Topic: M/S post mixdown

[Wes]

Anybody know how to do a M/S mixdown in post?  I can't find anything about it in wavelab.  Anyone know of a program that does it?

[Craig T]

Sound Forge (pan/expand?)
CEPro (channel mixer?)

Any multi-track software can do the stereo mixdown.  Takes 3 tracks:

1. load the "mid" to one track, panned to the center.
2. load the "side" to another track, panned to left
3. load the "side" with reverse polarity to the third track, panned to right.*

*if your mixer doesn't have an invert polarity (180*) function, you can copy your "side" track to a new file and invert.

Just experiment with different mid/side ratios until you get the mix you like.

One of many websites with m/s info:
http://www.sounddevices.com/tech/ms_stereo.htm

[titotito]

just get yourself a VMS box, makes things alot easier, once you have had some experience with the width knob.  it does the real-time matrix.  at MIDX, running a width of 6-7 seemed just right at 30' from the stage.  if we had been pushed back to the section, i would have probably keep it between 3-4.  

come on, we need more mid-siders.....

[Lee]

I'd be interested in messing around with some M/S stuff, but I don't have a box that will do it in the field.  Do you just record the Fig-8 in one channel and the Mid in the other, then do what Craig T's talking about?

[Wes]

most, at least the main higher end pre-amps most of us use, can do m/s on the fly.  However, the best results are to be had by doing the m/s mix post production where you can find just the width you like, not to say that its not possible to make a very good recording while doing m/s on the fly

[titotito]

yeah, it is pretty simple.  mk8 on the top (actually doesn't matter) and the mk2/4/41 on the bottom.  we use the active cables to a VMS box which can either do a left/right channel split or m/s.  the m/s is matrix'ed in the box and out already mixed, according to the width setting(1-10).  with the amount of schoep tapes at panic shows, we can usually get a good comparison tape and it is so much easier to setup than using a vark bar or some of the other options.  onstage would be great (not at a panic show), but inside venues with the width wide open.  

true- it is nicer to do the matrix post recording (which recording the mk8 to one channel and the mk2/4/41 to the other channel, then the panning that Craig mentioned).  that sucks, esp. if you want to listen to the tape quickly.  I wonder if you can pull stereo and m/s from the vms....  hmmmm.  (good thing to think about).

[wboswell]

From what I remember with the vms box, dual output is not an option.  I never used the feature, but I read up on it and it I never saw it listed.  The only thing I could think of is using the headphone 1/4" output to monitor in stereo, but I still doubt you can get that to work because the you have to have the switch set to either preamp or matrix.  You should try it out to be sure...

ps-I think you meant mk21(subcard) instead of mk2(omni).  There would be no sense running an omni as the mid channel

[titotito]

yur right, i meant the 21s, not the omni.

plus, you may be right about the switch.  maybe that is a feature of the vms05?  i'll ask frank tomorrow, since he has had some experience with that unit.

t

[Lee]

hmmm... I thought AKG made a 8 cap for the 480, but I guess they don't... oh well.

[wboswell]

I forgot that you guys had the 02...  Not familiar with that box!

Later, William  

[billbox]

the 8 cap for the akg is the shotgun

[Lee]

8 as in figure of 8

[twoodruff]

I think billbox was referring to the ck68 cap, i am not familiar with the akg figure 8 cap

[anhisr]

So, can you do a M/S post in Wavelab 6? 

[Govt Mule]

So, can you do a M/S post in Wavelab 6? 

Look under "effects" for "toolsone" it has the M/S function. (note: use the alt key to slide the faders independently.)
Use render to do the whole file once you have it set the way you want it.