the other hand, is a useful bit of trivia.