Mid-side technique?

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xfinsterx

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Ive known about this way of trackng for some time but have never thought to really use it.

Anbody willing to spell this one out for me?

Ive been told you need to use a fig8 facing across...say across an acoustic guitar.
Then use a cardiod somewhere next to it? :confused:

Then i have to use a ms matrix plug-in..? I have that but i dont understand the science of why id need it.

If youve got any pics that would be helpful too.

The only fig 8 fig i have is a u87, ive got plenty of cardioids though.

Thanks for any insight. :)
 
Here's the scoop:

Fig 8 set so that the source is in the center of the 8. Like this:

8 <-

That gives you the Side channel.

The mid channel is the cardiod placed as close the the capsule of the S mic as possible to avoid phase issues: I usually have mine just over or under the S mic.

While a fig 8 is best, its sometimes hard to match mics for maximum effect- ideally it should be the same mic with different patterns. You can use 2 matched cardioids- you'll just have half of the fig 8 image. Not quite the same, but it works.

If you don't have an M/S matrix, you have a couple options. Here's the goal:

You have to create a copy of the S track that is phase flipped then pan the S+ and S- tracks hard right and left. In a DAW you can copy or bus the track to another channel and use a phase flip. On hardware you can use the insert send and phase flip it to another track.

Voila! Lower the volume of the S+/S- tracks and your stereo image shrinks. Raise them and it grows. Sum to mono and both sides vanish leaving the middle signal intact.

While its not crucial, its best to know how you're going to pan the M/S encoded instrument in the mix before you record it. If you want it left of center, place it left of the M/S mic array. You can pan the M signal however you like, but I avoid creative panning with the S signals- they should be the exact same volume so they cancel if summed to mono.

If you do have an M/S matrix, just feed the right channel into the right side and have at.

Enjoy! This is one of my favorite techniques. Very geeky. :D
Chris
 
ok.

So lemme see if ive got this straight.
I place the side fig 8 mic at the center of the instrument to be recorded faceing L to R.
The i place the cardioid dead center of that mic facing the source.

Then after i track i place the ms matrix plug-in on the fig 8 channel and be sure to pan the cardiod's track dead center.

Then ill have the Mid side sound?

Man....i could really use a picture here.
Any one wanna post one?

Also, what instruments (cabinets?) typicly get recorded using this method?
Acoustic guitar is one i know i ve heard has good results.....what else is good for using mid side?
 
I've been doing a lot M-S since I got my ShinyBox ribbon mic. I'm really liking the results, nice depth and dimension, for a lack of better terms.
 
Yeah i sort of ignored it till i heard a track my buddy did using the method.
Now i gotta roll over to the studio today and try it out!

Exciting! :D :cool:
 
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