Topic: Left<>Right protocol

[scarletfire1]

In reviewing http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,107578.0.html and other threads, the taper protocol seems to be that the mic pointing to the left (stage right) is the taper's left channel and vice versa. Therefore through headphones, it would recreate the audience experience of the show with correct spatial orientation.

I just can't seem to get my brain around the fact that when played back on monitors, what was coming through my left ear (stage right) at the show is broadcast through the left channel to my right ear.

So if I'm used to Phil being on my left from touring, he's playing back on my right using monitors and the left using headphones.

Does anyone else worry about this, or am I just a moron?    ...wait, don't answer that last part. 

[Krispy D]

moron. 

Uh, I mean... 

Actually I have thought about that before. I'm not sure what the concensus is but I just leave my tapes alone.  I have often thought about swapping the chanels and then a/b ing to see which I like better but I have yet to do it.

[anodyne33]

You should be around for a deeply philosophical and drunken argument about which way to pan drums in a studio some time.

My $.02, for an ambient recording I think it makes more sense to pan it from the audience perspective.

[Krispy D]

You should be around for a deeply philosophical and drunken argument about which way to pan drums in a studio some time.

My $.02, for an ambient recording I think it makes more sense to pan it from the audience perspective.

I got into an argument the other night with a guitar player that wanted me to run him stereo with a hard L/R pan so his effects would sound cool.  the problem is that the mains are really far apart and are set up to run mono. so his effect would be half in the bar half in the dining room.  dumb ass would not let down until I told him to walk around the bar while I played his guitar.  He came back and said "ya I guess your right. what dumb ass set up this room?"  I politely said I did, and if he wanted to have a good night he should be a bit more polite...

[JasonSobel]

In reviewing http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,107578.0.html and other threads, the taper protocol seems to be that the mic pointing to the left (stage right) is the taper's left channel and vice versa. Therefore through headphones, it would recreate the audience experience of the show with correct spatial orientation.

I just can't seem to get my brain around the fact that when played back on monitors, what was coming through my left ear (stage right) at the show is broadcast through the left channel to my right ear.

So if I'm used to Phil being on my left from touring, he's playing back on my right using monitors and the left using headphones.

Does anyone else worry about this, or am I just a moron?    ...wait, don't answer that last part. 

I think you're a little bit confused.  The mic pointing to the left should be the left channel, because that is how we hear it in the audience.  If you are used to hearing Phil on your left at the show, the end result should so like Phil is coming from the left, both through headphones and through speakers.  If it doesn't sound like it did at the show, you've got the channels reversed somewhere (maybe the mic cables crossed, maybe the headphones on backwards...)

[easy jim]

I think you're a little bit confused.  The mic pointing to the left should be the left channel, because that is how we hear it in the audience.  If you are used to hearing Phil on your left at the show, the end result should so like Phil is coming from the left, both through headphones and through speakers.  If it doesn't sound like it did at the show, you've got the channels reversed somewhere (maybe the mic cables crossed, maybe the headphones on backwards...)

QFT. Or, maybe you have your speakers/speaker wires set up in reverse? 

I always thought speakers for home listening ought to be set up with the left/right in relation to the listener facing the speakers, not as the opposite 'stage left' and 'stage right' as if there was an imaginary stage between them in refernce to which you assign the channels.  So, just change the channels to which you have you home speakers assigned and then have no problems...

[boojum]

What I record plays back as I heard it.  Sounds on the left remain on the left.  The opposite is true, obviously.  If somehow the channels get reversed I switch them back in my audio editor.

NB:  what is left on stage is left in the headphones and left in the monitors.   

[scarletfire1]

QFT. Or, maybe you have your speakers/speaker wires set up in reverse? 

I always thought speakers for home listening ought to be set up with the left/right in relation to the listener facing the speakers, not as the opposite 'stage left' and 'stage right' as if there was an imaginary stage between them in refernce to which you assign the channels.  So, just change the channels to which you have you home speakers assigned and then have no problems...

That's the ticket. My speakers are set up as stage left/right so facing them reverses the audience image.

[thepassionofyonder]

so with speakers that come with your computer...
one says right, one says left.
which one goes where?
this confuses me

[datbrad]

QFT. Or, maybe you have your speakers/speaker wires set up in reverse? 

I always thought speakers for home listening ought to be set up with the left/right in relation to the listener facing the speakers, not as the opposite 'stage left' and 'stage right' as if there was an imaginary stage between them in refernce to which you assign the channels.  So, just change the channels to which you have you home speakers assigned and then have no problems...

That's the ticket. My speakers are set up as stage left/right so facing them reverses the audience image.

Dumb question, why would anyone set up a pair of stereo loudspeakers stage right/left? It makes no sense. When you are facing any stereo pair of speakers, and pan the balance knob to the right, the right speaker facing you should be the one that you are hearing, and visa versa.

As a side note, you have to be careful when patching out of a SBD regarding the R/L orientation. Sometimes, a right channel out is actually stage right, not the right stack facing the stage from the audience, and this can really muck up a matrix recording due to crossed image. Good idea to ask which way the SBD outs are oriented, just in case.