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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: SpunWagon on May 29, 2008, 03:27:52 PM

Title: What is Matrix!
Post by: SpunWagon on May 29, 2008, 03:27:52 PM
Can you explain how it works?
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: rowjimmytour on May 29, 2008, 03:36:33 PM
Can you explain how it works?
A matrix is when you capture a show w/ audience mics and a sound board feed w/ a 4 track device or you have two recorders to capture each source. Then after you mix the 4 tracks into two tracks and decide how much of each source you want for the mix. Much easier to do w/ a 4 track recorder like the R4 or 744 because you don't have to worry about the different sources lining up in time but some times you have delay issues w/ the audience source if you are 25' or more away from the stage but you can correct this w/ most edit softwares.
Peace
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: Belexes on May 29, 2008, 04:06:44 PM
(http://www.posters-n-prints.com/zoom/the-matrix-movie-poster.jpg)

(http://www.favoritetransport.com/includes/images/Toyota_Matrix/ToyotaMatrixindex.jpg)
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: adrianf74 on May 29, 2008, 04:17:45 PM
Can you explain how it works?

Simplest form; the use of "multiple" souces (regardless of origin - be it soundboard or audience) to create one new version.

This involves a bit of work because of the delay between the location of each source; they're all lined up in a mixing program and then "merged" together while the creator decides how much of each source should be in the mix.

I've heard excellent Prog Rock-type shows (of, say, a Canadian Band that's been around for some 30-plus-years) and a person has used 3 or 4 sources to create a matrix recording that sounds better than the original sources being used.
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: adrianf74 on May 29, 2008, 04:18:29 PM
[Matrix Movie Poster]

[Toyota Matrix]

... I was gonna say.    ;D
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on May 29, 2008, 04:23:00 PM
Can you explain how it works?

Simplest form; the use of "multiple" sources (regardless of origin - be it soundboard or audience) to create one new version.


Most often than not, a "Matrix" is a SBD/AUD mix.  I think the "4mic mixes" fit into this category too...

Terry
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: rokpunk on May 29, 2008, 05:22:21 PM
on a soundboard, the matrix section allows the engineer to route the signal from, say, a subgroup or the mains to, say, a fill speaker, or a radio feed, or a listening assist system. it's simply a routing system. the term matrix when it comes to tapers (which i have always thought was an incorrect use of the term) is a mix of audience and soundboard sources.
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: Roving Sign on May 29, 2008, 05:50:39 PM
Can you explain how it works?
A matrix is when you capture a show w/ audience mics and a sound board feed w/ a 4 track device or you have two recorders to capture each source. Then after you mix the 4 tracks into two tracks and decide how much of each source you want for the mix. Much easier to do w/ a 4 track recorder like the R4 or 744 because you don't have to worry about the different sources lining up in time but some times you have delay issues w/ the audience source if you are 25' or more away from the stage but you can correct this w/ most edit softwares.
Peace

This delay issue always comes up - I get it. But I dont see the difference when it comes to aligning the two sources?

How does this delay issue affect how you align tracks? It seems like there are only two track sets - they can only be (juxtaposed) one place at a time...either it's going to sound "right" or not...

Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: Krispy D on May 29, 2008, 05:52:31 PM
(which i have always thought was an incorrect use of the term)

Funny how the taping community has bastardized the english language.  We have lots of terms that only make sense to us.
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: rowjimmytour on May 29, 2008, 06:27:58 PM
Can you explain how it works?
A matrix is when you capture a show w/ audience mics and a sound board feed w/ a 4 track device or you have two recorders to capture each source. Then after you mix the 4 tracks into two tracks and decide how much of each source you want for the mix. Much easier to do w/ a 4 track recorder like the R4 or 744 because you don't have to worry about the different sources lining up in time but some times you have delay issues w/ the audience source if you are 25' or more away from the stage but you can correct this w/ most edit softwares.
Peace

This delay issue always comes up - I get it. But I dont see the difference when it comes to aligning the two sources?

