Mic technique on Live from Abbey Road?

[drewharris]

I was recently watching Live from Abbey Road on Sundance Channel, and during LeAnn Rimes' performance I noticed a stereo micing technique on the acoustic guitar player that I haven't seen before and was wondering if anyone was familiar with it or knew anything about it? Its two mics .... both pointed right around the 12th fret of the neck. One above the neck angled down at about 45 degrees, and one below the neck angled up at bout 45 degrees. It will probably make more sense just to see it for yourself. Here's the link on YouTube.

YouTube - LeAnn Rimes - Destructive (Live from Abbey Road)

Anyone?

[Reproman]

I saw this too the other night and was wondering the same. It looks like it would have phase issues.

[producer3000]

Looks like ORTF. Actually not bad for phase.

[Podgorny]

ORTF is two microphones pointing away from one another. This is just a spaced pair that's placed fairly close.

ORTF stereo technique - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


As far as phase issues, yes there are, however, since the track is so sparse, it's nice to have the width that such a setup would give.

[producer3000]

Originally Posted by Podgorny

ORTF is two microphones pointing away from one another. This is just a spaced pair that's placed fairly close.

ORTF stereo technique - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


As far as phase issues, yes there are, however, since the track is so sparse, it's nice to have the width that such a setup would give.

True dat. It's been a while since recording school.

[drewharris]

I guess spaced pair would be the most fitting description, but I can't think of any other instance where I've seen a spaced pair to point to the same spot on the instrument. I also think it would be one thing if they did that with a horizontal set up as one would be in front of the body and would certainly picky up distinctly different content off axis, but its one above and below the neck. i can't imagine the sound in those spaces being all too different... but i could be wrong. has anyone tried out this set up before?

[kats]

I asked this question to the engineer of that show (it's on GS here somewhere) - he said something to the effect that i was the guitar players idea to do it. Apparently a respected engineer recorded him like that once.

The engineer from AR though wasn't greatly impressed. Search it, full story on GS somewhere.

[analogica]

Hi guys,

Are they using the 3 to 1 principle here?

I dont think so, I see the ambient mic too far.

Is this rule the only one to save phase issues???? thanks

[DeadPoet]

Maybe to have a stereo guitar track like a grand piano (lows left, highs right)?? And an IBP or some set-up time should cure phase problems methinks.


Herwig

[Cornvalley]

I saw this technique on an Allison Krauss video so I tried it. It really works nice. Imaging is focused and gives a great sense of depth. Just try it. Matched pairs may be helpful too.

[analogica]

ok ok, but how far should be one mic from the other with this technique?

[Alex Specht]

Originally Posted by DeadPoet

Maybe to have a stereo guitar track

I think that is right... I saw this in a Recording magazine a long time ago...

It actually is 3 mics the two on the neck and a pickup inside the guitar.

The mics on the neck are supposed to be hard right hard left (no phase issues)

However, in the recording it sounds to me like all they are using is a D.I.
(harsh)

[Cornvalley]

Originally Posted by analogica

ok ok, but how far should be one mic from the other with this technique?

a 90 degree angle between mics, something like 1 foot between. Good starting point.

[analogica]

Sorry, I havent see the pair , and theres another one in front of the guy,

( or is just a guitar stand???, im so blind) I was asking the distance

of that one...

[drewharris]

and i'm just now noticing the distant mic for the acoustic that you're talking about analogica. so apparently i'm blind too. this video just gets more and more intriguing with each viewing.

[analogica]

what a riddle...

maybe that ambient mic is 3 times far than the other two but I cant see

so clear.

If its not, is it not in face for sure???

I just want to know if that rule is as sacred as people say

[Podgorny]

Is this going to turn into yet another 3 to 1 fest?

3 to 1 has NOTHING to do with stereo micing or distance micing. It deals purely with multiple mics on discrete sources.

In this case, it is simply a spaced pair, and most-likely, the two mics are panned hard left and right. This would present the guitar to the listener with the lowest strings to one side of the stereo field, and the highest strings to the other side. Each time the guitarist strummed, the sound would move from one side to the other. This could work really well in a sparse arrangement... It could also be useless for a dense one.

From a technique standpoint, it isn't incorrect, it's just uncommon.

[francis]

one mic for the recording,
the other for the broadcast?

[gurubuzz]

It's very close to a mono recording. I hit mono on my console and there is very little stereo.

It sounds to me like the loose mic and the bleed into the vocal mic ????

I don't think those close mics are doing anything.

it might just be the DI and the loose mic but it only has very narrow width...

[T9c]

What guitar?


Doh!

Gawd, I luv that gal!

[rockstar_josh]

Just to jump off topic for a second, does anyone know if they've released DVDs of "Live at Abbey Road"? I looked on Amazon with no luck.