location stereo mic

[mylesgm]

I've got a Fostex FR2-LE and I need a decent (read excellent because it'll actually be for me) stereo location mic for both basic location recording as well as high quality music/sfx/documentation recording. Preferably that I can fit in an easily cartable blimp with stand. I know others have done this before but I can't stretch to the schoeps models as it'll be coming from my pocket but I do want something better than the crappy 'pre polarised electret dual capsule' models from AT or similar. Any possibilities, previous experience or anybody have a something sitting about they want to sell me?

[Chinagraf]

I know people will scoff, but the Rodes nt4 is a pretty good xy mic. It aint a Schoeps, but it is the best thing that company makes imho. Does the Fostex have 48V?

[mylesgm]

Fostex has 48v, independant channel gain etc. If I had my option again I'd buy one of the four channel hobbies that are floating about these days for basic multi tracking. I haven't used the NT4 but does it really pass muster sonically?

[wez]

would the budget stretch to a Neumann RSM 190? probably don't come up used that often i guess. anyway, best stereo mic i've ever heard by a long way.

AKG C34 is pretty nice too.

[Drumstruck]

I know people will scoff, but the Rodes nt4 is a pretty good xy mic. It aint a Schoeps, but it is the best thing that company makes imho. Does the Fostex have 48V?

howdy

I've overdubbed a few drum tracks for some live jazz piano that was recorded with an NT4 and was quite impressed with the piano sound for a single distant mic (about 4m away).

If you're not averse to Rode the NT5 (a matched pair) have an optional suspension mount for XY orientation.

[mylesgm]

Any other opinions?

[DwaneHollands]

Hey Myles,

This is a mic that Im considering for documentary work and interviews. The examples are pretty amazing. Inde film makers dream, but might be a bit inflexible forwhat you are after. (built in binaural pyscho-accoustic processing)

http://www.3dmicpro.com/

[Hookemeister]

http://www.3dmicpro.com/

Need to be careful... check for mono compatibility and phasing issues.

You'll find that most things designed to be listened to on headphones usually don't sound as good on speakers.

I've been down this path with the dummy head mics, holophonic mics and various box's that claim to optimise the response for listening on headphones.

I've got a Sennheiser Dummy Head Binaural Mic system that is sensational when you listen back on a pair open ear Sennheiser headphones like the old HD414's and 424's... it's like being there... but take that same recording and listen to it thru the control room monitors and it's not the same... loses all it's width, punch and any centre image loses its definition.

Another problem is if it's using any kind phase augmentation then you need to check it on a dolby surround decoder as you might find things moving into the rear speakers. This becomes a problem on tv's with a pseudo surround function for the built in stereo speakers. Everything is fine when you're sitting dead centre to the tv, but lean to the left or right and you'll start to hear information coming from out really wide... like the other side of the room!

Interesting story:
Decades ago I installed one of the first surround systems to go into a production control room and the studio owner was very impressed until we pulled out some library music that was recorded with a drum machine. The stereo toms had been put thru some fx device which messed with the phase of the signal and the dolby decoder decided it was surround information and so directed it to the rear speakers. Any time the toms were hit they came out the rear speakers... very bizarre.

There were a few cheap fx units back in 80's that achieved a stereo output from a mono effect by splitting the signal and running one side thru an inverting opamp. This put one side out of phase creating a nice wide stereo spread, which was fine for live performance but in the studio if you happened to hit the mono button the effect disappeared. I'm sure Rick could chime in with a stories of his own concerning this.

So back to the point... check mono compatibility and run it thru a plugin that will display phase before you decide to use it for any serious recording.

Hope this helps

[DwaneHollands]

hey Greg! Thanks for the heads up. Yeah that could get messy! Ill need to check that out a bit closer!

people still have 4:3 tvs with mono, so its important!