Topic: "Tools of the Trade"

[Nick Graham]

I often read reference here and on other boards about "DIN @ 90°, 17cm" or "ORTF @ 110°, 20 cm"...and while I completely understand what that means...do people actually break out protractors and/or rulers at shows?

I know how to set up DIN/ORTF/XY/NOS, etc...but it's in general terms. I can tell if my mics are somewhere close to 90° (or slightly more or less), and have an educated guess at the distance between the caps, but it sure is hell ain't scientific or exact.

So, how many folks use their engineering degrees in the field?

[Chuck]

I carry a protractor, but I run DIN or NOS most of the time, so I don't use it much. I do however carry a very small tape measure that I use often, for spacing.

[BCostigan]

I usually guesstimate.

[Simp-Dawg]

actually i made a card-stock cutout of a right-angle triangle with points 20cm apart for din config...other than that i guesstimate.

[sexymexi]

all by the eyes.  i don't really care about having it perfect. i can guess 90 and 110 close enough..  the spacing is something i've been thinking about taking more car into, but it looks good enough for me, and its sounded good thus far, except i didn't like the ORTF last week, i don't know if i'll try that in that room again.  i will have to stick a little tape measure in my bag.. peace all.

matt

[blu666z]

I eyeball the angle.  I know the distance between a stretched out thumb and pinky finger on my hand is about 17cm and use that to eyeball the distance.

-Kevin

[Tim]

generally eyeball and guesstimate. many times a stock configuration is not going to be appropriate for the room and pa setup so some modifications are necessary.

I've been taping with mics for 5 years now so I feel pretty confident in my setup.

[John R]

so is the distance to the center of the capsule or to the edge?

jr

[Tim]

good question.

I always go from the center of the capsule. Kind of like spacing speakers you go from the center.

Also, if there are other tapers clamped onto your stand see if they are using a stock ortf/din/nos etc. bar and use that to help you setup.

at Phish I always clamp right below Dave and he uses a fancy schoeps bar that has distances and angles all nice and marked off for you, very handy.

[BCostigan]

I always assumed it was from the center of the capsuals as the center distance never changes but the edge distances would (due to the different sizes cap diamiters)

[John R]

I always assumed it was from the center of the capsuals as the center distance never changes but the edge distances would (due to the different sizes cap diamiters)

very good reasoning, brian

jr

[Tim]

I always assumed it was from the center of the capsuals as the center distance never changes but the edge distances would (due to the different sizes cap diamiters)

exactly.

[he11yeah]

Got a small Stereo recording bar, but for my akg c1000s setup isnt a breeze, they are large mics and space is tight to say the least any ex. c1000s users have suggestions?

[BCostigan]

Got a small Stereo recording bar, but for my akg c1000s setup isnt a breeze, they are large mics and space is tight to say the least any ex. c1000s users have suggestions?

Don't worry about the vertical spacing so much and run one mic on the top of the bar and the other from underneath.  I've seen many folks do this using both the AKG and sabra som bars...I don't think you'd have a problem with the a27m.

[Cooker]

yep - don't sweat the vertical spacing. or get a rapido (all the online taping superstores carry them) to bump one of your clips up higher.

keep in mind, too, that the c1000's capsule is about a half inch inside the end of the mic.