I've been working with a friend who is an iApp developer on some stereo mic apps. As an easy first step to get some of the building blocks in place we developed a Mid-Side mic visualizer. I know it's not exactly what we've been discussing in this thread, but it is another tool that I think many of you will find useful and fun to play with. You can find it in the App Store by searching for "Mid-Side Mic Visualizer". It was released on the 8th. I've been traveling for work and didn't even know it was released until last night.
The basic idea of the app is to allow you to see the relationship between the polar patterns of the Mid and Side mics and the resultant Left and Right polar patterns as you vary the Mid to Side signals' ratio (levels).
We included a couple of ways to change the mid mic type. There is a selector menu button at the bottom where you can choose from most of the standard mic types (Omni, Card, Subcard, Hyper, Fig 8, etc). The slider on the left will also allow you to vary the polar pattern continuously from Omni to Fig 8. At the bottom of the visualizer there is a polar plot that displays the Mid and Side mic polar patterns. As you vary the mid mic type, the changes are displayed in this polar plot.
The other slider at the right side of the app allows you to vary the ratio of Mid to Side mic signal used in the Mid-Side matrixing. This slider allows you to vary the levels of the signals anywhere from 100% Side to 100% Mid. The changes to the Mid to Side relative levels are displayed in the Mid and Side polar plot at the bottom. The polar plots of the post matrix Left and Right signals are displayed in the polar plot display at the top of the app. It is interesting (and informative
) to see the Left and Right polar patterns change in shape and orientation as you slide the Mid to Side ratio slider up and down. Either of the sliders can be moved in one step increments by tapping the buttons at the top or bottom of the sliders.
Also included is an information (geek) page where I've written a short description of the Mid-Side microphone technique and how it works. Below are a few screen captures of what the app looks like.
I'm excited for you guys (and DigiGal
) to check it out since I know a lot of you use Mid Side and also want iApps to play with. Please let me know what you guys think and feel free to send me feedback about how the app can be improved or corrected. I hope you dig it.
-Mike (aka MIQ)