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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: tim in jersey on December 03, 2010, 03:28:56 PM

Title: NOS cards onstage
Post by: tim in jersey on December 03, 2010, 03:28:56 PM
What are your thoughts? Thinking I might try it tonight.
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: NOLAfishwater on December 03, 2010, 03:30:30 PM
absofreakinloutely
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: dennisrtyler on December 03, 2010, 06:36:28 PM
absofreakinloutely
yep. also run wide ortf(25/110) plenty of times.
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: JasonSobel on December 03, 2010, 07:53:32 PM
I've run cards onstage many times.  Usually I just eyeball it at 90 degrees, and I typically end up somewhere between DIN and NOS.  I definitely like that setup more than ORTF onstage.
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: Brian Skalinder on December 03, 2010, 08:53:29 PM
Give it a try, see if you like it!

You might also consider taking into account Williams' Stereophonic Zoom (see link in stickied thread) when deciding your mic configuration.

Cardioids NOS, aka 30cm spacing with an included angle of 90º, has a stereophonic recording angle (SRA) of ±40º (i.e. total coverage of 80º).  So this configuration (or any other that produces the same SRA) may work well if your sound source has a sector of approximately 80º.*

Another approach: you might consider the sector of the sound source from your recording location and base the mic configuration on this value.  For example, if from the location of your mics the sound source covers 60º, you might try 45cm / 90º which produces an SRA of ±30 (i.e. total coverage of 60º).  Or, as noted before, any other configuration that produces the same SRA.  Alternatively, if the sound source sector is wider, say 140º, you might try 15cm / 70º which produces an SRA of ±70º (or total coverage of 140º).  Or again, any other configuration with the same SRA.

Finally, you might even consider running XY with some reasonable included angle (i.e. not too extreme, like 0º or 180º).  Then, in post, you can decode the stereo result to mid-side and, while re-encoding to stereo, adjust the SRA (or stereo width) to your preference.  Note this is very simple to do with a free VST plugin (or even manually) if your editing s/w doesn't already provide the feature.

Decision, decisions!

*  Of course, you may like just fine -- even strongly prefer -- results from an SRA that doesn't relatively closely match the sector of the sound source you're recording.  For example, you may prefer a mic configuration much wider or narrower, depending on personal preference, playback environment, etc.

Last comment:  One of the nice things about using SZ is it provides a foundation of understanding which in turn helps one (or, at least, it helps me) identify how best to modify a mic configuration from one recording event to the next.  If I find myself wanting a wider or narrower stereo image, or wanting to maintain a given recording angle but minimize reverberant sound, it provides direction for how to adjust accordingly.  In other words, it doesn't provide answers, but does help one to understand options.  Of course, there's more to achieving a result one likes than just stereo image, but for me and my ears it's a very important factor.

Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: StuStu on December 03, 2010, 09:13:30 PM
It's THE way to run cards onstage.
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: newplanet7 on December 03, 2010, 09:15:22 PM
absofreakinloutely
yep. also run wide ortf(25/110) plenty of times.
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: Brian Skalinder on December 03, 2010, 09:34:30 PM
It's THE way to run cards onstage.

I suppose I should interpret this as you like NOS the best when running cards on-stage.

Otherwise, I can't imagine any ONE configuration as THE way to run cards on-stage.  IME, there's simply too much variability for any one configuration to always sound the best -- namely the relative depth and width of the stage and the placement of the musicians and their gear in both dimensions on that stage (well, really three dimensions -- height, too -- as well as one's mic stand).
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: StuStu on December 04, 2010, 07:40:56 PM
It's THE way to run cards onstage.

I suppose I should interpret this as you like NOS the best when running cards on-stage.

Otherwise, I can't imagine any ONE configuration as THE way to run cards on-stage.  IME, there's simply too much variability for any one configuration to always sound the best -- namely the relative depth and width of the stage and the placement of the musicians and their gear in both dimensions on that stage (well, really three dimensions -- height, too -- as well as one's mic stand).


It is my overall preferred on-stage method. Yes, I'm sure there are plenty of situations where another configuration might be better. SORRY if my CAPS bothered you. ;D     
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: NOLAfishwater on December 04, 2010, 10:05:44 PM
Stu. I understood what you were saying. Unfortunately this thread was skalindered
Title: Re: NOS cards onstage
Post by: tim in jersey on December 04, 2010, 10:36:55 PM
Yep, NOS cards onstage can sound quite nice...