Sep 11, 2014 stereo microphone techniques spaced pair or non coincident pair ab the spaced pair technique is commonly used in drum overhead microphone placement time should be given to correct placement as this is the most critical part of your overall drum sound always check the phase of the microphones and mono compatibility i. There are advantages and disadvantages to consider as an audio engineer when placing microphones. This is a very popular way to record acoustic guitars, among other acoustic instruments. There are books written about acoustics and how to mathematically determine their. Survey of recording technology comprehensive study guide. And it would take a lot of talent to mess up the 90 degree placement.
A stereo miking technique similar to coincident pair, although in this case the mics are set up with some distance inbetween them. Benefits of spaced pairs a spaced microphone set up will create a threedimensional feeling in the recorded material. A pair of spaced omnidirectional micro phones were deployed in this fashion for main pickup of the instrument. A quick introduction to common mic placement techniques june 27, 2017 by soundfly team 0 this article is courtesy of soundflys free course series any sound will do, which features essential tips and strategies on creating music from found sounds and sampled sources by youtube star andrew huang and ableton certified trainer brian jackson. Choosing reverb parameters reverb is a natural part of every sound and represents the way a. Music books plus the recording engineers handbook, 4th edition. This is where i feel the wide spaced pair really wins over a coincident pair. Oct 25, 2016 stereo microphone techniques fall into two categories. He really made a name for himself in the annuls of recording legend with his monstrous john bonham drum sounds on all those zeppelin records. Xy stereo miking is the most common type of stereo microphone setup and the one that youll likely use if.
Stereo microphone technique the coincident crossed pair. A coincident pair of mics angled straight at sound source. Schultzamling, directional audio coding with stereo microphone input, in preprint 126th conv. Bobby owsinskis the recording engineers handbook has become a music industry standard, and this fully updated fourth edition once again offers the most comprehensive and uptodate introduction to the art of audio recording. These can be either spaced with one at each end of the soundboard or together in an xy pattern. Microphone placement 156 miking distance 156 stereospread control 159 monitoring stereo spread 160. Coincidentpair vs nearcoincident pair technique for on. Phase cancellation can occur when 2 microphone signals are summed together if the microphones are. The recording engineers handbook 4th edition by bobby. Stereo miking techniques fall generally into two categories. The recording engineers handbook is a great crosspollination of recording techniques and ideas and is a valuable resource to both the student and working recording engineer. Multiple miking techniques for recording just about any musical instrument the secrets of mic placement keys to a great sounding drum kit how to choose the right mic for each recording situation the secrets of getting great sounds from inexpensive gear how to make leakage work for you. The room microphone which we opted for was a neumann u87 cardioid condenser microphone which we use at dbs.
Thats why i like a coincident pair for my drum overheads. Study of preference for surround microphone techniques used in the recording of choir and instrumental ensemble article pdf available in archives of acoustics 362. A near coincident pair or coincident pair with adequate flanks should do just fine. One thing to be careful of in stereo recording is phase cancellation. The recording engineers handbook also includes interviews with grammy winning engineers like al schmitt, ed cherney, steve albini, michael beinhorn, frank fillipetti, mack, eddie kramer, michael bishop and more. The farther from the kit you place the mic, the more ambience room sound youll get. I will almost always use a spaced pair for closer instrument or group micing where i want a strong stereo image. This coincident technique employs a bidirectional microphone with a figure of 8 polar.
The technique was developed in the early 1950s and first commercially used in 1954 by arthur haddy, roy wallace, and later refined by engineer kenneth ernest wilkinson and his team at decca records, to provide a. Using a simple stereo bar, its easy to get an xy pair going with a single mic stand. Bishop excellent book with loads of resourceful information. It also looks prettier than xy in my book, if that counts for anything.
I use a basic xy or coincident pair microphone setup in many of my recordings. Jan 10, 2011 when we think of professional drums being recorded in a studio our mind usually draws up images of complex mic techniques utilizing anywhere from 8 to 12 or more microphones. Examining low frequency localization and spaciousness in typical listening rooms reveals that low frequency separation is altered by conventional loudspeakers and positions, with many common placements producing poor spaciousness when excited by either coincident or pan potted recordings. Playing with polar patternsstereo recording microphone. The dynamic microphone just doesnt have the full frequency range nor the transient response needed for an accurate reproduction in most of these cases.
Even if they are, does it matter if i just crank one of the mics slightly higher, say. Microphone techniques here is a very basic, general procedure to keep in mind when miking something that makes sound. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Aes elibrary surround recording based on a coincident pair. Well start with the basics and then move to some more exciting options. The microphone system is not properly in front of the orchestra, but more into the orchestra. Musically speaking, you will have to make judgments at the time you are recording with your ears as your guide instead of constantly watching the vu meters. Xy coincident stereo miking consists of using two microphones that are placed right next to each other so that the diaphragms are as close together as possible without touching one another. Xy stereo miking is the most common type of stereo microphone setup and the one that youll likely use if you do stereo miking. Jul 22, 2011 aes 42nd international conference, ilmenau, germany, 2011 july 22 24 page 7 of 8 faller surround recording based on a coincident pair of microphones faller xy to surround 9 j.
