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Old 08-12-2017, 02:39 PM   #1
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Default Do microphones understand panning?

Do microphones understand where a sound is coming from (panning)? or is it just a volume decrease/increase depending on the distance from the mic?
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Old 08-12-2017, 03:00 PM   #2
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Do microphones understand where a sound is coming from (panning)? or is it just a volume decrease/increase depending on the distance from the mic?

Basics:
https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/mic...olar-patterns/
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Old 08-12-2017, 07:43 PM   #3
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Microphones are almost always mono. In fact, I've never actually heard of a stereo mic (it probably exists as a two-in-one type thing), but there are techniques for using two mics for recording in stereo though, such as the "mid-side" configuration.
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Old 08-12-2017, 09:44 PM   #4
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It takes (at least) two mics to record in stereo. Usually directional mics are used.

The most common approaches are:

Two mics located at the center with one pointed toward the right side of the stage and the other pointed toward the left. That's called an X-Y coincident pair recording. There are stereo mics built this way (with two connections) and lots of portable solid state recorders (with built-in mics) are made this way.

The other popular technique is a spaced-pair, with one mic recording the left-side of the stage and another recording the right side.

With a spaced-pair the volume from the opposite side is reduced, plus there is a delay in sounds from the far-side which enhances the perception of direction (Haas effect). But, the time delay can also cause "phase issues".

There are other methods, but they all involve at least two mics (or a mic with two mic-elements built-in). The mid-side technique uses at least one figure-8 mic and another cardioid or figure-8.

But of course, most studio recording is done mono and the sound is panned during mixing. (Big-name 'live' recordings are usually made the same way... Multi-tracked with many mono-tracks, all panned in post-production.)

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Old 08-13-2017, 01:14 AM   #5
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Microphones do not have the intelligence required to understand anything.

And as you must realise moving a source around a "stereo" field does not involve any change of distance from a normal mono microphone. 50ft away hard left, 50ft away hard right...same distance, same volume.

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Old 08-13-2017, 03:12 AM   #6
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Microphones are almost always mono. In fact, I've never actually heard of a stereo mic (it probably exists as a two-in-one type thing), but there are techniques for using two mics for recording in stereo though, such as the "mid-side" configuration.
I have a single point stereo microphone. It's an old Sony Electret Condenser.
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Old 08-13-2017, 03:22 AM   #7
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I have a single point stereo microphone. It's an old Sony Electret Condenser.
It still has two capsules in it.
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Old 08-13-2017, 03:47 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by foxAsteria View Post
Microphones are almost always mono. In fact, I've never actually heard of a stereo mic (it probably exists as a two-in-one type thing)
MXL V67Q - I love it actually. It's 2 elements in an X/Y but dang handy.
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Old 08-13-2017, 03:48 AM   #9
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Microphones do not have the intelligence required to understand anything.
Mine's pretty damn smart, it can understand English as well as all other languages.
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Old 08-13-2017, 03:50 AM   #10
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Quote:
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It still has two capsules in it.
Of course, how else would it work?


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Mine's pretty damn smart, it can understand English as well as all other languages.
That's a translator, not a transducer.

We don't want intelligent microphones. The last thing we need is for the mic to criticize the performance!
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Old 08-13-2017, 04:33 AM   #11
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Of course, how else would it work?
Exactly. It's still 2 microphones, just in one unit.
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Old 08-13-2017, 11:58 AM   #12
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Mine's pretty damn smart, it can understand English as well as all other languages.
Hehe...
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Old 08-13-2017, 10:23 PM   #13
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"You spittle on my grill one more time Miss Miss-a-pitch, and I will phantom power your lips so much you'll be twalwkingegwuaike jwar jwar bwinks iwnawh pwodwacah."
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