stereo mic recording

[claudemeyer]

I have a pair of RODE NT5 to record my acoustic guitar. Inside DP, is it better to use 2 mono tracks or one stereo track ?

[Shooshie]

If you have the two mics acting as a stereo pair, then record them as a stereo track.
If you have them separated, taking in different perspectives on the sound, such as one close up and one picking up the reverb of a hall, then record them as two mono tracks.

Shooshie

[buzzsmith]

I love recording acoustic with 2 mics, especially when I know that the acoustic is not going to be stacked (like in a country or pop session).

You probably don't need this, but here 'tis, anyway...

http://www.humbuckermusic.com/acguitrectec.html

I've been using the X-Y technique.

Buzzy

(I also agree with Shooshie on the mono-stereo track question.)

[Don T]

Oh I dunno, I like the mid-side if there are vocals involved, the room is cool and I want control over the image. Of course it means either 3 tracks or routing tom-foolery during the mix.

[Shooshie]

Mid-Side works with just a stereo track (for a figure-8 mic pattern) and a mono track, and the MS decoder plugin. It really is a great technique for giving you control over the stereo image while avoiding phase issues.

[Don T]

Shooshie,
That's funny, as many times as I have used the MS decoder plugin to decode a stereo track, I have never used it to encode one.
Ain't it funny how our brains work.

Thanks, I'll try it out asap.

[Phil O]

...Inside DP, is it better to use 2 mono tracks or one stereo track ?

You can do just about anything you need to do with either technique, so for the most part it's a matter of personal preference. I usually use two mono tracks and group the faders. This makes it easier to accomplish creative panning, but like I said, it's personal preference.

Phil

[Don T]

Hello,
For me it depends on which DAW I am using. In PT I always use 2 mono channels because of the panning law used.

Don T

[Shooshie]

Shooshie,
That's funny, as many times as I have used the MS decoder plugin to decode a stereo track, I have never used it to encode one.
Ain't it funny how our brains work.

Thanks, I'll try it out asap.

I must have implied something other than I was thinking. Of course you use the MS decoder to decode, not to encode. But I was just remarking that it only requires two tracks, not three, to record MS. Technically, it's three channels, though.

Sorry to have given you the wrong impression. Record your tracks as always; then use the MS to decode it.

Shoosh

[HCMarkus]

I use a stereo track and insert a Trim plug to handle panning and channel balance.