MASK the other side of ribbon mic to reject other side?

[SoundWeavers]

I've been trying ribbon mics (Royer 121)on snares lately and I truly dig their sound - the wood sound of the snare is there and the crack is smooth already - lots of color! real snare drum sound with BODY and tone!

PROBLEM. Due to it's figure of 8 pattern, I'm also getting the hi hats at the same volume level. I haven't tried this idea yet but just thinking out loud here what if..

I masked the side not pointing to the snare with tape so that the mic will be one sided only. Has anyone tried this? Heck, I promise I'll give it a try one of these days, but JIC anyone has tried it before - ya know - speak out... haha

[Akoppenheffer]

It may work, but if it acts like a cardioid mic by any chance, it might make it like an Omni pattern. Like when you cover the rear phase delay ports of say, an SM57, the pattern will take on more of an omni pattern. Now I'm not sure if a figure 8 pattern will repsond the same way. Maybe somebody else can give you a better answer. If I was doing it, I'd put a piece of foam behind it, to isolate it a little. Good luck, let us know what you figure out.

[SoundWeavers]

is this a stupid idea?

some pics of the Royer 121 on snare drum.

[castle]

Originally Posted by SoundWeavers

PROBLEM. Due to it's figure of 8 pattern, I'm also getting the hi hats at the same volume level.

Use the fig8 pattern as your friend... simply point the mics null point at the hats and they'll disappear.

[PRobb]

Originally Posted by castle

Use the fig8 pattern as your friend... simply point the mics null point at the hats and they'll disappear.

True. Nothing is as dead as he side of a figure 8.