SOUND ON SOUND

[The Elf]

MS is one of those things I’m always "about to do" but for some reason I just glaze over when I get the mic's out the draw, oh sod it, just give me a another pair of spaced cardioids.
MS just seems like a lot of effort to go to most of the time, just to get stereo.

What do you feel is 'a lot of effort'? All it takes is the free MSED plug-in - that's it!

[Arpangel]

MS is one of those things I’m always "about to do" but for some reason I just glaze over when I get the mic's out the draw, oh sod it, just give me a another pair of spaced cardioids.
MS just seems like a lot of effort to go to most of the time, just to get stereo.

What do you feel is 'a lot of effort'? All it takes is the free MSED plug-in - that's it!

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

:D :D

[blinddrew]

I just have a stand set up so ready to go all I need to do is get the ribbon out of the box (I appreciate this is your first challenge!) and drop the LDC into place above it.
I reckon it would take me about 90 seconds to be set up for MS recording! :)

[John Willett]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

:bouncy: :lol: :bouncy:

[The Elf]

For the second time in a week...

[MOF]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

Some people are just beyond help!!! :lol:

[Arpangel]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

Some people are just beyond help!!! :lol:

Yes, and it’s made worse by the fact I have an MS mixer, with a switch you just engage it and it decodes the mic's into a normal stereo output, but it’s not a portable mixer, and I’m finding I’m making more field recordings these days, and it’s easier just to grab a handy recorder, I’d have to by a blimp for MS, and I just can’t be bothered.

[John Willett]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

Some people are just beyond help!!! :lol:

Yes, and it’s made worse by the fact I have an MS mixer, with a switch you just engage it and it decodes the mic's into a normal stereo output, but it’s not a portable mixer, and I’m finding I’m making more field recordings these days, and it’s easier just to grab a handy recorder, I’d have to by a blimp for MS, and I just can’t be bothered.

:lol: :headbang:

[Arpangel]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

Some people are just beyond help!!! :lol:

Yes, and it’s made worse by the fact I have an MS mixer, with a switch you just engage it and it decodes the mic's into a normal stereo output, but it’s not a portable mixer, and I’m finding I’m making more field recordings these days, and it’s easier just to grab a handy recorder, I’d have to by a blimp for MS, and I just can’t be bothered.

:lol: :headbang:

John, my enthusiasm for life in general, let alone music, is virtually non existent, and the interesting thing is, it’s not making a jot of difference to my musical output, or the quality of it. In fact, because I don’t care, it enables me to do loads of things, that I wouldn’t normally accept as being OK, as for judging the quality of what I do, I honestly don’t know, all I do know is that I’m not making any value judgments or so called quality considerations, but that still doesn’t stop me making stuff that sounds alright, and that people seem to like.
Sounds bad doesn’t it, but as I said, who cares? so....
I really am doing it just to keep occupied.

[John Willett]

You don’t understand, I’ve got to get the mic's out of the draw, and even worse, put them on a stand, and "think about things" it's just plain unreasonable to expect me to have to do that...I’m getting to a point now where I need Studio SOS to be in residence full-time...

Some people are just beyond help!!! :lol:

Yes, and it’s made worse by the fact I have an MS mixer, with a switch you just engage it and it decodes the mic's into a normal stereo output, but it’s not a portable mixer, and I’m finding I’m making more field recordings these days, and it’s easier just to grab a handy recorder, I’d have to by a blimp for MS, and I just can’t be bothered.

:lol: :headbang:

John, my enthusiasm for life in general, let alone music, is virtually non existent, and the interesting thing is, it’s not making a jot of difference to my musical output, or the quality of it. In fact, because I don’t care, it enables me to do loads of things, that I wouldn’t normally accept as being OK, as for judging the quality of what I do, I honestly don’t know, all I do know is that I’m not making any value judgments or so called quality considerations, but that still doesn’t stop me making stuff that sounds alright, and that people seem to like.
Sounds bad doesn’t it, but as I said, who cares? so....
I really am doing it just to keep occupied.

Sometimes the best music can come from this - as you are relaxed, not stressed, and just doing what comes to mind. :thumbup:

Good luck and stay safe. :)

[The Elf]

This is my portable MS rig:

[Arpangel]

This is my portable MS rig:

Does it record in MS, and then convert to a normal stereo output? Or does it output the raw signals?
My Tascam has all this, but I don’t use it, I just select cardioids or omni in conventional stereo and that’s that. I’ve really no need for MS, it’s just interesting I suppose..

[The Elf]

Does it record in MS, and then convert to a normal stereo output? Or does it output the raw signals?

Both, or either.

I’ve really no need for MS

Leaving aside the full mono-compatibility and ability to narrow/widen stereo after recording (which seems like magic the first time you try it) and the more focussed stereo centre. And even leaving aside its use for microphones...

Using MS for mastering, for instance, brings a number of benefits, not least of which that you can work with two mono processors, as opposed to a dedicated stereo processor - and matching them is not so critical. It also allows you to widen, or narrow, a stereo mix, centre the low frequencies, widen the high frequencies, brighten the side, balance up a L/R imbalance and generally fool around with the stereo field and perceived width without any fear of introducing mono incompatibiity. In fact mono compatibility is increasingly important as many people consume audio through their phones and mono bluetooth speakers now. Adding a bit more compression to centre and less to sides can really help a mix to punch with an enhanced sense of space to support it.

MS really is a good tool to understand and make use of when the situation calls for it. It's sitting there in the toolbox like any other technique, just waiting to be picked up - and it is ridiculously simple to use. Hopefully at some point you'll give it a chance and begin to realise the potential.

[Arpangel]

I’ve just downloaded the MSED plug, to see if that will spur me on to experiment.
I’m OK indoors, as I have my MS mixer, but it’s outdoors using a good mic that always gets confusing.