Do OH condensers NEED to be matched?

[Aurora]

What are some of the disadvantages to having condensers that aren't "matched," and what is the difference anyway? Am I going to be screwed if I use an mc012 i bought two months ago with another I will buy in two weeks?

what's the deal?

R

[Track Rat]

Lets put it this way. It would be nice if they were a matched pair. When two mics are matched in gain and frequency response, then it's easier to predict how they'll behave and use them as a stereo pair. If you have two mics of the same make but purchased at different times, just do a lot of listening to the mics and see how different they are in freq and gain. Armed with that knowledge you can use them as a stereo pair with little problem.

[DigitMus]

I'd say it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you want a realistic stereo image of the drumkit as it sounds in the room, then yes, they should be a matched pair. If you're trying for anything else (and most people are - despite what they might think) then anything goes, as long as it sounds good to you (and/or the band & producer).

Scott

[ghetto3jon]

i recently had great results with unmatched overheads...

i had two c1000, and one crapped out. so i used one c1000 and a marshall mxl 603. they sounded great.

just go for it.

[BasPer]

And if they are multipattern (or at least one fig8) you can always set them up in MS, and they will be automatically matched!

[closer9:18]

If you're recording a guitar, they don't need to be matched exactly either. It may help, though, to EQ them differently so that they both sound the way you want.

I used a Rode NT1 in an x-y config. with a Shure BG 4.1. I EQ'ed the Shure with a bunch of hi's and hi-mids with no bass, and I did the exact opposite on the Rode. Sounded great.

I think the most important thing any time you use more than one mic, it to be sure they're in phase with each other.

good luck