Please verify the B3 functions...

[Bodhisan]

I spent a couple of hours last night going thru, over and under threads, and I'm purty sure I know what my recently acquired B3's functions are. But just so I know, would you please do this hick a favor and verify:

I know the symbols on the type switch are Omni, Cardioid, and Figure 8. The Figure 8 (bottom on the switch) is easy, but which is the Cardioid and Omni? My guess, because I saw the picture of the '67 Neuman, and it had a broken circle on it, so is that the cardioid? And the Omni symbol is the solid circle?

And the applications are:

Cardioid: Limits room sound and pretty much gets what's coming directly into it?

Omni: Used for multiple things going into it -- or if you want to get studio/room ambiance?

Figure 8: I would use this primarily for stereo recording along with my C1. But what would make this more desirable for vocals or acoustsic guitar than a cardioid setting? As a side note, I find that the output of the Figure 8 setting is not as hot as the other two.

Another question: I'm purely a solo recorder, recording everything in a very small room (about 8 feet by 10 feet) without reverb effect, and record the following instruments directly into a mike: acoustic guitars, mandolin, accordian, banjo, resonator guitar, and the following I mike an amp: Lap/pedal steel, and bass guitar.

For the acoustic instruments, which setting on the B3 would you suggest?

For miking the amps, which setting would you suggest (for the guitar amp, and the bass amp)?

THANKS.

Bodhisan

 

[littledog]

]
the symbols are representative of the pickup patterns. a circle indicates that it picks up from all directions equally (although technically omnis don't necessarily really pick up ALL frequencies equally from all sides). The cardioid symbol is, as you would expect, heart shaped, indicating that the rear of the mic rejects the most sound. Same logic applies to the figure-of-eight shape - indicating good pickup from front and back and little from the sides.

the other thing to remember is that the pattern choice will also effect the sound of the mic. Figure-of-eight generally has the strongest proximity effect and the most hyped signature frequencies, while omni has very little proximity effect and is usually the flattest EQ of the patterns.

it is something of a myth that the main reason to use specific patterns is dependent on the number of performers (cardioid for one, figure eight for two, omni for multiple). Occasionally that may be the reason, but often the main reason for selecting a pattern. As a matter of fact, I rarely use figure-of-eight for two performers because the rear lobe is out of phase, and if they are using headphones the performer on the rear side of the mic will get a noticeably strange sound as a result of hearing themselves in phase acoustically vs. out of phase through the phones. I would just use omni.

the other very specific use for both cardioid and figure-of-eight is in utilizing the MS technique of stereo recording.

the answer to "which pattern to use and when" is going to be dependent on the specific situation. A straight line of individually mic'ed horn players, for instance, might suggest using figure-of-eight patterns to maximize side rejection.

But in your case, as a solo performer, you shouldn't hesitate just to take the time to audition whatever you are recording with each of the available patterns and just see what sounds best. The combination of how your specific room sounds (and where your mic is positioned in the room - which would be another equally important factor with which to experiment) and the different EQ and proximity effect on a specific source will give you the only meaningful answer.

 

[DJL]

Studio Projects B3 pattren switch.

Top position = Omni.
Center postion = Cardioid.
Bottom position = Figure 8