Posted by: "Lou Judson"
> Interesting discussion! None of my comments are meaning to say anyone
> is right or wrong, but just my way and an option:
That is true for me too, there is no solid right or wrong in this.
Experience in the field doing nature recording will differ for each as
well, leading to different techniques. Plus what folks are looking for
in a recording differs a lot.
> I DO monitor stereo in the field, as that allows me to find the source
> I intent more easily than just hearing the mid. If I can hear how far
> offcenter the target is, I can adjust more accurately. And I maintain
> that with 24 bit recording 6dB less side is no deficit at all in the
> range of optimum levels...
I find with the gain set the same, and recording a central caller, the
MKH30 side vs the MKH40 mid, which are similar in sensitivity, that the
difference in level will often be in the order of 30-40 dB if the area
is a quiet site. Naturally if recording ambiance without central callers
there will be less difference.
If it was only 6dB in a 24bit (or even a 16bit for that matter) I'd not
worry too much either.
> Monitoring only the mid does not tell me if the target is slightly off
> center, and the results are sloppier for me that way... if I want a
> certain sound in the center of the image.
Maybe I'm just more practiced. I do also try to determine what's out and
about and where they are before I start the record. Of course stereo
does give you more cues. I don't have problems with target aiming using
just the mid.
As I said, I've done it both ways. Partially, monitoring the mid is a
simpler setup too for me and I don't like to cart around anymore than I
have to. The Portadisc does not have a M/S decoder for the headphone
out, so if I want to monitor the stereo from M/S I have to add carrying
the SD MP2 to decode for the headphones.
On top of that, monitoring the stereo the temptation is to do the
adjustment of the stereo field while recording, and jumping gain like
that while recording is a problem. Ideally the headphone would have
independent gain for each channel for it, which would help in that.
Walt
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