Topic: How wide do you space your omnis?

[Len Moskowitz (Core Sound)]

Dave Satz wrote:

A baffle of some kind can often help, as people here are suggesting; to me the best sounding type seems to be a sphere with the diaphragms of the microphones even with its surface.

Have a look at the Schneider Disk and you'll see that it looks like a sphere embedded in a Jecklin Disk. I like the mics to be an inch or so off the surface of the sphere.

I use the Schneider with a pair of DPA 4003s for smaller groups like choirs up to 30 or 40 voices, and bands -- it provides really excellent location cues.  For wider sources like orchestras and larger choirs, I find the Jecklin does a better job.

If you'd like to hear a sample, let me know where to upload it.

[boojum]

Good question. I'm interested to.

This is the rule I know, when you're outdoor use omni in X/Y pattern but a lot of the rig photos look like they are right next to each other and not necessarily x/y so what gives? Whats the advice?

I'm sorry, but this makes absolutely no sense to me.  If you are using omnis in an XY pattern, you will get no spacing whatsoever with the omnis and the sound will be mono, given the nondirectional nature of omnis.

For outdoor shows and festivals, I like spacing my omnis about three to four feet apart; more than that and I get a hole in the center.  I don't use a J-disc, but then again, I am an extraordinarily lazy taper.

I have never heard of using omni's in an X-Y array.  There may be a reason for that.  Omni's are used as spaced arrays, A-B.  Sometimes the distance between A and B is great.  The greater distances are apparently more common here than in Europe.  I have a mfr's mic bar for his omni's and the widest they go is 18 - 20".  I would assume he wants his mics to sound as good as possible and would offer a wider bar if it would do that.  YMMV.     

[digifish_music]

You might also have a look at Ray Kimber's IsoMike:

http://www.isomike.com/

His recordings are quite fine.

It's insane!

I love it when people take their ideas to extreme...

[heyitsmejess]

if im close enough (within 5'of the stage), i run omnis healey method (17 cm, 180* from each other), and have gotten great results.

[run_run_run]

A foot to about 2