m/s technique (mid-side)

[xiandishinger]

im interested in trying mid/side technique stereo recording now that i have a ribbon mic (figure 8) and a cardiod. (obviously the cardiod is panned up the middle) i read one method that involved taking the direct out of one channel (on console) and putting it into another channel (line in), flipping the phase of the 2nd channel and adjusting the two channels until they CANCEL each other out. then pan them hard left and right but ONLY adjust the first channel not the 2nd channel. is this correct?
I was wondering about using a mic splitter box and simply flipping the phase of one channel instead of using the "direct out" method. in this case can i adjust both channels or do i still need to pan hard and "cancel them out"?
what is the best way to do m/s ???

[DirkB]

The canceling out is just to make sure both in and out of phase signals (which are panned hard L/R) have the same volume.

A splitter box works just fine. Pull up the cardioid signal and then fade in the L/R figure of 8 signals and be amazed .

Greetings,
Dirk