Personal taste is the most important component of microphone technique. These seem like almost polar opposite characteristics, but they can both exist at the same time. A list of microphone techniques for the everyday presenter. Mic it microphones, microphone techniques, and their. Stereo miking techniques can replicate the itds and iids that occur naturally.
Today we go over some microphone and recording techniques that make your podcast sound great even without audio editing. Xy and spacedpair also called ab miking during a recent recording i did. Understanding the techniques is the easiest way to know when you need something better. Good vocal microphone technique is all about getting the best vocal sound using the tools available to you. Ab is the only company to offer the patented tmic microphone placed at the opening of the ear canal. Microphone techniques for introduction microphone techniques the selection and placement of microphones have a major influence on the audio quality of a sound reinforcement system. Ian corbett capture great sound in the first place, and spend less time fixing it in the mix with ian corbetts mic it. Microphones, microphone techniques, and their impact on the final mix. Mar 20, 2017 selecting the most appropriate clothing for your amplification device is among the most crucial microphone techniques. In this article, audio engineer andy marlow from ebindery discusses the initial choices of recording environment, some different recording techniques, the choice of narrator selfread or voiceover artist and the options for distribution. The mono signals from each microphone are assigned to the left and right channels of a stereo track to create a sense of width in the recording. Microphone technique is largely a matter of personal taste.
Xy stereo miking is the most common type of stereo microphone setup and the one that youll likely use if you do stereo miking. There exist a number of welldeveloped microphone techniques used for recording musical. Condenser microphone powering techniques the second method of running the potential through the cable is to supply 12 v between pins 2 and 3. Acousticsmicrophone technique wikibooks, open books for an. You dont need to be an audio engineer, but learning some recording techniques, how mics work, and how to do some postediting will really come in handy. Recording piano with ab stereo microphone technique posted on 11 june 2018 16 september 2018 by admin9394 one of the most common and easytomake recording techniques is to take two microphones spaced apart and positioned parallel to each other. Advanced microphone techniques in musictech magazine. When you record using the xy technique, keep these points in mind. When you set up a microphone for an electric bass, getting a good sound can be a real bear. Following this, some fundamentals of microphones, instruments, and acoustics are presented. In most application microphones are placed directly in front at a correct distance of each performer. Ab stereo mic technique 20180408 by wikiadmin leave a comment also called spaced pair this is a technique where two stereo microphones are placed anywhere from 3 to 10 feet a part to create a time difference that the brain perceives as a stereo imaging effect. Section one microphone techniques here is a very basic, general procedure to keep in mind when miking something that makes sound.
It gives an insight into the theory behind the development of microphones and pream. Comparison of ab and ms stereo microphone recording techniques. Before you even pick up a microphone, much of the sound has already been decided for you. Sep 18, 2017 all of us have a singing voice, but not everyone has developed proper vocal techniques in order to be sure where to find or how to use that voice. For reinforcement of musical instruments, there are several main objectives of microphone techniques. Five techniques for stereo miking drums shure blog. Capture great sound in the first place, and spend less time fixing it in the mix with ian corbetts mic it. The xy stereo mic approach uses two matched microphones placed close together. Timing hand gestures with your narrative is a far simpler task without a handheld mic getting in your way. Normally the spacing is adjusted between 40 and 60 cm. If the resulting acoustic delay is in the range of 1.
Acousticsmicrophone design and operation wikibooks, open. Usually, your job as an engineer is to reproduce the sound you hear in the room. Even with the same polar pattern, transducer type and frequency response, one microphone will sound better than the other. Recording and sound reinforcement engineers at all levels of expertise will find the microphone book an invaluable resource for learning the why as well as the how of choosing a microphone for any situation. The second edition of the microphone book follows the same broad. Experience is required to know which microphone type is best suited to a particular production. He used the phrase the theoretically correct microphone technique three or four. The number one factor to consider when purchasing a microphone is sound quality. Yes, camtasia has noise removal,but it can only do so much. This book, by the author of industry bestseller modern recording techniques, focuses on microphone usage for dozens of different instruments as well as vocals, amplifiers, leslie cabinets and much more. Ms is great for stereo imaging, especially when most of the sound is coming. The equipment for the techniques also varies from the bulky to the small and convenient. 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.
