Topic: The ULSI Mic Technique

[RebelRebel]

http://www.freewebs.com/eriksikkema/aboutulsi.htm

[WiFiJeff]

So, other than two DPA 4006s mounted on a Stealth Bomber, and the secret sauce (ketchsup and mayonaisse?), what is this?

Jeff

[Church-Audio]

http://www.freewebs.com/eriksikkema/aboutulsi.htm

What does this mean ? "dynamic behaviour" I am not really up on my audiophile words. I need to get that new book "audiophile phonics for people that want to sound important"

[muj]

yah it's a erik sikkemas thing.

[Brian Skalinder]

So, other than two DPA 4006s mounted on a Stealth Bomber, and the secret sauce (ketchsup and mayonaisse?), what is this?

As best I can figure, the only thing that makes it different than A-B:

Indeed when UlSI would only be a pair of spaced omni's, as you can see on the picture above, it would not be so very much special from other A-B techniques, but a spaced set of omni's is only a part of the ULSI concept. It is very hard to find out from a picture what a recording technique is about. If you also look at the stealth like shape, you can see a lot of attention is paid to getting as less as possible ultrasonic relections from the microphone housing, clamps, cables and tripod.

[Brian]

ooooh boy split omnis with a mount that limits minor reflections from typical stands, mounts, and cabling.  the fact that he can call this his proprietary technique is laughable IMHO.

[RebelRebel]

I dont think he has published all the details??(havent read the whole page), dont know if it is worth anything or not, but I do know that Mr. Sikkema is very knowledgeable about microphones and recording in general. Of course, that doesnt mean he is exempt from being human, and full of himself/s**t(if he is?). I found it interesting, as I always do when I see something new pertaining to mic methods. Maybe there is something of value in there, anyway. He is a regular on Klaus Heyne's forum, and being full of yourself seems to be a membership requirement there at times. 

[WiFiJeff]

I reserve the right to make fun of it, and then run out to buy it as soon as its commercially available.  Does this qualify me to be a pro yet?

Jeff

[Church-Audio]

ooooh boy split omnis with a mount that limits minor reflections from typical stands, mounts, and cabling.  the fact that he can call this his proprietary technique is laughable IMHO.

I believe there is some merritt to stand reflections. Earthworks made a special pole to test there mics that was 8 feet long and had an XLR on the end of it. The pole was exactly the same diameter as there mics about 1 inch. The idea behind this was to remove the mic clip from the mic. I feel that "some" shock mounts that are being used do effect the sound of the microphone by introducing a hard surface behind the capsule for sound to bounce back. But this whole stealth fighter affair pushes that theory a bit to far I think in the end you always have to have something to hold your precious mics with. But I think more thought should be made to reduce the sonic footprint of the mic clip or shock mount being used.

[SClassical]

Anyone know what is the usual angle of the 2 mics when set-up like this and the distance between them? Most curious about the angle. I've read a lot about A/B positioning where mics are in parallel but never seen it in action. Always see the modified A/B position where the mics are slightly off parallel.

[TNJazz]

I reserve the right to make fun of it, and then run out to buy it as soon as its commercially available.  Does this qualify me to be a pro yet?

Jeff

 

+t

[Brian]

it wasn't my intention to downplay the effects of stand and mount reflections as they are there.  i just find this funny, that's all.  it's not llike he paving the way with supreme innovation here as his website is making it sound.

[Church-Audio]

it wasn't my intention to downplay the effects of stand and mount reflections as they are there.  i just find this funny, that's all.  it's not llike he paving the way with supreme innovation here as his website is making it sound.

I understand I did not mean anything by what I said towards you, it was just some of my trivial information spilling out I am sure you are well aware of the effects of mic stands/shock mounts. I think its a pretty interesting subject one that does not seem to get allot of attention, I also think that his idea takes things a little to far.

[rowjimmy]

You gotta admit, it is a pretty t-bar type thing.

The site absolutely begs to be mocked or subject to a parody. The problem is that only people around here would find it remotely funny.

