Which way to rotate capsule of a Cardioid Condeser Electret Overhead Mic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RecordingMaster
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RecordingMaster

RecordingMaster

A Sarcastic Statement
Hi there,

This is embarassing to ask, but it's about time I do... I have close mics on all my drums but I use x2 CAD ICM 417 cardioid condenser electret microphones as overheads. Here's the link to the page on their site: CAD Audio - The Brand Used by Professionals!. I also attached a picture.

Now, I've never been sure about which way to rotate the mic capsule when they are pointng down towards my drums in an XY patern. I always assumed they could be rotated anyway and it wouldn't affect the sound being captured, however every time I use them I always wonder if it really DOES matter. There are 2 cutaways into the mic grill - one on each side. See pic for reference. So does it REALLY matter?

Thanks if you can help.
 

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Well it's a cardioid pattern so yeah it greatly depends which way you rotate it. Unless it's an end address microphone.
Usually the name and model printed on the body of the microphone is the address side but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
Use a flash light for back lighting to see which way the capsule is facing ..... if it's a side address microphone then just speak into one side and then the other. One side will be fuller than the other thinner sounding side you want the fuller sounding side.
 
Hey Harvey! :drunk:


OP....

What others are telling you is ...the very top/tip is the capsule's face, forget those side "cutaways".
Same way you would use a SM57...you point it at the source.
 
They had to take away her vibrator. She kept chipping her teeth.
 
Hahaha nice pic witzendoz! Ok, so I will continue to do what I have been doing...If I am mic'ing in stereo X-Y pattern, then I'll be pointing the tip of the mic towards to sound source.

Harvey, are your SURE it's a front address mic? Also, why in the world does this mic have those cutaway things? Can't help but wondering...
 
Couldn't find mic manuals on the site (but man that looks like that's a bright one..
On first impression I wondered if the sides would have polar effects but CAD I'm sure know their stuff.
My question is can't you hear any difference from the side to the front? The level diff might be just a few db down at 90' but the tone.. the highs at a min ought to sound different?
 
RecordingMaster said:
Harvey, are your SURE it's a front address mic? Also, why in the world does this mic have those cutaway things? Can't help but wondering...
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm certain it's a front address mic. The "cutaways" let sound get into the rear of the capsule to create the cardioid pattern.
 
Harvey knows what he is talking about.

But if you want a second opinion, I have a pair of those, and yes, they are front address mikes.
 
Ok thanks guys! And Harvey,sorry for questioning your certainty. I believe you now after gecko has contested to your wisdom. But had he not.... :P

Thanks again!
 
RecordingMaster said:
Ok thanks guys! And Harvey,sorry for questioning your certainty. I believe you now after gecko has contested to your wisdom. But had he not.... :P

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Indeed :confused:
Now please, is it true you really couldn't tell which end is 'the front'?

(BTW..quick fix..

'Harv - Master
'RecordingMaster' - Weedhopper

(..sorry 'Grasshopper's been taken :)
 
mixsit said:
Indeed :confused:
Now please, is it true you really couldn't tell which end is 'the front'?

(BTW..quick fix..

'Harv - Master
'RecordingMaster' - Weedhopper

(..sorry 'Grasshopper's been taken :)
Click to expand...

Hey mixsit, my question wasn't asking which is the front, it was which way to rotate the capsule (note thread name). The cutaways were confusing me. I know to point the tip of the mic at the source, but wasn't sure if the cutaways should be pointing away to the left and right of the source or to the top and bottom of source.

Oh and, my name is intended to be sarcastic, hence my tagline (or whatever it's called) under my name. :)
 
Cardioid mics are cardioid because they let sound in from the rear, using phase cancellations to reduce the pickup from behind. Pretty well every end address cardioid has some kind of slots or grills on the side for this purpose...those CAD mics just make them look more confusing.

As an aside, this is why vocalists who cup their mics on stage are the bane of sound operators. Doing so blocks the slots that make the mic directional, changing both the frequency response and pickup pattern and making things far more prone to feedback.
 
Bobbsy said:
As an aside, this is why vocalists who cup their mics on stage are the bane of sound operators. Doing so blocks the slots that make the mic directional, changing both the frequency response and pickup pattern and making things far more prone to feedback.
Click to expand...



Can't tell you how much I hate this!!!!!!

And no matter how much I try to explain the problem to a rapper ...... I may as well be speaking ancient Egyptian out of my butt while juggling five kittens and a puppy.
 
moresound said:
And no matter how much I try to explain the problem to a rapper ...... I may as well be speaking ancient Egyptian out of my butt while juggling five kittens and a puppy.
Click to expand...

You had me at "try to explain the problem to a rapper"! Hahaha.
 
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