Study of preference for surround microphone techniques. Working as a recording engineer presents challenges from every direction of your project. The two overheads were placed in a near coincident pair over the centre of the kit. I have read lots of opinions in books, on the web and forums, but it is hard to find anything convincing.
From using microphones to deciding on eq settings, choosing outboard gear to understanding how, when and why to process your signal, the seemingly neverending choices can be very confusing. Modifying the directional responses of a coincident pair. Stereo miking is a great way to increase the sense of depth in your recording of an instrument. The glyn johns drum recording method recording revolution. Heads or tails coincident vs spaced mic pairs the development of stereo reproduction happened almost simultaneously on both sides of the atlantic in the 1930s by emi and bell labs respectively. British broadcasting corporation and many parts of europe use the term ab to refer to the coincident pair category. Since stereo microphone techniques are used to capture an acoustic, live or full sound the use of condensers is encouraged. The compressor and reverb are the two most common effects signal processors. A quick introduction to common mic placement techniques.
This can be fixed with better mic placement or if in a recording, nudging one track into phase alignment with the other. Aes elibrary spaciousness and localization in listening. Both new and seasoned engineers could gather knowledge from this book. The most common form of the coincidentpair technique is the xy combination. This stereo mic technique involves spacing a pair of cardioid or. What is the actual practical difference between recording in coincidentpair or nearcoincident pair array using two cardioid small diaphragm condenser microphones in a matched stereo pair. Aug 27, 2007 micing a choir for live sound,regarding 3. Whether you use the term minimal, organic, old school, or vintage, theres definitely a renewed interest in capturing that drumsetinaroom vibe that was employed on pretty much any recording prior to the late 1960s, when close miking.
Book description dividing classical and popular music recording into two distinct sections, this book focuses on the special techniques used for recording outside the confines of the studio and shows readers how to interface with sound reinforcement equipment in the hall or club. The near coincident pair will give a stronger stereo image when panned. Audio examples, tracking sheets, weblinks, and downloadable. The angle between the microphone grills can vary from 90 to 120 degrees, facing towards the sound source.
The decca tree setup evolved from the idea of a minimal recording technique using a pair of microphones. Stereo microphone placement can be broken down into four categories. Technically, i strongly recommend the use of xy microphone placement for phase coherency. Everybody knows that if you have your top snare mic. Information contained in this book has been obtained by thomson course technology ptr. An example for microphone placement is illustrated in figure 1, where the microphone is behind and above the conductor of a classical concert. A coincident pair placed in the nave was then used to bias the reverberant contribution so that it. With the spaced pair technique, two identical mics are placed sev.
Cardioid microphones are the best choice for this setup, as the stereo images will appear more dramatic and focused. There are several reasons for this, but the most important is that, even in the front row, there are often things in between the sound source and the microphones that get in the way of the sound. This means that each microphone is equally insensitive to the sound arriving at the mic pair, so each mic will have the same output. Professional microphone techniques mix pro audio david mileshuber, philip williams on. What is the actual practical difference between recording in coincident pair or near coincident pair array using two cardioid small diaphragm condenser microphones in a matched stereo pair. This mic placement was something which paul white mentioned might be worth experimenting with in his pianorecording article back in sos october 1994, the idea being that it picks up a more mellow sound from the soundboard. Go with your instinct to use the ortf even if its with sm57s. The blumlein method consists of a coincident pair of bidirectional figureeight microphones placed at an angle of 90 from one another, with the center line bisecting that angle pointing at the music source. The decca tree is a spaced microphone array most commonly used for orchestral recording it was originally developed as a sort of stereo ab recording method adding a center fill.
Most recordings today are what i call two channel mono, and for that reason they dont have much emotional impact. Which brings me to my experiences comparing coincidentpair also called. This technique creates a more defined stereo image, although it may not sum to mono as well. This coincident pair microphone setup is especially useful when time is short and. Oct 31, 2012 here are some placement options for an upright piano. Every effect signal processor that you use in your homerecording studio has certain settings, called parameters, which you can adjust to tailor the sound to your liking. There are a few popular ways to mic in stereo with twothree mics close together and no phase cancellation, even after summing the audio to mono. Heads or tails coincident vs spaced mic pairs pro tools. To set this up, youll need two preferably identical microphones with cardioid polar patterns placed as close together as possible, but with their capsules at a 90. I tend to agree with remy, if youre going to reinforce a choir which im not quite understanding the need to reinforce a 20 person choir in a church.
