Topic: finally geting a grip on placement techniques, but.....

[mikesalvo]

when should I use each config??? Ive found the template in the sticky in this section extremely informing. GREAT idea. I use AT4041 Cards. Ive read sooo much info on patterns and what not, but Im confused as to when I should use each one. for instance, when does XY work best, or ORTF. and why would I use 90 deg. XY instead of 120 deg. Should I be using different configs in different venues (small club, heater, arena) or is it more depending on where the stacks/PA speakers are? I know this is a big, and very general question,l but I feel that sometimes my recordings are suffering because of my lack of knowledge in this area. any help would, as always, be much appreciated.

thanks to all on  TS who have helped me and others with our trials and tribulations in this great hobby! I wish there was a "+t for all" button on my page 

[Brian Skalinder]

Little slow on this one, boojum. 

Read through this as many times as it takes for it to sink in:  http://www.rycote.com/assets/documents/technical_files/The%20Stereophonic%20Zoom.pdf 

The "standard" configs like XY, DINA, DIN, DINA, ORTF, NOS, AB, etc. are useful starting points.  But they're just starting points.  I know, not the easy answer for which you're probably looking, but there is no easy answer, nor any definitive answer to every situation.

[Will_S]

Like Brian said, no easy definitive answer for every situation.  And the Stereophonic Zoom is also a good place to start.  But another, maybe easier starting point from which to think about it:

DIN (90° 20cm) is often a good place to start if you are in a location where:
1)  The sound source is reasonably spread out in front of you, but not encircling you (or even making a 180° arc in front of you).
2)  The balance of direct and reflected sound is pleasing.
3)  The overall frequency response is pleasing - not too bassy, not too thin.

Narrowing the angle between the mics and/or moving them closer together will:
1) shrink the stereo image on playback

Narrowing the angle between mics will also:
2) emphasize direct over reflected sound

Moving the mics closer together will (in addition to #1):
3) tend to reduce the bass response

So, if you are right on top of the sound source (eg onstage or stagelip) you might want to consider XY-90 rather than DIN because now the sound source is spread very wide in front of you and you want to shrink things down a bit for playback.  Or if the bass is booming, XY might be a good choice.

Conversely, if you are way far back in the venue XY-90° might not be a very good choice, as it will shrink the direct source soundstage down even more and emphasize the feeling of being distant.  But even DIN 90 might have the mics picking up too much reverberant sound, you might want to have the mics making an even narrower angle.  This will also shrink your playback image, so you might want to move the mics a bit more than 20cm apart to compensate.  But that could accentuate the bass, maybe too much.  Ultimately when you are taping from a less than ideal location you will have to make compromises.  IMO the stereo image is pretty much shot from way in back anyway so you might as well stick with DINish spacing unless you want to emphasize the bass.  And if it's really boomy, might as well run XY.

Outdoors, excess reverberant sound and excess bass are much less of a concern.  So if you want to create a more spacious image (e.g., if you're a little farther from the stage than you might like), you might consider angling the mics out a bit more or spacing them a little further apart.  Like maybe 90° at 30 cm.

[Krispy D]

well put will.

[Will_S]

I would add, my post is definitely an oversimplification, but I think it's a good starting point.

Reading it back, the early part seems like I was presenting XY vs DIN as almost an either/or proposition.  Rather, I think there's sort of a continuum.  DIN is nice if the sound source is neither too wide or too narrow at your position.  XY is great if you are right on top of the source and the image would be way too wide.  Something in between (ie still about 90° between capsules, spaced by say 10 cm) might be nice when you are very close but not right on top of the sound source.

[mikesalvo]

wow. awesome guys. Well worth the wait on the response. +t ALL AROUND!

im gonna get to reading over all this and go with it from there. Thanks sooo much!

 

[boojum]

Little slow on this one, boojum. 

Read through this as many times as it takes for it to sink in:  http://www.rycote.com/assets/documents/technical_files/The%20Stereophonic%20Zoom.pdf 

The "standard" configs like XY, DINA, DIN, DINA, ORTF, NOS, AB, etc. are useful starting points.  But they're just starting points.  I know, not the easy answer for which you're probably looking, but there is no easy answer, nor any definitive answer to every situation.

I was away.