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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: moricle on August 08, 2016, 02:12:05 PM
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So I looked briefly through TS and found some info about microphone placement but I've been curious. I bought my CA-14 Cards about 9 months ago, and have used them sparingly. They are great, but I find myself using the Rode M5s way more frequently because I'm familiar with their setup and placement for a pretty good sound. Since moving to NYC, I have been using the CA-14s more frequently (mainly because I didn't bring my large mic stand and not every venue here can accommodate my clamp to use the Rodes).
When I do use the CA-14s, I clip them on the collar of my t-shirt. Usually the mics are pointed "inwards" (as in the left mic is facing towards the right side of the room, and the right mic faces towards the left side of the room, sort of like an XY approach). I'm about 6 feet tall, and try to stand in the middle of the room and not move or talk too much. The tapes I've made with this approach have been OK, but I'm seeking a more uniform and clear sounding recording. I've listened to a few tapes on Archive.org that use CA-14 cards, and they seem to have a more clear sound. I guess my biggest issue is my movement affecting the quality, which is totally on me. But I feel like the placement of the microphones is not the best.
Are there any suggestions on how I should be clipping these for a better sound? Should they be facing forward (AB config) or more outwards (like a DIN config)? I'm still interested in a way of keeping these stationary too (like on a mic stand) but as I said, sometimes I can't clamp.
As a reference here are 2 of my CA-14 tapes:
1) https://archive.org/details/mbb2016-07-28.flac (indoors)
2) https://archive.org/details/bt2016-07-16.flacaud (outdoors)
Again I understand that if I move or talk, that's my fault.
I appreciate any insight and suggestions!
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I dont ahve those exact mics but i do run Sound Pro's of a similar size and pattern. I recommend clipping them to the bill of a baseball hat. the brim can help cut some noise (particularly if you are tall like me) and even the slight increase in vertical height is IMHO a good thing.
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Yeah, definitely do not do that. The only time the microphones should ever "cross" is in the coincident X-Y pattern, which what you've described is certainly not. If you're going to use your collar, you need to be using omnis, but even then it is sub-optimal. You really need to be using a hat or glasses or something that can point the mics straight or outward at the stacks...
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Yeah, definitely do not do that. The only time the microphones should ever "cross" is in the coincident X-Y pattern, which what you've described is certainly not. If you're going to use your collar, you need to be using omnis, but even then it is sub-optimal. You really need to be using a hat or glasses or something that can point the mics straight or outward at the stacks...
Thanks! That's what I figured, but haven't figured out a method that works for me. As I said, I'm still new to using these. Please excuse my ignorance :/
I appreciate it.
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I'm guessing your recordings sound flat, with little to no channel separation. I know because once I tried x-y from the collar myself and the results were very disappointing. Phase shifts from the slightest movement were unavoidable in that config. I'm now an ORTF guy-- PM me if you want details on how I do that with cards in >:D mode, no collar or hat clipping required.
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get a kangol ventair.
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I used to run my CA14s in my Schoeps active bars, mostly DIN! But that was for open taping and not stealth mode! That said, I think they sounded really good in DIN so I ran that the most! And I would def avoid the mics pointing inwards, like others have mentioned! I have always hated even XY when I ran it correctly, so doing what you mentioned is def not ideal! Point the mics OUTWARD, and you will notice a huge difference IMO! They will open up bigtime and have way more channel separation and prob sound a lot crisper too! I always liked my CA14/DIN tapes and always thought they sounded KILLER for their price! Best mic deal out there IMO, especially for lo-pro work :)
Just search archive.org for "diskobean ca14" if you want to hear some samples! I even ran mk41s + ca14s at a few shows, so you can hear the CA14s vs the Schoeps! And I prob ran the ca14s DIN almost everyone of the tapes I have on the LMA lol, so you can check them out spread outwards towards the stacks. I think Papadosio 11.25.2011 is a good example! I ran mk41 + ca14c for that one and the Pimps of Joytime February 2013 in Pittsburgh, where I liked my ca14 omnis tape better than my mk41 source 8)
So it might be worth it to get a DIN bar for them and run them in a Kangol like Jhurlbs81 mentioned :)