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Re: Re: dual omnis

Subject: Re: Re: dual omnis
From: Walter Knapp <>
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 16:47:01 -0500
 wrote:

> I'm one of the NPR engineers who does field recordings for "Radio 
> Expeditions".  (Yes that work gets shared by a half dozen or so of us.)

And I bet some of it is great fun.

> We don't have one set choice for miking of these recordings:  we do a lot of 
> MS, which has great mono compatibility and localization for close to mid 
> distant subjects.  But omnis come in handy in high wind situations where even 
> a zeppelined MS pair will break up.  We've also done some things with ORTF 
> near-coincident directionals, and occasionally with parabolas.  I've even 
> done some MS ambiences with a parabolic omni mid and a fig8 mounted behind 
> the dish.

Stop it! Yet another thing to try. Why did you mount the fig 8 behind 
the dish instead of in front?

> There is no perfect miking system, particularly in the rough-and-tumble world 
> of hit-and-run field recordings.  We're also often switching back and forth 
> between sound gathering and close-miked interviews at a second's notice, so 
> we have to have miking available to accommodate both needs.  And as often 
> pointed out on this list, battery efficiency is paramount on long recording 
> trips far from AC power.

I think the limit on how many mics can be useful to have along occurs 
when you collapse under your load. Very parallel to photography, though 
the development of pretty good zoom lenses has helped there. Just think 
how nice it would be to have a wide range zoom mic. Mics are more like 
fixed focal length lenses.

> But by continuing to read and participate in this list you'll get the benefit 
> of the experience of a lot of dedicated biophiles who are also audiophiles! I 
> enjoy and use the info I get here.

Just like mics, you can never have too many ideas or opinions.

Walt




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