figure 8 pattern using two cardioids

[brother rat]

does anyone use two cardioid mics to approximate a figure 8 patterned mic? any advice in general? anything specifically for Mid-Side technique?
Thanks.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

They might function sort of like a figure-8 but a true figure-8 has pretty much perfect nulls 180° off axis which a pair of cardioids won't have.

If you record with just the two cardioid mics in X-Y you can process it to get similar control as you do with a M-S setup. Make a copy of the track, invert the polarity then swap the left and right channels. With the original and copy at equal volume it's like using the side mic only, then as you pull the copied track down it's like bringing the mid mic up.

 

[John Willett]

does anyone use two cardioid mics to approximate a figure 8 patterned mic? any advice in general? anything specifically for Mid-Side technique?
Thanks.

Any switchable-pattern mic. has the fig-8 made up from back-to-back cardioids.

But it is much better to use a single-diaphragm condenser fig-8.

The best is probably the Sennheiser MKH 30, followed by the Neumann KM120/KM120A/KM120D.

There is also the Schoeps MK8, the MBHO and the Ambient EMESSER.

The EMESSER is the most affordable at only £600 in the UK.

 

[leddy]

You could also use a ribbon mic. The Beyer M130 is my favorite side mic, even more so than the MKH30.

 

[leddy]

They might function sort of like a figure-8 but a true figure-8 has pretty much perfect nulls 180° off axis which a pair of cardioids won't have.

They will have a null when you flip the phase on one of the cardioids. It will just be wonky to some degree because the diaphragms can't really be back to back.

A true fig 8 is always a better choice of course.