Here are some placement options for an upright piano. A combination of stereo overheads, close mics on each drum, as well as room mics seems to be the doctors orders for a modern, punchy. Setting effects parameters in your home recording studio. Stereo miking techniques can replicate the itds and iids that occur naturally. Back in the 1960s, spiderman and superman comic books from the usa had a. Also known as an xy or xy pair, this is a microphone configuration which commonly uses two cardioid or figureeight microphones mounted at right angles to one another, the latter preferred only for special applications.
This coincident pair microphone setup is especially useful when time is short and space is limited. Microphone techniques here is a very basic, general procedure to keep in mind when miking something that. You can usually get a good overall onemic balance if you go for a symmetrical placement where the microphone is the same distance in front of the bass drum as it is off the ground. Start studying survey of recording technology comprehensive study guide. Its a classic nashville recording technique, although its popular all over. It is impossible using a coincident pair at anything other than the highest of frequencies. Also, you might want to check out the video version of the book, the audio recording techniques video series, at. Here are six stereo miking techniques you can try out today. To set this up, youll need two preferably identical microphones with. When you use a single microphone to record the entire kit either by necessity or artistic choice, placement will be determined by the amount of air you want to hear around the kit and what else is going on during the tracking session.
Bobby owsinskis the recording engineers handbook has become a music industry standard, and this fully updated fourth edition once again offers the most comprehensive and uptodate introduction to the art of audio recording written with special emphasis on todays technology and the evolving marketplace, the recording engineers handbook fourth edition includes a complete overview of. Modifying the directional responses of a coincident pair of microphones by postprocessing christof faller, aes member christof. Obviously, there are advantages and disadvantages to each technique. Here are the perceptual results of common stereo miking techniques. Stereo microphone techniques spaced pair or non coincident pair ab the spaced pair technique is commonly used in drum overhead microphone placement time should be given to correct placement as this is the most critical part of your overall drum sound always check the phase of the microphones and mono compatibility i. Stereo recording microphone techniques sessionville.
Aes elibrary recording of acoustical concerts using a soundfield microphone. He used the phrase the theoretically correct microphone technique three or four. Professional audios bestselling author bobby owsinski the mixing engineers handbook, the mastering engineers. Minimal miking techniques one, two, and threemic setups for a more natural sound. Over the open lid of the piano, place either a single mic, a spaced pair, or a coincident pair. Stereo miking is the use of a matched pair of microphones to capture a single. Coincident pair 8 spaced pair 140 nearcoincident pair 143. Stereo microphone technique the coincident crossed pair the coincident crossed pair is the simplest and most basic stereo microphone technique offering precise imagery and. With the piano pulled away from the wall so the soundboard is facing the room, a pair of mics can be placed at a distance of 68. This is usually achieved by using two or more independent audio channels through a configuration of two or more loudspeakers or stereo headphones in such a way as to create the impression of sound heard from various directions, as in natural hearing. When placing a stereo pair, its important to realize that the best place for the mikes may not be the best seat in the house.
How to mic a piano a simple guide to microphone placement. Are matched pairs of mics for stereo recording really so important, given that my preamps wont always be perfectly matched. Depending on the specific technique examples of this type are ortf and nos the distance and the angle at which the two microphones are pointing will differ. Of course there are also microphones available with stereo capsules, but many audio mixers and recordists prefer the flexibility of setting up a. Once mic users understand microphone polar patterns, they can intelligently choose mics positioned for stereo recording.
Microphone technique greatly affects the sound of a tape both musically and technically. A further refinement of the blumlein pair was developed by emi in 1958, who called it stereosonic. Each has advantages and disadvantages for field recording in terms of both sound and convenience. How do you avoid phase issues with microphone placement. Xy coincident stereo miking consists of using two microphones that are placed right next to each other so that the diaphragms are as close together as. Modifying the directional responses of a coincident pair of.
Recording music on location provides an exceptional collection of information regarding all aspects of recording outside of the studio. This configuration provides a high degree of stereo separation along with a large amount of room ambience. By jeff strong xy coincident stereo miking consists of using two microphones that are placed right next to each other so that the diaphragms are as close together as possible without touching one another. There exist a number of welldeveloped microphone techniques used for recording musical. Glyn johns is a british musician, engineer, and producer who most notably worked with led zeppelin, the who, the rolling stones, the eagles, eric clapton, and even started his career assisting for the beatles. Featuring clear explanations on how to achieve professional results, this book selection from recording music on location, 2nd edition book. Reliable stereo microphone techniques ensure that your work sounds. Stereophonic sound or, more commonly, stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that creates an illusion of multidirectional audible perspective. The recording engineers handbook 4th edition bobby.