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Re: M/S recording setup

Subject: Re: M/S recording setup
From: "myles.thompson" myles.thompson
Date: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:42 am ((PDT))












--- In  "myles.thompson" <> wro=
te:
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm a complete novice in sound - but am really determined to get into wil=
dlife sound recording. However, I'm rather confused with my equipment and n=
eed a bit of help.
>
> I have a Sennheiser 416 and an Emesser ATE 208 figure of 8, an SQN mixer =
and a Fostex recorder and I'm trying to set it up to record wildlife using =
M/S.
>
> The output for the two mics is linked with a Y-loop through one XLR runni=
ng into the mixer.
>
> The mixer has a switch for M/S. Presumably I should flick this on? Does t=
his mean I will get M/S stereo recorded on the Fostex? Or do I have to sort=
 out the M/S stereo image in post-production?
>
> The other thing I'm wondering is how to configure mixer and recorder to w=
ork together. The mixer has a master dB dial as well as the dial for each c=
hannel. The Fostex also has two mix trim dials and a recording level dial. =
So - if I monitor the mixer and manage to get a good sound - I'm wondering =
how to set the Fostex so that it will get the best out of the mixer signal.=
 The reason I got the mixer was that someone on a forum explained that the =
pre-amps on the Fostex weren't particularly great - and a mixer with quiet =
would really help.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>


Thanks very much for all your input. Very helpful, and an interesting topic=
, but it still seems like quite a challenging setup.

I have an SQN 4 Series II and a Fostex FR 2 LE. Thanks to your remarks I ga=
ther this configuration isn't ideal for wildlife - given the noise of the E=
messer mic, and the directional characteristics of the 416, but I'm going t=
o give it a try and if all fails, sell everything and work out another solu=
tion (have considered Schoepps ORTF and Neumann binaural).

Given that I'm persevering with this setup, I suppose I should get rid of t=
he Y loom and run two separate cables from the M and S mics so that I have =
two separate channels for M and S? Or can I keep the Y loom? According to A=
mbient, the manufacturer of the Emesser figure of 8 mic, the Y loom 'output=
s both M and S signals in a standard balanced 5 pin XLR'  - but I'm not qui=
te sure what that means (and I haven't heard back from them yet). Are the M=
 and S still separated somehow when they run through the 5-pin XLR into the=
 mixer? How will I distinguish the two channels when I bring the files into=
 the editing suite?

I'm very keen to get this up and running.







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