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Directional recording in stereo

Subject: Directional recording in stereo
From: "Richard Folwell" richardfolwell
Date: Fri May 14, 2010 1:08 pm ((PDT))
I think I may know the answer to this one, but am posting it to both
check I have understood the problem correctly, and to find out if I have
missed anything.

I have this recording:

http://tinyurl.com/3yg9wqp


which I am fairly happy with[1] for balance between the siamang monkeys sev=
eral kilometres away and the nearby cicadas, given the circumstances
and the available  equipment. However it is a mono recording done with a Ro=
de Videomic, and I would have preferred it to have been stereo.

At the time I chose to use the Videomic because I was aware that the sound =
of the cicadas was nearby and loud, and was concerned that using
my basic X/Y microphone would mean that the cicada sound would overwhelm th=
at of the siamang.

I am looking for ideas about how to do this practically, given that being i=
n the location to do the recording did involve some scrambling
(not serious climbing like with ropes and stuff) to get there in the first =
place.

I think that the answer to this general problem is to add a figure of eight=
 microphone to the directional one, and then do the mid-side
encoding/decoding in post-processing. Using a parabolic reflector set up fo=
r stereo would obviously be another possibility, but might not
meet my practical requirements - basically kit that can go into a single ba=
ckpack.

Am also open to "off the wall" ideas. Most of the recording situations on t=
hat trip were well addressed by having a decent wide stereo
setup[2], but occasionally having something very directional (in stereo) wo=
uld have been really useful.


Thanks,
Richard

[1] Apart from the handling noise. Note to self: "I promise to never,
ever, do this again. I had a tripod available, it would have taken
minutes to use it. However transient the event you want to record, it is
never worth rushing if it compromises technique."

[2] Which I now realize that I did not have, and am working on fixing
that.









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