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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: 3gendmb on January 10, 2006, 07:18:11 PM
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well, im interested in taping a local bands concert. I dont want to get real serious into taping, but i do want my recording to come out clean. I was wondering difference does it make if you record the show with one mic or with a pair.
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uhh, yeah.
one *stereo* mic maybe. but you will not be happy with a mono recoding.
the search function is your friend. start here:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?board=46.0
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so for two mics what do i aim them at... also, i could use some recomendations on some mics that will produce some good quality recordings without having to spend a fortune.
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so for two mics what do i aim them at... also, i could use some recomendations on some mics that will produce some good quality recordings without having to spend a fortune.
There is an entire sub-forum in the Archive for the Microphones and Setup. Also, some stickied threads in this forum will help you out as will the "Getting Started" forum.
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Do some reading around here, and if you have the scratch, consider picking up a copy of the New Stereo Soundbook. It's a bit pricy, but a very good education on stereo sound concepts and techniques.
You've come to the right place though. I've seen a LOT of people running a pair of expensive mics (sometimes incredibly so) side by side with no included angle at all. Unless they want a mono recording and run a second mic as a backup to the first, then I just don't know what they're doing. Or, should I say, they don't know what they're doing.
- Jason
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<snip>
... I've seen a LOT of people running a pair of expensive mics (sometimes incredibly so) side by side with no included angle at all. Unless they want a mono recording and run a second mic as a backup to the first, then I just don't know what they're doing. Or, should I say, they don't know what they're doing.
- Jason
That would be your stereo A-B pattern. Depending on the capsule and the separation and placement, it can yeild a stereo image. All depends on the variables. I've never run that way and haven't dug into it, but it's not unheard of.
Well, when I wrote "side by side" I really mean exactly that... like within a few inches of one another at most. The first (and most ridiculous) time I saw was at Irving Plaza a few years back someone was running a set of Schoeps tubes with card caps this way. Seems like a big waste when he'd get nearly identical results for half the money... or far better by listening to some friendly advice about reading up on stereo methods.
A-B stereo works because the mics are separated by a significant distance. You need separation between the mics or an included angle (or a combination of them) to achieve a stereo image with a pair of omnis or directional mics (subcard, card, hyper/super, even figure-8). With neither, you've just got redundancy... not stereo.
- Jason
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or, if you get a decent mic, just 'trick' it into being stereo, by running tyhe mono end into a mon>stereo adaptrer from your local radio shack
2 mics are the real deal tho, but thats how i started some 9-10 years ago
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I suggest the single point stereo mic. They are cheap and pretty effective. Look here:
http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/default.asp?source=TTAPES
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or, if you get a decent mic, just 'trick' it into being stereo, by running tyhe mono end into a mon>stereo adaptrer from your local radio shack
Dual mono != stereo.
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Do some reading around here, and if you have the scratch, consider picking up a copy of the New Stereo Soundbook. It's a bit pricy, but a very good education on stereo sound concepts and techniques.
- Jason
Great book. I keep it in the "office" to look at when I go to do my "business". Would defintiely recommend it.
-B
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I agree with at least using two mics (suggest spaced omni HRTF baffled mic configuration).
Here's a live sound recording tips page many find quite useful. With links to samples, gear, and discussion FAQ of various live sound mic'g methods: www.sonicstudios.com/tips.htm (http://www.sonicstudios.com/tips.htm)
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I suggest the single point stereo mic. They are cheap and pretty effective. Look here:
http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/default.asp?source=TTAPES
I second that. I started with an Audio Technica 822 that I bought at Guitar Center. Decent quality stereo mic and totally brainless to use.
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I agree Jason, you need some angle or space to yeild a decent stereo image. Not to say you Jason, but people who get out the protractor and ruler to make a perfect ORTF DIN etc really bother me. Here they are in a shitty club 15' off center, a giant pole directly to the left..(not to mention the horrible sound guy!) you get my point. Sometimes you need to improvise. I don't always run "accepted" patterns. In an ideal location, true patterns are best and yield the most accurate imagine, I understand, but a lot of times when I don't have a choice where I am I run hypers and just aim them at the outside of the stacks. my .02
Sorry for the rant.
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tell it like it is. I dont really see the point of strict patterns either, in a lot of PA taping situations.
I also found that listening to pa tapes ive made , the fact of them being 24 bit only enhanced the reasons that I dont like some PA taping to begin with. 16 bit, PAS ;) I can see that in an onstage or acoustic type situation adhering to placement conventions would make a pretty big difference
but from what ive heard and the little that I have learned, the music is so processed, filtered, baffled, drugged, smoked, blasted through 100 dollar PA speakers , rode hard and put away wet.......how would strict techniques make much of a difference???acoustic is where its at..or stage lip.
I agree Jason, you need some angle or space to yeild a decent stereo image. Not to say you Jason, but people who get out the protractor and ruler to make a perfect ORTF DIN etc really bother me. Here they are in a shitty club 15' off center, a giant pole directly to the left..(not to mention the horrible sound guy!) you get my point. Sometimes you need to improvise. I don't always run "accepted" patterns. In an ideal location, true patterns are best and yield the most accurate imagine, I understand, but a lot of times when I don't have a choice where I am I run hypers and just aim them at the outside of the stacks. my .02
Sorry for the rant.
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3gendmb - If you are interested in picking up an AT822 (the mic mentioned in this thread) please let me know. I'll be selling one used really soon, and I'd give you a good price. It's less than a month old and it's only been used a couple of times. Send me a PM if you are interested.