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Re: Re: stereo recordings

Subject: Re: Re: stereo recordings
From: Walter Knapp <>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 13:56:22 -0500
Lang Elliott wrote:
> 
> When I do such a test with my SASS, using headphones, I get a really nice
> 180 degree depiction, the only weakness being that front and center sounds
> like it's coming from above.
> 
> As I go around behind the mike, mostly it sounds as if I've turned around
> and proceeded back in front of the mike. This is typical of all binaural
> setups, unless they're tweaked for individuals. Even then, rear sounds often
> are projected toward the front.
> 
> This is one reason that I've decided to use my SASS recordings primarily for
> 180 degree frontal playback (with some convincing 3D or height effect). This
> can be simply accomplished using two conventional full-range speakers, each
> placed out to the side (as I've described previously). One clear advantage
> of using speakers is that sound sources originating front and center come
> through sounding like they're front and center, as opposed to headphones
> which often render them overhead center.

I'd think to get a 360 from the SASS setup you would really need to use
two SASS mics back to back recording to 4 channels.

For me, most stereo in headphones sets up behind me, or so it sounds. I
can get it more likely to sound out in front by reversing the
headphones. And I have no idea why.

> While a lot of research is being done that could eventually extract a full
> 360 degree arc from two tracks (possibly including lots of 3D or height
> effects), it is much more reasonable at this time to investigate ways to use
> 4-track recording to produce an encompassing playback soundstage.

The one I can think of that should be able to do 360 from two tracks is
a pair of figure 8's, like the MKH 30's. Or if you want to match the
noise specs of your MKH 20's and also have something that provides
actual sound signals over the full range of the higher sampling rates
you like, you would use two MKH 800's in figure 8 settings. Those are as
quiet as the 20's, maybe quieter, and go to 50khz. One place where the
increased frequency range might mean something is in surround sound.
I've not seen any matrix software for crossed figure 8's to 360
surround, though there probably is some.

It might be interesting to try two figure 8's with a foam barrier system.

I'd think that you could do it with three channels using one figure 8
paired with two matched mics pointing front and back. I understand that
it's usually done with two figure 8's making it two MS setups back to
back. Which would be 4 channels.

Walt



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