Stereo Pair Micing

[TheGmiester161]

What are the details are spaced stereo pair micing. I know there is ORTF which is about 6 inches apart and 110 degrees. what is the spaced technique

 

[Innovations]

generally a spaced pair is used to record something too large to be well picked up at a single point. in other words you might have a choir that you can't arrange in a semicircle around the microphone but must be in long rows. Micing such a choir with a coincident pair would have the people in the center be louder than the ones at the ends. So you use two microphones both facing the choir. The rule of thumb is that the the microphones must be three times further apart than the distance from the microphone is to the sound source.

 

[crazydoc]

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/
Microphone University>Stereo Techniques

 

[SureShotStudio]

also a very good link

http://members.aol.com/mihartkopf/index.htm

and this link goes to an applet in which you can look at the localization charactheristics of various mic techniques, VERY nice

http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/ima2-folder/ImageAssistant2.html

 

[Han]

Funny site and very informative!

Here's a quote from it: The easiest way to destroy a ribbon microphone is blowing into it just for testing "if power on"! A stretched or burst ribbon cannot be repaired. The most economic way is to throw it away and buy a new one. For the money, you better should have had a night in "Ritz" with a delicious supper ...

 

[Warhead]

I typically prefer the ROTFLMAO technique but hey...might not work for everyone.

As far as spacing goes, you really have to experiment. Lately I've been fond of spacing the mics about the same as my ears (similar to what ORTF is...maybe 7" - 8" apart) but spreading them out closer to about a 95 degree angle for recording drums. This coming from over the player's head pointing "into" the kit. The spread will vary depending on the width of the kit etc. or number of cymbals or just varying the image.

Sometimes a spaced pair is just what the doctor ordered. You can have problems with snare phase / image issues in one setup (snare ending up WAY too left!) and no issues at all in a seemingly identical setup.

Things can get tricky when spacing pairs, be sure to monitor summed to MONO while experimenting to more easily hear phase issues.

The DPA University is a good link!! Great page to learn and gather ideas to experiment with.

War

 

[Han]

Warren, in that case you really have to try the DIN placement, works great on OH.

 

[Warhead]

Yup, slight variation of what I'm talking about! I just don't find myself pulling out a protractor or anything... It's also tough when drumkits can be so lopsided (lots of cymbals on one side, snare way left, etc)

War