M-S with an Omni?

[leddy]

Originally Posted by Marik

It is just a simple mathematical summing/subtraction of different patterns.

Omni MS = coincident cardioids at 180 degrees. That is not binaural.

Even in quasi-binaural mics like a sphere or the Crown SASS, the mics are not coincident, and there is a baffle between them. They sound nothing like omni MS.

[Richard Black]

I've used a single omni and a _pair_ of fig-8s for MS. Omni plus M fig-8 gives a forward-facing cardioid, which you can then MS with the S fig-8 to give good, nicely compatible, XY coincident stereo.

[dseetoo]

Over the years, I developed another way to use an omni mic to compliment MS technique, which is to use it as a bass supplement. Any directional microphones by design has no real bass, the figure 8 is the worst in this regard. So having an omni mic placed together with the mid mic and roll off its high frequency starting at where the mid mic you use bass starting to roll off. (Similar idea as adding a supplementary subwoofer to a decent audio system) Of course, you would need to either use a mixer with appropriate EQ function (hard to come by, because what you really need is a crossover) at the recording session or use a third track so you can mix it at the post. The nice thing about this approach is that the real low bass you get is completely in phase, just like the mid mic, completely mono compatible.

Give a try when you get around to it.


Best regards,

Da-Hong Seetoo