fig 8 mic question?

[PlugHead]

I did a search - yielded nothing specific. Since I don't own an M160 (which would probably solve this issue), I got to thinking...

For those situations where you do NOT want the back of the fig 8 pattern to catch the audio (poor room/bleed/etc.)...

Has anyone tried blocking one side (rear) of a fig 8 pattern to null audio capture?

If so:

1) can this be done simply by close baffling the rear side of the capsule?

2) if so, will the resultant 'altered' capture potentially ruin the sonics?

bringing me to the last question:

3) if not, and it's a poor idea - what about trying it in M/S style, and 'mute' the (duplicated/phase rev.) rear channel?

Can this achieve what I'm looking for? I suspect not, as it is merely a duplicate image of itself, phase reversed, thereby not eliminating the rear (back) pickup, just presenting it as a 'summed' (front/rear) signal - is this correct?

I'd like to experiment, but almost NEVER get the time on a client's dime, and this concept has been brewing as I don't have many hyper-card mics, but do have a host of fig.8 ones, and looking to solve some tracking issues when in 'bad' rooms...

thx for any help!

[muziekschuur]

Bad room = walk away.

Around the next corner is another room....
That's the easy part in walking away.

[boojum]

For those instances when you cannot walk away, I have seen posted here a pro who used a baffled figure 8 for that purpose. He just jury-rigger an absorbent material on the backside of the mic and recorded with it that way. It was in a jazz session a few years ago but I do not remember any more. Maybe a search would help.

Cheers

[PlugHead]

Thanks for that boojum.

I did do a search - with zero results (except for 1000 threads including key words 'figure' '8' 'baffle' etc.

As for walking away - if you have access to incredible spaces, then count yourself lucky. Quite often I'm having to work within limitations beyond my 'control' - that is where I wish more 'control' with being able to proverbially 'sew a silk purse from a sow's ear' or so to speak.

Anyone else have direct experience?

I'm going to experiment with the baffle idea once I have a situation where I'm not looking at the clock nor expected immediate results from clients...

[pkautzsch]

You need to search for Steve Remote's Virtual Gobo technique.

A (smallish) baffle won't reject bass and low mids. In a bad room, the problem is mostly bass and low mids.

[7rojo7]

An obstruction directly behind a fig8 makes it an omni, cut a slot in the obstruction and it's cardioid.
Put your imagination to work and you can find other patterns
Parabola with a fig 8 pointed sideway (object in the null) great bass, ugly mic

[Yannick]

strange ...

Elegant solutions for baffling of figure eights

[PlugHead]

Nice - thx for the link Yannick!

How did it work for you WRT isolation and bleed (esp. low freq.)?

The verdict seems to be saying that directly baffling the rear of the (fig 8) mic can produce poor results and alter the pattern adversely.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm going to try some experiments with this when I have the time and focus to evaluate fairly.

best,

[Yannick]

I wouldn't get too close to the mic.
There is also the concern of reflections (of the source you do want to record) on the baffle into the backside, giving severe coloration.

But, concerning coloration of what does get into the back, listening is the key.
And have a close look at the frequency response at 180° of a good cardioid mic. Sometimes it is difficult to create something worse ...