Topic: www.hauptmikrofon.de website revision (new Image Assistant app, audio samples)

[Gutbucket]

http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/home/news
^
Recent revision of the excellent recording website resource managed by Helmut Wittek (Schoeps) and Günther Theile.

Items of note:

New release of Image Assistant V3 (update of the Java-based V2.1 version still available on the site) for visualizing the aspects of 2 and 3 mic configurations (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/stereo-3d/image-assistant). Now available as a IOS app as well as a browser-based web-app hosted at Schoeps (direct link- http://www.ima.schoeps.de/).  The new version now includes a graph of Diffuse-Field Correlation, as well as an auralization function allowing the user to "hear" the effect of the changes.  I've not yet gotten the auralization feature to work on my browser.  The app is obviously tuned for handheld device screens.  Functional, modern "clean" handheld device interface, more appropriate for those devices, but requires navigating slide out screens to see each curve separately and all changes after one makes an adjustment.  The V2.1 java based web-app is still available (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/stereo-3d/image-assistant/v2-1-java-applet) and is perhaps more useful for desktop/laptop browser use in comparing and selecting potential mic arrangements.  It has a richer control environment, can display multiple curves simultaneously, offers some additional controls such as channel delays and listening position adjustments, and requires less screen switching.


Some very cool sound sample demos-
A comparison of ambience recording techniques (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/stereo-3d/ambience-recording) in both 2-channel stereo, multichannel surround, and 3d surround with height.  Check out the stereo ambience demo (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/audio/stereoambience.html) which allows switching between 1 meter spaced omnis, ORTF, "Quasi-ORTF (NOS?), and XY, while listening to several different ambiences.  Unfortunately, none are concert hall audience ambiences.

Diffuse Field Correlation comparisons of various X/Y setups using different polar patterns (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/stereo-3d/conincident-microphones-comparison-diffuse-field). DFC is basically, one measure of the "stereoness" of the ambient portion of a recording- values closer to one are more monophonic, those closer to zero are more "open" sounding.

Comparisons of various microphones of various pickup patterns in various environments. (http://www.hauptmikrofon.de/audio/micandroom_embedded.html) Program source is speech. Change the microphone, and change the environment separately from each other.  Hear the difference in direct/reverberant balance by changing patterns within the same environment.  (This is further motivation for me to try a figure-8 in the center in my three microphone configurations, which I had been planning on doing this spring)


Easy access to their excellent papers and slide presentations.  Over the years, these have greatly influenced my understanding of both 2-channel and surround recording and the development of my own techniques for multi-channel surround recording of live music.


ORTF-3D intended for recording 3d surround ambiences including height.  Basically its four DIN arrays arranged in the form of a cube.  Got 8 MK41s on hand?  Or 4 MK41s + 4 MK41Vs in a flat array which might just fit into a big rasta-dread containing knit cap!

[voltronic]

Marking thread - thanks for letting us know about the update.  I really like the redesigned tool.

[Gutbucket]

I dig Image Assistant because it lets me play around with 3-mic techniques unlike the other visualizers, and it provides more in-depth info.  However it is a bit more difficult to comprehend for the novice user.  I-phone users will likely find the off-line IOS app useful.  Check out the demos when you get a chance.  They are similar to the Schoeps showroom demo website with a sound player built into the webpage.



And just because it will get people drooling, (as it's not practically applicable to anyone around here), check out the 3D ORTF Schoeps pr0n.  First the original 8 x MK41 version, which is visually straight-forward-


Next the compact "horizontal ORTF / vertical" X/Y 3D ORTF version, in partially covered blimp.  This variant compact enough to fit in one large "saucer-blimp".  Cool how a MK41 and MK41V pair are mounted at each vertex to form a vertical 90 degree coincident X/Y-


Helmut, obviously bemusedly contemplating hat mounting the contraption!-