still confused about mid/side technique

  • Thread starter Thread starter RezN8
  • Start date Start date
RezN8

RezN8

Blick-um, blick-um...
I had time last night to play with some mid/side recording tests we did a few months ago. I'm still not sure if I'm doing everything right, so please help me out if you can.

Here's the process:

Mid mic (condenser-cardioid) above, capsule facing source
Side mic (condenser-figure 8) below, side of capsules facing source
mics as close as possible without touching each other - identical horizontal distance from the source

After recording, I copied the file with the figure 8 mic to a new track.
With both files panned hard left - I flipped the phase, and brought up the fader of the copied track until the the sound was almost completely inaudible. Then I panned the copied track hard right, and brought up the Mid mic track to fill in the center.

Did I miss anything? If I flip the phase back to normal on the copy of the fig 8 track, there is no stereo spread. The center mic doesn't sound like it's widening as I raise the level - it only sounds like I'm balancing the sound back in phase.

This process was new to me when we tried it. The way I usually did mid/side was using a preamp with a built in decoder. Bringing up the second channel fader increased the stereo spread. The way described above doesn't sound the same to me at all.

Any thoughts?

Tnx, Rez
 
Last edited:
are you facing the side mic's diaphram at the source? That's what it sounds like to me you're doing. So you're capturing the source and directly behind the microphone.
The side mic needs to be pointed to the left and right of the source. Make it so the polar patterns of both mics picks up a three leaf clover shape.

Otherwise, yeah...it sounds like you got the process right
 
Yeah, based on your description, it sounds like you have both mics facing the source, which will not give you a good stereo image. The cardioid mic should face the source, while the null of the figure 8 will face the source. That way, the figure 8 mic is picking up the left and right fields, but not the direct sound of the source. In other words, the capsules should be at a 90 degree angle.
 

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eeks!

oops, you guys are correct - I misposted - the mic in figure 8 pattern WAS facing sideways. It was a few months ago, so I had to think about it.

Anyway, when I get the chance I'm going to try it again. This time I'll take pics, as well as run a test of the same source going through the mic pre's decoder.

Anyway, here was my original post on it with links to the old sound files- https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=207464

Tnx again for your replies. Cheers, Rez
 
RezN8 said:
If I flip the phase back to normal on the copy of the fig 8 track, there is no stereo spread. The center mic doesn't sound like it's widening as I raise the level - it only sounds like I'm balancing the sound back in phase.
Click to expand...

You need to keep the copy phase inverted. You should have L+ and R- with the center normal.
 
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