Topic: Is Combining of Capsules Ever Done?

[stevetoney]

I'll be getting a set of hyper caps in the mail soon, and I suppose this is probably more fluffing in the eyes of some people, and there's no doubt that it's a pretty naive question, but is there EVER a situation in which caps could be combined to improve the sound of a show or is this just a ridiculous thought?

I guess the reason I ask this is that I've heard that the hypers provide a zooming type effect on the sound in a closed venue to mask out some of the room reverb.  So, what about if you get to the venue late and you're forced to tape significantly off center so that you're fairly closer to one stack than the other.  Could using the hyper cap help the stereo imaging by 'zooming' in a little more on the farther away stack. 

My intuition is that stereo imaging just doesn't work this way and most caps (even though made by the same company) probably just sound different so wouldn't really sound good paired with a different type of capsule.

[stevetoney]

Oops shouldda posted this in the mics and setup forum.  Sorry Brian.

[Simp-Dawg]

i accidentally ran a hyper and an omni, with the channels swapped no less, at nedfest one year.

the results were horrible!  it sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

[MattD]

I'll be getting a set of hyper caps in the mail soon, and I suppose this is probably more fluffing in the eyes of some people, and there's no doubt that it's a pretty naive question, but is there EVER a situation in which caps could be combined to improve the sound of a show or is this just a ridiculous thought?

I guess the reason I ask this is that I've heard that the hypers provide a zooming type effect on the sound in a closed venue to mask out some of the room reverb.  So, what about if you get to the venue late and you're forced to tape significantly off center so that you're fairly closer to one stack than the other.  Could using the hyper cap help the stereo imaging by 'zooming' in a little more on the farther away stack. 

My intuition is that stereo imaging just doesn't work this way and most caps (even though made by the same company) probably just sound different so wouldn't really sound good paired with a different type of capsule.

Not with the caps you mention, but Mid-Side is one stereo technique that uses mics with different types of polar patterns.

[momule]

This was one omni and one card

[dmonkey]

iit sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

FWIW, I'll have you know that your comment above is responsible for the not-so-pleasant spraying of beer from my nose just now. 

[gratefulphish]

the results were horrible!  it sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

How full was the porto-potty?  Were you getting a lot of tank reverb? 

[stevetoney]

i accidentally ran a hyper and an omni, with the channels swapped no less, at nedfest one year.

the results were horrible!  it sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

Bwaahhaa!  OK, I guess it was a bad thought.  Thanks for the answers, guys.

Hmmm...I'm wondering though how you got your test data?  Whose asshole was it and how big of an asshole was he?

[Evil Taper]

Uh, 2 different kinds of capsule might be fine if you run them from the same point, like a single point stereo technique.  Say if you had a card and an omni and EQ'd them to compliment each others frequency responses the mix should be more full range, like a widecard cap really.  You could run 4 mics or a stereo pair and center mic to do a modified midside config with decent results.  It's all in the mixing baby.

[BWolf]

it sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

contestant for quote of the year for sure.  well done simpy!

[china_rider]

I pretty routinely combine caps/mics but only in a 3+ mic configuration. I've had great success mixing 2X483+2X482 or 483+TLs.  I doubt I would ever do it though with a 2 mic config unless I'm running a M/S configuration.  Either way I record the combo to separate tracks and then mix in post so I can control the levels better and keep them apart if I don't like the mix.

Stay Kind,
Dana

[rowjimmytour]

i accidentally ran a hyper and an omni, with the channels swapped no less, at nedfest one year.

the results were horrible!  it sounded like the mics were inside of an asshole which was sitting in a porto-potty behind the stage.

+t for defining crappy sound in a way I could not touch!!! My son and I was talking to BTS bass player after a show and I described a venue as sounding like ass. My son called me out and asked how some thing could sound like ass. I just read him your quote and now he gets it.
Peace