Do OH condensers NEED to be matched?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aurora
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A

Aurora

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