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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: DaryanLenz on September 02, 2003, 02:06:58 PM

Title: right and left
Post by: DaryanLenz on September 02, 2003, 02:06:58 PM
When you have mics crossing, such as in din, ortf etc, which one is right and which one is left.  I am often asked this question, and I assume I know the answer,  but wanted it clarified  Say in ortf, my mic that is pointed to the right side is technically on the left if looking at it from a connector basis.   However, the actual mic would be pointing to the right side of the stage, so which channel is it.  I hope this makes sense, I was thinking about it driving up to Madison yesterday...

Daryan
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Brian Skalinder on September 02, 2003, 02:11:21 PM
L/R is dependent upon the direction in which the capsule/element is pointed.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Chuck on September 02, 2003, 02:28:04 PM
Does anyone else make note of which mic is right and which is left in recording notes?
I used to have a mismatched pair and I always wrote down which was which, by serial#,  when I made notes about the recording. That has stuck with me.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: zhianosatch on September 02, 2003, 02:30:25 PM
Yellow post-it note paper cut up for sizes and taped all along the LEFT chain, from cap to preamp, for me!
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Simp-Dawg on September 02, 2003, 02:37:43 PM
yeah, whichever direction the mic is POINTED is what channel it should be...i put a piece of duct tape at either end of one of my cables to distinguish the two during setup.
as for keeping track of which mic is in which position, i don't bother with it.  they're a matched pair and it shouldn't matter which is left and right as long as i've got the signal coming in correctly.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: greenone on September 02, 2003, 02:46:10 PM
The set of mic cables I got from Jonny had "R" on the right-hand cable. Once I got it hooked up right, I just never unplugged 'em from the back of my preamp and only have to worry about plugging that cable into the mic facing to the right. Why worry about two ends when you can worry about one? 8)

--Dave
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Chuck on September 02, 2003, 02:52:19 PM
One of my Mogami cables is yellow and one is blue, so I never have trouble figuring out which is which. I use yellow=right, blue= left. I also do a finger snap test in front of each microphone with headphones on to confirm all is right. Or is it left...  ;D
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 02, 2003, 03:02:30 PM
the audio magics have a colored spacer on one end at the mic and pre meeting points, and i just bought 40 ft green, and 40 ft black, so no more squinting 8)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 02, 2003, 06:52:59 PM
the audio magics have a colored spacer on one end at the mic and pre meeting points, and i just bought 40 ft green, and 40 ft black, so no more squinting 8)

40ft?  are your runs usually that long?  
my xstreams came with a blue marker on one of the xlr's at each end.  
my right channel mic points to the same side of the room as my right ear when i'm facing the stage.

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: plucks on September 02, 2003, 09:01:40 PM
I also do a finger snap test in front of each microphone with headphones on to confirm all is right. Or is it left...  ;D

Finger snap is key to make sure that the left mic is the left on your setup.

As far as when mics are setup in ORTF/DIN, etc...they do not always cross.  It has to do with your T-bar or mic lengths if they cross.  You can still run the mics in the ORTF or DIN without crossing the mics. Either way, cap pointed to left is left, and right is right.  

Phil
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 03, 2003, 02:36:13 AM
the audio magics have a colored spacer on one end at the mic and pre meeting points, and i just bought 40 ft green, and 40 ft black, so no more squinting 8)

40ft?  are your runs usually that long?  
my xstreams came with a blue marker on one of the xlr's at each end.  
my right channel mic points to the same side of the room as my right ear when i'm facing the stage.

jr

not at all, but i plan on making a couple of sets ;) 8)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 03, 2003, 09:18:04 AM
the audio magics have a colored spacer on one end at the mic and pre meeting points, and i just bought 40 ft green, and 40 ft black, so no more squinting 8)

40ft?  are your runs usually that long?  
my xstreams came with a blue marker on one of the xlr's at each end.  
my right channel mic points to the same side of the room as my right ear when i'm facing the stage.

jr

not at all, but i plan on making a couple of sets ;) 8)

got it

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 03, 2003, 07:20:20 PM
the audio magics have a colored spacer on one end at the mic and pre meeting points, and i just bought 40 ft green, and 40 ft black, so no more squinting 8)

40ft?  are your runs usually that long?  
my xstreams came with a blue marker on one of the xlr's at each end.  
my right channel mic points to the same side of the room as my right ear when i'm facing the stage.

jr

not at all, but i plan on making a couple of sets ;) 8)

got it

jr
;D ;D
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 03, 2003, 10:57:47 PM
[rank on]

u guys are all so fucking silly.....

get red/black cables.....red is right!

connect the red cable to the mic that points to the right side of the stage....

even a monkey can figure that out.

sheesh....

[/rant off]
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Brian Skalinder on September 03, 2003, 11:15:06 PM
[rank on]

u guys are all so fucking silly.....

get red/black cables.....red is right!

connect the red cable to the mic that points to the right side of the stage....

even a monkey can figure that out.

sheesh....

[/rant off]

Well, Mr. Rabhan-know-it-all, my actives don't come in red and black!!  Whaddya think of that, Monkey Boy?
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 03, 2003, 11:35:56 PM
use a little red electrical tape on one end 521 ticket boy! and the post wasnt targeted at yew.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 03, 2003, 11:36:09 PM
[rank on]

u guys are all so fucking silly.....

get red/black cables.....red is right!

connect the red cable to the mic that points to the right side of the stage....

even a monkey can figure that out.

sheesh....

