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woodnut

Joined: 24/03/07
Posts: 92

Stereo Recording XY Different Preamps Same Mics? new

#1032047 - 04/02/13 02:27 PM

Hello Folks,

I am recording my acoustic guitar using the XY method with a matched
pair of Oktava MK012s and getting great results through my Audient
Mico. I would however like to use one of the Mico's channels for
vocals on occassion to take advantage of the feature on the Mico that
add harmonics.

This would mean one of the acoustic guitar XY pair going through the
Audient Mico and one through my fireface 400's internal preamps.
Whilst I can and will try this, I am interested to know if it is
considered bad practise to use two separate preamps for a stereo pair
in XY?

Many thanks!

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twotoedsloth

Joined: 26/01/08
Posts: 458

Re: Stereo Recording XY Different Preamps Same Mics? new

[Re: woodnut]
#1032285 - 05/02/13 10:22 PM

Why not just put both XY mics into the FF? I've used FF preamps before, and I own a Mico. While the Mico may be marginally "better" I'd be surprised if you heard much of a difference without directly A/B-ing it.

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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor

Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire

Re: Stereo Recording XY Different Preamps Same Mics? [Re: woodnut]
#1032355 - 06/02/13 10:07 AM

Quote woodnut:

I am interested to know if it is
considered bad practise to use two separate preamps for a stereo pair
in XY?

Yes, in a nutshell!

Accurate stereo imaging with a coincident (XY) pair requires accurate sensitivity matching of the two mics, and accurate gain matching of their respective preamps at all frequencies of interest.

Using entirely different preamps is likely to result in different tonalities for each channel which will affect the stereo image slightly, and matching the gain controls is likely to be difficult -- although there are various practical techniques to ensure matching, of course.

Whether such precision -- or lack of it -- is audible in your particular set up is something only you'll be able to determine... but I suspect you'll get away with it if you really have to work that way.

For me, I'd just use a pair of FF channels for the guitar mics.

hugh

--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

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