I'm Mystified about Multi-Pattern Mics. Help?

[crawdad]

I have never owned one though I have done vocals in a group sing on a nice Neumann years ago. Anyway, here is my question. Do these mics send a mono output signal or stereo? The reason I am asking is that I am confused on this whole M/S technique. If its a mono signal and I print that signal to two tracks, reversing the phase on one track, I can see that they would play back together if they were panned R and L. Also, that they would cancel out if made mono (assuming they were both at the same exact levels and EQ's). Is this what it is?

Could you get the same effect with a matched pair of mics faced 180 degrees from each other?

Thanks for your patience. I have never used such a mic in my studio and I'd at least like to understand this better before I think about buying one!

 

[pipelineaudio]

There are stereo mics out there but most are stereo. They use two capsules for the polar patterns.

the m/s thing is fleshed out a little here :

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=64567

you usually want to use two mics for M/S or a stereo mic like a VP-8

 

[Recording Engineer]

pipelineaudio,

Did you mean "mono" in place of your second use of the word "stereo"? Wasn't sure, so I though I'd point it out...

 

[closer9:18]

There are stereo mics out there such as the Rode NT5 that have a cable that splits into two signals. I've never used one, I just thought I'd throw that out to the discussion.

I guess with a mic like that, you'd take up two channels on the mixer, but you could pan each signal, or EQ them differently for a lot of different applications.

I'm a bit confused on the subject. My band used a figure 8 mic once that had one cable (XLR) and was a mono signal. Does a fi-8 count as a multi-pattern mic or a dual capsule mic?

 

[DigitMus]

OK guys, let me try to straighten things out here... Multi - pattern microphones are (almost always) MONO, the "multi-pattern" refers to the polar pattern of the microphone (omni, cardioid, fig-8, etc.). They use 2 capsules (back to back) to achieve different patterns, output is on a single balanced (3 pin) line. A figure 8 pattern may be achieved with 2 capsules, or may be the 'natural' pattern of a ribbon mic (which uses a metal ribbon, not a diaphragm in it's 'capsule). Mid-side (M/S) micing techniques use 2 microphone, or a special 2 (or more) element microphone with 5 or 6 pins on the output to handle the seperate signals*. Figure 8 patterns are used for the 'side' part of the M/S (cadioids are usually the mid), and the side is split with one of the split signals reversed in polarity. The 2 splits of the side signal are NOT stereo until matrixed with the signal from the mid mic/capsule.
I hope I covered everything that was brought up here.

Scott
*NOTE - there are some consumer type stereo microphones with only 3 pins on the output - this is an unbalanced signal with L, R and a (common) ground. These are relatively rare and will definitely be marked as stereo - so don't worry about 'em.

 

[pipelineaudio]

"pipelineaudio,

Did you mean "mono" in place of your second use of the word "stereo"? Wasn't sure, so I though I'd point it out..."

yup Im an idiot

 

[crawdad]

Thanks everybody. I'm almost enlightened! Just one question still. Is it possible to achieve this same effect with two cardiods set up to emulate a figure 8 pattern or does the close proximity of the diaphragms in the multi-patten mic a must? The rest I understand--appreciate the help. Its about time I learned this stuff!

 

[pipelineaudio]

" Is it possible to achieve this same effect with two cardiods set up to emulate a figure 8 pattern "

I REALLY REALLY dont think so...theyd need to be so very close in order to make a figure 8...but just cuz Im a knucklehead like that Im gonna go try it...if it doesnt work , but sounds neat anyway, well call it the " crawdad technique" and sell some crawdad Blue Pincher Matrix Decoder boxes

" well I was thinking decca tree for the choir section, blumlein for the accoustic guitar and for the drum overheads Im gonna skiptail and do a crawdad "

 

[Recording Engineer]

I like pipelineaudio's pipeline of thinking...

 

[pipelineaudio]

ok, I did it

I am gonna post it on the mp3 mixing clinic

crawdad may be on to something

 

[Light]

You should also look at this thread.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=65456


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[pipelineaudio]

your jpg oughtta go on the FAQ light

 

[Light]

Which one?

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi