Could anyone tell me if Blumlien, like MS, recording needs to be decoded

[halfred]

There seems to be a controversy online about this . Some say yes some say no. There is even a Cascade X-15 stereo ribbon mic where the specs say it is configured for Blumlien recording, however the ribbon mics are stacked one on top of the other. My understanding is that Blumlien is 90 degree coincident XY recording with two ribbons. The Cascade X-15 seems more like it is configured for MS recording at least to me. Can anyone clarify this situation for a recording "Newbie" like myself. Thanks in advance!

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

You're right that generically speaking, "Blumlein" simply means an XY coincident pair at 90° to each other, though more commonly it usually specifically means doing this with two mics that each have a figure-8 pickup pattern.

There is no decoding involved here; simply pan the mic facing the left side of the stereo field left, and pan the one facing the right side of the field right.

Note that the mic facing left is actually the mic that's physically to the right; this can get confusing to some newbs. Just remember, pan to the direction the front of the mic is pointing or facing, and not the side on which it is physically located. (You can do it the other way around; but that will simply result in a reversed stereo image.)

G.

 

[halfred]

You're right that generically speaking, "Blumlein" simply means an XY coincident pair at 90° to each other, though more commonly it usually specifically means doing this with two mics that each have a figure-8 pickup pattern.

There is no decoding involved here; simply pan the mic facing the left side of the stereo field left, and pan the one facing the right side of the field right.

Note that the mic facing left is actually the mic that's physically to the right; this can get confusing to some newbs. Just remember, pan to the direction the front of the mic is pointing or facing, and not the side on which it is physically located. (You can do it the other way around; but that will simply result in a reversed stereo image.)

G.

I get it. Thanks for the info!

 

[Jim Lad]

There is a difference between Blumlein and XY though.
With XY recording you place yourself directly in front of the mic with each mic (in this case, ribbon) pointing towards you at a 45 degree angle.

For Blumlein, the microphone should be aimed at you from an overhead position with one ribbon facing you and the other off to the side at 90 degrees.
Now take those two tracks into your DAW. You have one track for the ribbon that was facing you. Keep it panned to the centre. The other track should now be cloned/copied and one panned 100% left and the other.... reverse phased and panned 100% right.
This leaves you with three tracks. One centre, One left & One Right (reverse phased).
I would suggest that any controversy you may have found has actually arisen out of confusion between Blumlein and XY configurations.
I'll find a link that explains it better than I do.
Edit: Just had a look at Wiki and it completely contradicts me. I'll go out on a limb here and say that I am so sure of what I've read in the past that someone over at Wiki actually got it wrong!!


... oh I'll find that article some day!!!

 

[noisewreck]

There is a difference between Blumlein and XY though.
With XY recording you place yourself directly in front of the mic with each mic (in this case, ribbon) pointing towards you at a 45 degree angle.

For Blumlein, the microphone should be aimed at you from an overhead position with one ribbon facing you and the other off to the side at 90 degrees.
Now take those two tracks into your DAW. You have one track for the ribbon that was facing you. Keep it panned to the centre. The other track should now be cloned/copied and one panned 100% left and the other.... reverse phased and panned 100% right.
This leaves you with three tracks. One centre, One left & One Right (reverse phased).
I would suggest that any controversy you may have found has actually arisen out of confusion between Blumlein and XY configurations.
I'll find a link that explains it better than I do.
Edit: Just had a look at Wiki and it completely contradicts me. I'll go out on a limb here and say that I am so sure of what I've read in the past that someone over at Wiki actually got it wrong!!

Sounds like you're describing MS (Mid+Side) micing In which case you use a cardioid to point to the center and a figure of 8 for the sides...

Mind you, this has nothing to do with the technology of the mic being used, whether ribbon, dynamic or condencer... although most ribbons are figure of 8.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

For Blumlein, the microphone should be aimed at you from an overhead position with one ribbon facing you and the other off to the side at 90 degrees.
...
I would suggest that any controversy you may have found has actually arisen out of confusion between Blumlein and XY configurations.
I'll find a link that explains it better than I do.
Edit: Just had a look at Wiki and it completely contradicts me. I'll go out on a limb here and say that I am so sure of what I've read in the past that someone over at Wiki actually got it wrong!!

Sorry, Jim, but noisewreck is right. As much as I'd LOVE to blame wiki (because I hate wiki), you have a little confusion going on yourself. What you are describing is M/S miking, not Blumlein. And even then, the mic facing you does not have to be a ribbon or a fig. 8; it can be a standard cardioid. The fig. 8 in an M/S is only needed for the two side lobes.

These days "Blumlein" means setting up two fig 8s in a standard XY configuration. What many don't realize is that Blumlein the engineer actually came up with the standard XY technique using two cardioids as well, and in fact the general concept of coincident pairs. But to save confusion, his name is given only to the dual figure 8 technique.

G.