Help Using External Microphone

[steve]

It will probably work with other portable recorders, including some modern digital cameras and video cameras, as well as Sony products (though it would be best to check the specifications carefully before doing so). I would agree with Koz that it is unlikely to work properly plugged directly into a computer.

[george13]

Interestingly, it says that this sony microphone is MS-Stereo (1 channel is the sum L+R, the other channel the difference L-R), so you'd need a MS-to-Stereo-plugin to process your recordings. Hmm, but that's possibly done inside the microphone?

[whomper]

no
not done in mike (that i have ever seen) usually two mikes but you may have two capsules in one case.

you get two channels that need to be processed to get correct stereo
simple additions and subtractions to end up with 2L and 2R

You send the mid and side mic signals into a matrix box. Here's what it does:
The matrix is a sum and difference network. It includes an M/S ratio knob. (you can use audacity for this see below)

Mid + Side = left signal. Mid - Side = right signal. So the output of the matrix is regular left-right stereo. MS simulates a coincident pair of supercardioid mics with a variable angle between them to control the stereo spread.

To change the spread during the recording, connect the stereo-mic outputs to the matrix box and connect the matrix-box L–R output to the recorder. Use the stereo-spread control (M/S ratio) in the matrix box to adjust the stereo spread.

To alter the spread after the recording using a matrix box: Record the mid signal on one track and the side signal on another track. Monitor the output of the recorder with a matrix box. Back in the studio, run the mid and side tracks through the matrix box, adjust the stereo spread as desired, and record the left and right outputs.

To alter the spread after the recording using a DAW:

1. Record the mid mic on track 1; record the side mic on track 2.
2. Copy or clone track 2 to track 3. Be sure the waveforms are aligned.
3. Pan track 2 hard left; pan track 3 hard right.
4. Reverse the polarity of track 3 or use an “invert polarity” plug-in.
5. Group tracks 2 and 3 so their faders move together.
6. To change the stereo spread, vary the levels of tracks 2 and 3 relative to track 1.

[kozikowski]

If they put the sum of the two capsules on the tip of the connector, then it would work if you plugged into the Mic-In of a Windows PC, including the laptops.

However, you don't have a Windows PC. Macs do not directly support external microphones. The two connectors on the side of your MacBook are headphone out (can sub for Line-Out) and High Level, Stereo Line-In.

The easiest way out of this is one of the fine USB microphones out there, or the Macs own built-in microphone in a pinch.

Koz

[steve]

no
not done in mike (that i have ever seen) usually two mikes but you may have two capsules in one case.

you get two channels that need to be processed to get correct stereo

Unless you have some technical information regarding THIS microphone that the rest of us are unaware of, then your post is a waste of everyone's time.
Please check that your information is accurate before posting. If you are quoting from technical information about this microphone, please give references.

On the web page it clearly states:

Mid/Side (MS) switch

selects pickup angle between left and right channel; choose 90° for a single voice or instrument or 120° to pick up many voices and instruments, arranged across the stage

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... lImage1%22

In other words, M/S to L/R stereo is done inside the microphone.

[whomper]

maybe it is
maybe it isnt
but not because of what you showed --
that only changes the angle of the mikes like nos and ortf --
which is NOT mid-side stereo as every mike book and web source describes mid-side

mid-side requires a figure 8 perpendicular to a front facing mike. any angling changes the recording drastically and is not mid-side, but rather spaced pair with center fill.

and the link you listed implies that is is NOT a mid-side mike.
it is an ordinarly plain old stereo mike with two capsules in one cage that switches angles ala nos and ortf methods not using channel combination as mid-side requires.

mid-side *is* distinct miking technique from other stereo miking approaches and normally takes two mikes. now an all in one unit like the euro zoom h2 which has mid-side might provide the proper stereo out. cant find the euro manual to confirm.

[steve]

This is not a discussion about microphone technique. It is a question from purrkofiev about using his "ECM-MS957 one-point stereo microphone".

To end this diversion briefly, the Sony web site, the microphone specifications and the microphone user manual all say that this microphone is of the type : "Mid-Side Stereo; Electret Condenser Microphone". In the absence of credible information to the contrary it is most likely that it is what it says it is. The Zoom H2 uses four microphone capsules which are electronically configured within the microphone to produce a variety of pick-up patterns. I have a Zoom H2 and can confirm that this is correct.

[purrkofiev]

Thank you very much for your help!! I really appreciate it. I'm going to get a USB microphone; it seems to be the easiest solution.

[kozikowski]

Do a search here before you write the check. Someone may have had experiences with that microphone. One problem with USB microphones right at the top of the list is distance. You can't ever get more than one USB cable away from the computer which works out to about 3 meters / 10 feet.

Also, we can probably tell you more about it than you ever thought possible including whether or not it's applicable to your performance.

Which is what?

Koz

[whomper]

This is not a discussion about microphone technique. It is a question from purrkofiev about using his "ECM-MS957 one-point stereo microphone".

To end this diversion briefly, the Sony web site, the microphone specifications and the microphone user manual all say that this microphone is of the type : "Mid-Side Stereo; Electret Condenser Microphone". In the absence of credible information to the contrary it is most likely that it is what it says it is. The Zoom H2 uses four microphone capsules which are electronically configured within the microphone to produce a variety of pick-up patterns. I have a Zoom H2 and can confirm that this is correct.

i took the poster at his word when he said he had a mid-side and explained how he could get stereo from that.

the sony site says that it is a stereo mike that implies that it is not midside when they discuss angles of the mikes. i did not see them say midside in the specs, but their site is hard to use and maybe the sales force claimed that erroneously.

the USA zoom h2 is as you say which is a type of nos/ortf on the front/back. the euro version uses a true mid-side.

mid side uses one figure 8 that is perpendicular to a single mike aimed at the sound source.

any miking that is at an angle is not mid-side.

two figure 8s that are angled are a blumlein pair.

since the sony site discusses the angles of the mikes they are not using mid-side as the rest of the world uses the term if they claimed midside.