Hi Dave--
Congrats on the great start-up gear! There are many people on this
list who are experienced with this gear and M-S.
Although its possible to undo it, most recordists forgo encoding the
mic signals as they are recorded and just use the M-S headphone
decoding feature in the 722. Go to menu #64 select "Input 1,2 (M-S)"
which will decode a side chain of the input channels just for
monitoring purposes. You can also use headphone monitoring favorites
to roll through several options quickly. I record to mono files. If
you are only using a 2 channel waveform editor in post, you can
record to poly. Mid Mic to Ch1 (L) and Side Mic to Ch 2(R)
As for the M-S matrix in post. With a two channel Waveform editor
like Peak, you'll have to use audiounits or VST plugs like MDA's.
(Their's is not one of the easiest to understand is it?) There are
other free M-S plugs. One is on Tom Erbe's Soundhack website called
"+Matrix" and there a couple of more if you search "M-S" "decode"
"plug" or similar.
Many recordists create the M-S matrix with simple mixer patching on a
multi-track editor like Logic or ProTools. I personally prefer this
for the ability to use separate EQ on the mid and side streams. (As
M-S set-ups use two different mics, the EQ required for each is often
different).
It does take some time to get comfortable with M-S. If you want to
post further questions on the "fieldpost" blog I set-up, we can
discuss them there as well. http://www.uwm.edu/%7Etype/fieldpostblog/
Rob D.
At 1:34 PM +0000 7/7/06, thxdave wrote:
>I'm starting to use my MKH60/30 rig again after a long period without
>having a field recorder. I just got my SD722 and I'm struggling a
>little with the menu options related to m/s recording/decoding. For
>example, I know that the 722 allows me to hear the decoded m/s through
>the headphones, but I'm not sure if it allows me to record the decoded
>m/s into a normal stereo file (as opposed to recording it in m/s
>format for later decoding). Any insights on this?
>
>Also, assuming that you record the audio into separate M and S tracks,
>does it make any difference to the decoding process if I record in
>mono .wav as opposed to poly .wav files?
>
>My final bit of frustration came last night when I tried to decode my
>first m/s files and play them back on my computer. I'm using Bias Peak
>5.2 which includes a plug-in (mda Image) that SEEMS to decode m/s --->
>Stereo, but the files (sometimes) play back incorrectly. For instance,
>I did some "walk-around" tests where I set up my MHK's on a stand and
>I circled the mics with my 722 at the end of a 25' mic cable (Star
>Quad cable wired to XLR-5 ends) and recorded myself as I called off my
>relative positions (center, left, right, 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, etc.)
>so that I'd have a good way of knowing whether the mics were working
>correctly or that I had wired my cable correctly. When I played back
>the files in my headphones using the 722's built-in decoder, my
>recorded positions were clearly audible and tracked perfectly as I
>moved around the mic array. However, when I played these same files
>later at home using Peak and the m/s decoder plug-in, nothing seemed
>to play back correctly without a LOT of futzing using the slider
>controls of the plug. Can anybody recommend a fairly simple m/s
>plug-in that I can use so I can make sure that I'm doing all of this
>correctly?
>
>Also, the 722 manual tells you about NOT having two m/s decoders
>running simultaneously while recording, but it never gives newbies
>like me a clear understanding how to configure the recorder properly
>for this type of recording. Would anybody be willing to take a stab at
>it for me? Don't be afraid to dumb it down as much as you'd like. I'd
>like to be able to save a config file on the 722 that would
>immediately bring up my "normal" m/s setup every time I need it. I
>believe that is possible with this recorder.....and now....back to the
>manual. RTFM, Dave....RTFM. ;)
>
>Thanks,
>dave
>
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