Topic: HHB Portadrive Mid Side recording can you help?

[andyNZ]

My first post on this forum -- so hopefully in the right place.

I recently purchased a s/h HHB Portadrive. Nice machine (but chunky).  Anyway--  I can’t work out how the mid-side decoder on this machine expects the user to be connecting and panning the microphones in use.  I can't find anything in the manuals about this  (other than pointing out that a  m/side decoder can be set)

I know how I would do it on an external mixer with a  split cable but I can't seem to get the Portadrive to behave as I might expect.

Specifically if I wanted to apply mid side decoding to, say inputs 1 & 2 on the Busmix or Output mixer of the Portadrive

            Which input (1 or 2?) would I connect the mid mic to? How would I pan that microphone in the mix for the HHB m/s decoder?
            And assuming I am standing behind my mics how would I pan the side mic on the remaining input assuming that front capsule of the side mic pointed to my left?

I’m getting some strange results on my machine and can’t work out whether it needs repair or I’m just not setting up correctly.

Many thanks if you can help at all?

[Ozpeter]

Guesswork here - but I would expect the mid mic to go in the first channel, the side into the second, and the pans to the centre.  Presumably that will result in the mid and side mics being recorded "as is" for later processing in your DAW with something like Voxengo MSED vst, but while monitoring you would hear the 'decoded' sound.

[page]

Guesswork here - but I would expect the mid mic to go in the first channel, the side into the second, and the pans to the centre.  Presumably that will result in the mid and side mics being recorded "as is" for later processing in your DAW with something like Voxengo MSED vst, but while monitoring you would hear the 'decoded' sound.

I agree, mid-mic is likely channel 1 and the side is ch2. This way, when it does the decode, the left and right will match what you're pointing at. (positive impulse = left)

As for the panning, I don't have a great answer. I'd be tempted to hard-pan them to keep them seperate because when you drop everything to the center pre-decode, it should create the left channel only, and do it post-decode and you end up with just the mid.

When in doubt, you could always record discrete tracks and decode in post-production like peter mentions. best of luck.

[SmokinJoe]

Agreed on Mid = 1, Side = 2.

If you are decoding and recording that, my guess on panning is both up the middle, but I could be completely wrong.

If you crank the gain on the mid compared to the side it should sound very mono.  If you crank the gain on the side compared to the mid it should sound really wide.  I'd go with equal gains thinking that might be approx an XY90 output.

That's a hell of a recorder.  I'm jealous.

[DigiGal]

If you want to record the discrete MS components using two channel recording allowing you to adjust the stereo width in your DAW in post then record the mid mic to channel one only and the side (figure-eight) mic to channel two only. 

Position your mics by monitoring only the mid mic for optimal pickup, this can be done by using a simple headphone adapter cable that sends channel 1 to both ears of your headphones if the recorder doesn't provide you with this option.

[andyNZ]

Many thanks folks for your all your input. I've taken the ideas above and played around some and seems that on this recorder you pan hard left and hard right when using a pair with the mid side decoder engaged.  Many thanks for your help guys. Much appreciated.

[Ozpeter]

To be sure, phone HHB after Christmas.  I'm sure they would be helpful.  Heh, I see Richard Kershaw is still with them.  I worked with him in their (then) editing suite at HHB back in 1984.  Many, many years...!

[mepaca]

Hello-
   The pans on the recorder MUST be panned hard left and hard right or both channels will record the same signal.

[andyNZ]

Many thanks all. I have subsequently had a reply from HHB and yes, panned hard left and right is the way to go.  Very, very helpful the folks at HHB.
Loving my Portadrive-- I'm a novice recorder and very lucky to get my hands on one of these: kind of old tech now I guess but  more than enough features for me and a really nice sounding unit to my ears-- very, very quiet recording and monitoring and the recordings sound warm and full but with good detail. To my ears, as I say. I've not got a lot to compare it to but it is a significant improvement over my Motu Traveler  Thanks all.