When using two microphones to record a source, normally you will get the best results by placing the second mic no closer than three times the distance from the first mic that the first mic is from the source. There are a lot of good microphones out there and theyre not that expensive. Back in the 1960s, spiderman and superman comic books from the usa had a. Lets look at some techniques you can useto get the most out of your mic. Dec 11, 2008 the musician are well spaced for stage presence and best spatial microphone positions. Professional microphone techniques mix pro audio david mileshuber, philip williams on. The downside of ab stereo recording is that because of the timing offset between each microphone, you will be likely to have issues with phase cancellation when combining the stereo signal to mono. We take a practical look at the pros and cons of coincident and spaced stereo miking techniques. Two directional mics, usually small diaphragm condensers. Consider phil spectors signature wall of sound, which relied heavily on appropriate microphone techniques, or led zeppelins iconic recording of john bonhams drums on when the levee breaks, recorded with a stereo microphone on the second floor stairway at headley grange studio.
Chances are youll witness a variety of passionate singers out there. Creative solutions to such matters as stereo sound staging, perspective, and balance are also covered in detail. Microphone techniques online course berklee online. With his expert guidance, youll quickly understand essential audio concepts as they relate to microphones and mic techniques, and learn how to apply them to your recording situation. Americanradiohistory documents the history of radio and tv in a library of thousands of magazines and publications about broadcasting, radio, tv. Xy diagram if youre like most engineers, then the xy technique is probably the first stereo miking technique you learned. Your two adversaries are muddiness lack of definition and thinness a pronounced midrange tone. In the case of poor room acoustics, place the microphone very close to the loudest part of the instrument being recorded or isolate the instrument. Stereo recording is a technique involving the use of two microphones to simultaneously record one instrument. Distance between the microphones channel separation in the ab stereo technique is determined by the distance between the microphones. Jun 23, 2011 perhaps because the microphone position simulates human ear position, the resulting stereo field seems very natural and realistic, and generally collapses to mono without significant problems. A b techniques generally use two separate microphone units, often mounted on a bar to define the separation. Tell me by joan bauer, the dick gibson show by stanley elkin, welcome, caller, this is chloe by shelley coriell, elimination n.
Dec 15, 20 you too can create a great audio book recordingbut you need to know how to choose or prepare your home studio, and how to plan and staff your production. Thanks a lot for the lovely indepth article which really helped me get a better understanding of the various techniques for recording audio books. The stereo image the placement of the instruments in the sonic environment isnt as wide or realistic as it is in real life. Here are the perceptual results of common stereo miking techniques. Xy microphone capsules can be mounted in one unit, or even on the top of a handheld digital recorder. Mic it microphones, microphone techniques, and their impact. Recording piano with ab stereo microphone technique. There are books written about acoustics and how to mathematically determine their effects. Linda shaffer, of baton rouge, says, because i have arthritis in my hands, i make use of the microphone on my iphone, and speak my text message instead of typing it. My favorite microphones for recording audio narration the. Microphone techniques here is a very basic, general procedure to keep in mind when miking something that makes sound. The first thing to consider regardless ofthe type of mic youre using is ambient noise. The jecklin disk technique is similar to ab recording, with 2 omnidirectional microphones at 36 cm apart from.
Back in the 1960s, spiderman and superman comic books from the usa had a middle section of pinkpaper advertisements for pretty unbelievable technical gadgets. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover robert d. Shop a vast selection of books, art and collectibles from independent sellers around the world. Knowing how to use your microphoneis as important as choosing the right one. Above all else, try the microphone on the sound you want to record with it and see how it compares to other microphones in your budget range. Ab spaced pair the ab or spaced pair approach is among the simplest stereo techniques to understand, but it presents the most problems in practice.
How to mic a symphony orchestra with ab stereo recording. Compromises have to be made so that the orchestra sounds natural with a proper stereo width. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Most of them dont sing professionally and for some it is more apparent. Many presenters enjoy the freedom that using a lavaliere microphone permits them throughout their speech. Nov 16, 2017 vary microphone positions and distances until you achieve the monitored sound that you desire. Some also add a third center microphone to strengthen the center image. How proper mic technique can make you sound great even. There are advantages and disadvantages to consider as an audio engineer when placing microphones. Carvers profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. The ms or midside stereo technique involves a cardioid mic. Radio and broadcast history library with thousands of.