How does this delay issue affect how you align tracks? It seems like there are only two track sets - they can only be (juxtaposed) one place at a time...either it's going to sound "right" or not...


When you playback you hear a reverb sound in the vocals like at a baseball game. What you do is cut two of the tracks from one source shorter or you make one source longer. I found cutting the audience portion - what ever ms sounds right the easiest way but once you get them aligned perfect you will know right away.
Peace
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: morst on May 29, 2008, 10:38:33 PM
What you do is cut two of the tracks from one source shorter or you make one source longer.
Any two recorders will have slightly different clock rates, so if you can figure out the speed difference, then you can align them more precicely. For instance, I use the CHANGE SPEED plugin effect in Audacity to shrink my DAT masters down by .012% to match speed with my Zoom H2 masters. That seems to get me within a couple thousand samples per hour, which is damn close. Actually, I keep meaning to make a test program so that I can find out the exact ratio of the clocks. Maybe I'll do that tonight. . .

1- create a track which is EXACTLY 1:00:00:00 long (1 hour) and load that into my H2 via USB.
2- Hook up my DAT recorder's analog input to the output of the H2
3- record the H2's output onto the DAT
4- digitally transfer the DAT to the computer
5- line up the start of the DAT version with the master version and find out how many samples different they are by the end.
6- calculate the exact percent I need to time-compress the DAT versions to match the H2 as exactly as possible.
7- use that information to create more accurately time-aligned sources for "matrix" mixing of (usually) SBD and AUD sources from my two particular decks.

DO keep in mind that the speed of sound varies with temperature and air pressure, so unless those are constant (not in real life!) you may have to make some other adjustments to get the best possible alignment of your sources.
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: chrisdavis on May 30, 2008, 09:56:17 AM
heres a tutorial on making a matrix (montage) in Wavelab:
http://wavelabmatrix.acidcasualties.com/matrix.html
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on May 30, 2008, 10:51:34 AM
Answer:  What is the best most desirable recording method?   ;D
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: Kindguy on May 31, 2008, 02:27:41 AM
heres a tutorial on making a matrix (montage) in Wavelab:
http://wavelabmatrix.acidcasualties.com/matrix.html

Nice, good info in here T's around.
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: therodge on June 03, 2008, 06:06:30 PM
Ok, I'm looking to do matrix recording.  I have SP-BMC-6 > SP-PREAMP > Nomad JukeBox 3 for the audience portion and have a nice dell xps computer with creative audicity 2 card w 1/8" line in.  The thing is, is I would like to record both to my laptop.  So I need some sort of multitrack-gain adjustable box to usb thingy.  And what would be the best program to record with?



Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: rowjimmytour on June 03, 2008, 06:13:13 PM
Ok, I'm looking to do matrix recording.  I have SP-BMC-6 > SP-PREAMP > Nomad JukeBox 3 for the audience portion and have a nice dell xps computer with creative audicity 2 card w 1/8" line in.  The thing is, is I would like to record both to my laptop.  So I need some sort of multitrack-gain adjustable box to usb thingy.  And what would be the best program to record with?




Not sure if it would be the best because I have never done a lap top recording but for the price you can not beat Audacity.
Peace
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: ianstone on June 03, 2008, 09:36:46 PM
Answer:  What is the best most desirable recording method?   ;D



"Okay, now i'll take 'Pre's, A/D's, & Processors' for $500, Alex"

 ;D :P
Title: Re: What is Matrix!
Post by: JasonSobel on June 06, 2008, 09:33:58 AM
all the responses here focus on post-production matrices, which involve mixing two sources of the show on your computer at home.  While that is certainly the most popular way to do things these days (4-channel recorders are readily available, and when you're mixing them at home, you can tweak things precisely to your liking), this "matrix discussion" would be imcomplete with any talk about mixing two sources at the show.

in order to mix two source at the show, it's best to have a set of monitoring headphones with good isolation, so that you can actually hear what you're doing.  but with either a dedicated mixer, or something like the UA-5 (which will mix signals from the XLR and RCA inputs), it is entirely possible to do a matrix recording at the show.