What are some good ways to create space with mic'ing?
Can you place instruments in specific places in the mix (up-down, side-to-side, near-far) with just mic'ing?
Full Version: creating space
I take three approaches when it comes to creating space.
The first approach comes to listening to the source in the room and making my mic placement according to what my ear likes.
The second approach is using delay and reverb on tracks.
The third approach is the use of panning in the mix.
Your mic placements need to be varied as to their distance from sources. I think it might have been Lynn Fuston who remarked about six inch syndrome where everything sounds like it was mic'ed six inches from the source. In essence, there's no good way to make a mix work when someone does something that stupid.
One thing we always do when using multiple mics on a source is to put everything down to one speaker to check phase. It really sucks when you get down to mixing and discovery phase issues.
One cool thing about creating space in recording is to use a Soundfield mic system or other ambisonic microphone. These are very, very cool. I've seen them in action. It's probably the only high end toy that I want that I do not have at present.
The first approach comes to listening to the source in the room and making my mic placement according to what my ear likes.
The second approach is using delay and reverb on tracks.
The third approach is the use of panning in the mix.
Your mic placements need to be varied as to their distance from sources. I think it might have been Lynn Fuston who remarked about six inch syndrome where everything sounds like it was mic'ed six inches from the source. In essence, there's no good way to make a mix work when someone does something that stupid.
One thing we always do when using multiple mics on a source is to put everything down to one speaker to check phase. It really sucks when you get down to mixing and discovery phase issues.
One cool thing about creating space in recording is to use a Soundfield mic system or other ambisonic microphone. These are very, very cool. I've seen them in action. It's probably the only high end toy that I want that I do not have at present.
The six-inch problem goes not only to the depth of the mix, but also the fact that it isn't an optimal distance for every mic for every source. Different sources resolve at different spatial distances, and different mics respond differently at different distances. Part of why I like having a lot of good mics handy rather than just one "great" mic.
Up and down in the mix -- god help me, that's one I haven't figured out yet. Forward and backward, side to side, that's doable like Ozraves said. If up and down can be implied, I might guess the type of early reflections or the frequency response of the ambiance. Implying hard surfaces or soft might do something to imply reflections off the floor vs. the ceiling.
Bear
Up and down in the mix -- god help me, that's one I haven't figured out yet. Forward and backward, side to side, that's doable like Ozraves said. If up and down can be implied, I might guess the type of early reflections or the frequency response of the ambiance. Implying hard surfaces or soft might do something to imply reflections off the floor vs. the ceiling.
Bear
I learned from some mixing tutorial years ago and have have great success using eq to put things fore and aft in a mix. as things get farther away the hing tend to drop alot and the lows a little (witch shouldn't be the case,... well it doe's take more power to drive a low frequency) any way I make subtle cuts to the highs and very subtle to the lows and really like the results. ( so do other people)
QUOTE(jashwa @ May 19, 2008, 12:34 pm) 
What are some good ways to create space with mic'ing?
For starters, don't feel you need to record everything in stereo.Mic that acoustic in mono for eg.
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