[/rant off]

Well, Mr. Rabhan-know-it-all, my actives don't come in red and black!!  Whaddya think of that, Monkey Boy?

xsteams only come in one color jacket, so i just spray painted them black and red.  so now they're both black on one end and red on the other.  uh, wait a minute...

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 03, 2003, 11:44:20 PM
thats why you bought "xsteams"?
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Joe w. on September 03, 2003, 11:48:27 PM
get actives. :)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Brian Skalinder on September 04, 2003, 12:27:04 AM
use a little red electrical tape on one end 521 ticket boy! and the post wasnt targeted at yew.

I know.  :)  I have a small piece of tape on the left mic so it's easy to figure out by sight or touch if it's dark.   8)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 04, 2003, 12:39:13 AM
thats why you bought "xsteams"?

you got me with the spelling error, jon.  can you help me with my colors though?

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 04, 2003, 10:21:31 AM
sure, just put a large Uga mask on your head like corso did a few seasons back and your Uga-jedi powers will allow you to see the L/R electrons in the cables, you wont need no silly colors.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 04, 2003, 12:00:16 PM
sure, just put a large Uga mask on your head like corso did a few seasons back and your Uga-jedi powers will allow you to see the L/R electrons in the cables, you wont need no silly colors.

schweet, lol.

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: DaryanLenz on September 04, 2003, 01:14:16 PM
Thanks for the clarification.  I make my own mic cables, always two different colors, so no worries there!

Daryan
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: DaryanLenz on September 04, 2003, 07:15:49 PM
How about in XY...the right mic points left, so it would be the left channel eh?  I usually don't run xy, but I was curious.  Maybe I will try xy hypers tonight with the 210's really up front just for kicks!

Daryan
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Brian Skalinder on September 04, 2003, 07:19:37 PM
How about in XY...the right mic points left, so it would be the left channel eh?

Yup.
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 05, 2003, 12:37:14 AM
How about in XY...the right mic points left, so it would be the left channel eh?

Yup.

second that, so thats why ya make shittytapes, huh????yer channels have been swapped 8)but can easily be switched back in wavelab 8)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 05, 2003, 12:49:52 AM
die, thread, die

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 05, 2003, 01:03:06 AM
die, thread, die

jr

 :banging head:
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: silentmark on September 05, 2003, 12:49:38 PM
[rank on]

u guys are all so fucking silly.....

get red/black cables.....red is right!

connect the red cable to the mic that points to the right side of the stage....

even a monkey can figure that out.

sheesh....

[/rant off]

LOL, well you can also use some red nail polish to mark your cable, sort of the same thinking...
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 05, 2003, 01:17:03 PM
die, die...
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: zhianosatch on September 05, 2003, 01:19:54 PM
die by my hand
i creep across the land
killing firstborn man
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: crunchy on September 05, 2003, 05:57:08 PM
if you're making your cables you could order colored boots for your XLR connector
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: zhianosatch on September 05, 2003, 06:21:34 PM
it's actually based on ye olde bible tale... straight outta exodus, thanks to metallica!
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: Sean Gallemore on September 06, 2003, 05:48:35 AM
exodus, that's where it's at

talk about a title that just gives it all away!
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 06, 2003, 09:52:43 AM
mmmmm, bacon
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: danmorgan on September 06, 2003, 11:26:28 AM
mmmmm, bacon

John, you were begging for this thread to die, now you are upping it....
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 06, 2003, 11:50:50 AM
mmmmm, bacon

John, you were begging for this thread to die, now you are upping it....

keeps floating to the top, might as well roll with it in a sick sort of way.

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 06, 2003, 05:31:38 PM
worst thread ever, close it, kill it!
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: dmonterisi on September 09, 2003, 11:07:28 AM
^^^ BUMP ^^^

 ;D
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: John R on September 09, 2003, 01:14:08 PM
xm radio is fun

jr
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: JAH on September 09, 2003, 02:32:46 PM
Does anyone else make note of which mic is right and which is left in recording notes?
I used to have a mismatched pair and I always wrote down which was which, by serial#,  when I made notes about the recording. That has stuck with me.
Ideally, you would make one set of everything  (one mic, cable, interconnect....) to designate a certain channel to be used on...so mark one of everything w/ a red indicator (tape, ink, polish...).
That way you will always have the same match up of gear and if you have any trouble w/ one channel, you will know which chain of cable and mics to investigate. Or you can "match up" a hot side of mic/cables to a non hot side of the pre hoping to even thing out IYKWIM  :)

As for L and R of the mic.....the right Capsule points to the Right and L>L no matter where the xlr end ends up.


has anyone ever noticed when the mic designation is reversed????

jah
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 09, 2003, 05:17:11 PM
mmmmm, bacon

 ;D ;Di LOVE bacon....in the microwave, that is 8)
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: rabhan on September 09, 2003, 05:21:30 PM
shit shit fuck fuck retards retards pepperoni?
Title: Re:right and left
Post by: MattD on September 09, 2003, 06:36:08 PM
Oww, my back! My (former) roommate had better get my desk chair back to me this week!