Topic: LSD2 owners..... capsule orientation help

[KLowe]

LSD2
front controls = top capsule
rear controls = bottom capsule

question.  How can I tell when the top capsule is facing forward?  Does the black dot on the top capsule indicate the direction that cardioid is facing?  Is it also the postive lobe of the figure 8?

I've been over to the LSD2 pdf and cannot find any answers.

Thanks for the help.  Gonna play around with this thing for SummerCamp on Friday 

[sleepypedro]

yes, the two indicators are the black dot for the front capsule, and the location of the SP badge for the bottom capsule.

enjoy playing with it -- get up front and run blumlein!

[sleepypedro]

and fwiw on mine

front controls = bottom capsule
rear controls = top capsule

i do remember reading that the skimpy manual that came with the mic was incorrect, or the cable was labelled wrong.  check it out before you take it into the field!

[vwmule]

There's been confusion over how to position this mic, which I own and love. Blumlein is sublime (check out this example: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=514788)

To clear things up for new users, does anyone have some good pictures of it in proper use? I'll search around myself.

[ArchivalAudio]

Try
also
asking Busman as Chris has moded them
and is very familiar with this mic
yes do some blumlein!
we ran his (now mark's) at the lips of the stage in a wided 110° blumlien at the pickathon
and it sounded so sweet!

[KLowe]

where the fudge is the black dot?  I would "assume" that the SP stock photo would show the mics with capsules facing forward...but once again.  It is an assumption.

I've googled for answers and come up blank.  I think the switch controls is a done deal....but the black dot is still unsettled.  I did the "snap" test this AM and black dot in back revealed the front of the top capsule?

anyone have time to fire an email to SP about it?  Or call?
I'm in between surgeries and don't have the time...

pretty please 

[SmokinJoe]

On the bottom capsule, it's fixed, and forward is where the red logo is pointing.  My LSD2 does have a black dot in one of the little indentations, and that does point forward.  That stock photo is deceiving, because it does have the upper cap spun around backwards.  The marketing people probably thought it looked better that way, but it raises hell with us.

My advise to newbies... Looking at the top of the mic, rotate the top capsule clockwise until is stops.  Leave it there forever (with one minor exception you may never care about).  At this point (with mic right side up), the logo points towards the left stack, and the black dot points towards the right stack.  Now, take a sharpie and write XY or FRONT or a big mark or something under that switch (note orientation with respect to logo).  Now when you set this up, that points front for XY and Blumlein, either right side up or upside down.  The reason you do this is because, if you a little confused now, you won't be any less confused after a few drinks hanging upside down over the balcony rail.  Trust me on that.   Don't worry about the sharpie being permanent, it rubs off easily.  I managed to have the mic pointing towards the bar to the left on two occasions, before I finally had to admit I need this mark.

If you are running Mid/side, then point the logo forward, the upper cap points +=right, which is what it should be, so my above advice about "rotate the capsule clockwise" still holds.  That one minor exception that I mentioned is running mid/side with mic hanging upside down.... at that point, you should rotate the upper cap 180*, or just leave it, and invert the side waveform in post.

Using the stock cable... it's labeled "up" and "down" on the plugs.  With the mic right side up, down=left (because the logo points left), and up=right (the other one  ).  Mic hanging upside down, it's the opposite (the up/down perspective is reversed).  For Mid/side, mid=left channel, side (top) = right channel, whether you are right side up or not (that's convention with most software plugins).

I agree on the switches.  Front switches = lower cap.

[sleepypedro]

yes, the two indicators are the black dot for the front capsule, and the location of the SP badge for the bottom capsule.

enjoy playing with it -- get up front and run blumlein!

rereading my post, i mean black dot = top capsule, not front capsule.  that doesn't make any sense!

[taperhead]

Great advise about the sharpie.  I've messed up and recorded conversations behind me a few to many times.

I have everything labeled now!  However, I stay with the up/right convention.  Even when hanging "upside down" I point the "up" capsule which is now on the bottom to the right side of the room and make sure the "SP" logo is always pointed to the left side. This way I don't have to switch the cables around (even though they are marked "up/right down/left).  If it is a sweet room blumlein is the way I go (just can't pronounce it). If there is a bar behind me or an upper balcony I go with the X/Y 90 deg. cards.

[jeromejello]

+t for the thread... i hadn't been able to figure out the fricking mic since i got it.

maybe i will play with it this weekend.

[F.O.Bean]

+t for the thread... i hadn't been able to figure out the fricking mic since i got it.

maybe i will play with it this weekend.

+T!!! So, the question is, how long have you had this mic and not known how to use it? Typical of us guys I bet if you hadnt of seen this thread, you wouldnt have asked how it worked, for at least a year, or ok, six months JK bud!

"Honey, I dont NEED to stop and ask for directions, I know exactly where we are and where we're going"