* rowjimmy considers marketing his revolutionary, new technique: XMSI (eXtreme Mono Soundfield Imaging)

[Brian]

it's a great mount for that setup.  very cool. however, with that website and the claims on it, he's just looking for a BJ from the audio community. all he deserves is a pat on the back for making a cool mount.

[ghellquist]

I´ve interacted with Erik a number of times over the net.

He does not give the impression that he takes the ULSI especially seriously as an invention, it is mostly there as a trademark and to dazzle the journalists.

What he does is he makes really good recordings. In fact the very best organ recording in any category I have ever heard is "The complete works of Mattias Weckman" recorded on the Baroque organ in Örgryte Kyrka. It is an amazing organ and an amazing recording. I think this recording (sadly) is only available to through Gothenburg organ art centre.

Another exceptionally good recording is the Quatuors by Beethoven played by Quatuor Mosaïques (I believe it is the Astrée Auvidis lable). The recording is very much on the analytical side where every nuance is heard clearly.

Gunnar

[smokydays]

Yeah but can the stealth bomber run FOB panic? 

[Jammin72]

I was just thinking, last week, that this recoring would sound so nice if I wan't getting all that stand reflection smearing everything.

You know you joke about this but some of those mic trees I'm sure have issues with reflections in the high frequencies from other gear mounted near it.  It was actually one of the things I was instructed to consider when first learning.

[Schallfeldwebel]

Please judge yourself. One example ULSI microphone technique used for recording the Muller Organ in St. Bavo church in the Netherlands.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/eriksikkema/Prel%20A%20Dur%20BWV536%20Oortmerssen.mp3

[Gutbucket]

Sounds very good! and welcome to the forum.

Are you suggesting we contribute any of that very nice recorded sound to the beautifully carved curved and routed wooden mic mount? 

Like most here, I admire the fine craftsmanship and beauty of this thing and I'm certain I would find using it enjoyable, but without any data or comparative recordings, I remain sceptical towards any sonic claims the ULSI technique makes over a recording produced with the same placement, mics, angle and distance between them, supported by less attractive but reasonably 'clean' standard mounts.  Without such a comparison no one can answer that question conclusively.

[Schallfeldwebel]

Thank You Gutbucket for taking the time and listen to the example. I am not suggesting anything. Neither is the picture of the anti-reflecting mounting device in any way conclusive about the type of acoustical elements mounted on it. It is not always you hear what you see. As you may have noticed, I am no longer presenting the mount on my website. In this thread the technique is mentioned as the ULSI mic technique, I have never promoted it like that, it is the ULSI stereo technique. The mount indeed does contribute to the quality of the ULSI technique, but its contribution is limited to the upper octaves, the part of the audio band where reflections do play a larger role than many of microphone manufacturers will admit to their customers, although they are well aware of it. You would be surprised to see the continuous ripple caused by a simple device as the DPA anti-vibration mount icw a DPA 4006 microphone. The mount as referred to in this thread is made in such way the upper frequencies do not get manipulated by plugs, wires, tripot and clamps, but neither do reflections of the microphone housing reach the membrane of the opposite channel microphone. The result is a very clean lively upper range of the audio band, and some of my customer claim to hear that difference. Set back, the mount has a fixed spacing and fixed angle, and therefore in some situations a compromise, as so many things in recording. The mount was specifically designed for baroque organs.

[Gutbucket]

Thanks for the details.  You make a distinction between refering to your system specifically as a stereo technique verses a mic technique.  Are there other unique aspects of the system other than the reduced reflection mount for the 4006 microphones and cables?

Great instruments, beautiful spaces, and interesting well-made recordings. I look forward to listening to some of your other organ recording samples when I get a chance. It hasn't been very active, but you may be interested in posting in the Team Classical thread.

[Schallfeldwebel]

Very interesting thread. (Team Classical). I have done similar reasearch as Geoff Martin. I do respect him very much. Unfortunately I do not have the means to further develop and research the ULSI stereo-system, and the version I work with myself is a stripped down version, to make the system commercially workable. I have tried to involve Chalmers technical university, acoustical lab in Gothenburg, Sweden, but the acoustical lab has never shown any interest. For me standard A-B, XY and MS do have such anomalies I always looked for other solutions. For more sound examples please go to my website. www.eriksikkema.com