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Re: MS stereo imaging problems with MKH30/50 combo - Sounds are swap

Subject: Re: MS stereo imaging problems with MKH30/50 combo - Sounds are swap
From: "Michael Raphael"
Date: Mon Oct 15, 2012 3:30 pm ((PDT))
You won't experience this issue with a mkh 40. If you want to record surrou=
nd you might want to look into double ortf or irt cross

On Oct 15, 2012, at 5:00 PM, Martyn Stewart <> wrote:

> Is there a chance you could post an example, Justin? I would like to take=
 a listen to your ordeal...
>
> Martyn......
>
>
> On Oct 15, 2012, at 10:59 AM, "J. Mullens" <> wrote:
>
>> Hi, this is my first post to Nature Recordists.
>>
>> I have just added an MKH 30 to my collection in order to expand into MS
>> recording and am experiencing very bad imaging (side swapping) with the
>> setup when the sound source is located in certain places behind the
>> microphone.
>>
>> To clarify, I am *not *trying to record a surround signal using a stereo
>> mic setup, but I *am *interested in maintaining a correct left-right ste=
reo
>> image. When I use an XY setup, or an XY mic like a BP4025, anything on t=
he
>> left side of the mic (in front of it or behind) will playback out of the
>> left speaker. Using the MKH30/50 combo this is not the case.
>>
>> Here is the test I conducted: Set the microphones up in the middle of an
>> open field so that I can walk in a full circle around it. I start direct=
ly
>> in front of the M/S setup, about 15-20 feet away, and walk in a clockwis=
e
>> direction around mic calling out each position on the clock face. 12 is
>> directly in front, 1, is to the right of that, 3 is directly to the righ=
t,
>> 6 is directly behind, 9 is directly to the left side, etc.
>>
>> Here's the problem, when I get to the 4 & 5 o'clock postions (rear right
>> side) the sound source swap sides and sounds like it is coming from fron=
t
>> left. And the exact opposite happens to the 7 & 8 o'clock positions
>> sounding like they are coming from the front right.
>>
>> Again, any source originating in the 180 degree arc in front of the setu=
p
>> performs beautifully and the stereo image is perfect. It only happens to
>> sounds coming from behind the mics, and if a sound source is making a
>> constant tone you can actually hear it jump diagonally across from one s=
ide
>> of the stereo field to the other as it enters these rear right & left ar=
eas.
>>
>> After asking around it has come to my attention that the closer your Mid
>> mic is to a pressure-gradient mic (figure 8 polar pattern), the more of =
a
>> rear lobe you have, and thus the more chance you have of that rear lobe
>> picking up sound in the opposite channel. This definitely explains how, =
and
>> why, I could be experiencing side swapping.
>>
>> Since I've never used an MS setup with a pure cardioid mic I am wonderin=
g
>> if the same thing happens... For those using a Sennheiser 30/40 MS setup=
:
>> does this happen? Do you have side swapping in the 4-5 o'clock and 7-8
>> o'clock positions?
>>
>> Nature recording is, for me, one of the areas where a really accurate
>> stereo image in a 360 degree circle around my recording location is
>> critical. I am always pointing my mics at the source I am recording, but
>> having sounds behind the mic appearing in opposite channel is just weird=
.
>> How do the MS recordists on this forum deal with this?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> -Justin
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause.
>
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