Topic: if you mix 2 audience sources....

[heyitsmejess]

is it called a matrix?  or is it a "4 mic mix"?  or is it something else?

[leehookem]

is it called a matrix?  or is it a "4 mic mix"? 

both are correct.

[-Q-]

wast of time comes to mind. i never could understand why people do this. i have yet to hear 2 aud sources mixed together that sounded any better

[page]

wast of time comes to mind. i never could understand why people do this. i have yet to hear 2 aud sources mixed together that sounded any better

One thing that I've noticed is that sources which are recorded coincident (and are of generally different pickup patterns) for matrix purposes generally fair better. I won't say they are necessarily better overall, but for matrices, they seem to be better on average, YMMV. For example, 2x shotguns and an omni which are all recorded vertically coincident.

[morst]

wast of time comes to mind. i never could understand why people do this. i have yet to hear 2 aud sources mixed together that sounded any better

Unless each has advantages over the other in some way, I would tend to agree with this statement. Now, if one has good clarity on the vocals and the other has smooth, rich bass, then perhaps the low-end could be rolled off the one with the good vocals, and the high end rolled off the one with the good bass, and a decent mix made. But really, I tend to agree with waste of time, unless you're just doing it to waste time!!?! 

[wilsonedits]

wast of time comes to mind.

exactly and most of the time it seems to be people with really shitty equipment... that think for some reason mixing together will make it better

[nameloc01]

Sometimes,and it sounds stupid, people will do this and not release the two primary sources independently. They do this to..uh..basically to screw with people (collectors)
This is not overly common,but I have seen it done before.
But,yes..generally its a waste of time basically.

[boojum]

wast of time comes to mind. i never could understand why people do this. i have yet to hear 2 aud sources mixed together that sounded any better

Depends.  I record stuff now running a Mid-Side flanked by two omni's in a Williams array.  The MS gives me the clarity I want with good location of the instruments/performers with the omni's giving more of the room sound.  I am working on just such a mix now of a classical trio, some opera exceprts and some selections from Bernstein's Candide.  I have to back out the omni's a bit but they do add something to the mix.  I tested it by turning off fhe omni's entirely and i did not like it as much. 

In the Williams array the omni's are about 14" apart with the MS between them. 

John Eargle recommends recording orchestral performances with ORTF in the center and omni's at either edge.  It is simpler for me to use the Williams spacings and with, I think, just as good effect.

[KLowe]

I've had great results with a M/S or blumlein in the middle with NOS subcards where the mixed source is consistently better than the individual sources.  All mics were in the same vertical plane.

YMMV...........