help with fancy microphone

[rebirth0]

Hello,

This my first attempt at recording my own material and I need some help. I'm fortunate enough to have some pretty nice equipment which I got through an employing at M-Audio. I am using an M-Audio Ozone connected to studio monitors as my input/output. I also have an M-Audio Solaris Microphone.

The microphone has several switches on the side and I can't figure what they do and what are the best setting for my recording. The manual does not help. Does anyone know what these things are? There is one switch with three options: a circle, an infinity sign, and something in between the two. Another switch says "0db" and "-10db". I assume this one just reduces the volume. Finally there is another switch with two options: a straight line and a line with a shorter line connected to it. Anyone have any idea what these things do? Thanks.

 

[AMcB]

The first one is the pickup pattern you want to use on the mic. Depending on what you are recording. But the most common is cardioid which is the one in the middle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_pattern_cardioid.png

But they them all out, and see how they sound.
These are probably the other 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_pattern_figure_eight.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_pattern_omnidirectional.png

The 0db -10db is a pad. And yes the -10db lowers the volume, for louder sources.

The other one is probably a bass roll off, to cur out unneeded lower frequencies (or bass, or low end) try it out both ways. Usually you would cut the bass on vocals. And the straight line is normal, and the straight then slope is with the roll off engaged (less low end) and it probably cuts out around 80hz or so, which usually isn't needed for vocals, and a lot of other instruments.

But again try them all out, see what sounds best. Good luck. Hope this helped.

 

[John Willett]

This my first attempt at recording my own material and I need some help. I'm fortunate enough to have some pretty nice equipment which I got through an employing at M-Audio. I am using an M-Audio Ozone connected to studio monitors as my input/output. I also have an M-Audio Solaris Microphone.

Nice stuff for a beginner.

The microphone has several switches on the side and I can't figure what they do and what are the best setting for my recording. The manual does not help. Does anyone know what these things are?

Yes

There is one switch with three options: a circle, an infinity sign, and something in between the two.

The circle = omni-directional - this means that the mic. picks up from all directions.

The heart-shape / kidney shape = cardioid - this means that the mic. picks up from the front, OK(ish) from the sides (about 6dB down) but not from the rear.

The 8 symbol = figure-8 - this means that is picks up from the front and rear but is pretty well dead at the sides.

Another switch says "0db" and "-10db". I assume this one just reduces the volume.

Yes - 0dB is normal and -10dB reduces the sensitivity by 10dB. This is useful when recording close to loud sounds to prevent overloading the micriphone.

Finally there is another switch with two options: a straight line and a line with a shorter line connected to it. Anyone have any idea what these things do? Thanks.

The straight line is the normal flat frequency response of the mic.

The one which looks like the end has been bent down is a bass roll-off filter (sometimes called a high-pass filter). This reduces the bass frequencies and is often used for close vocal recording where bass frequencies get boosted (proximity effect) and the roll-off helps bring it back to normal.

I hope this helps.