Owners Manual

MS – Mid side

The Mid side technique makes use of two microphones, with one figure-8 and a second mic either cardidod or omni , or

two figure-8 pick patterns. The first microphone (the mid), either figure-8, omni or cardioid microphone, is positioned

facing directly at the sound source. The second microphone (the side), with a figure-8 pattern, is positioned on the

same axis directly above or below the first, but with the capsules positioned at a 90-degree angle from the front. The

outputs of the two microphones are often connected to a special MS matrix mixer, which combines the mid signal with

the signal of the side microphone, both in phase and out of phase. The matrix mixer’s ratio control now used to set the

balance between the mid mic and the combined signal of the side mics to adjust the width of the stereo spread. You can

also connect the two microphones outputs to two inputs of a stereo mixer, let’s say channel one and two. Next, split the

side signal into a third channel set to reverse phase. Pan channels two and three hard left and hard right respectively.

Channels two and three should be at equal level and always adjusted the same amount as if they were grouped together.

Now use the balance between channel one and the grouped channels two and three to adjust the width stereo spread.

If you want to create the Mid-side stereo effect after you’ve recorded into your DAW, record the mid mic on track one,

and the side mic on track two. Then, copy track two to track three, be sure they are aligned perfectly and then reverse

the phase on track three. Now group tracks two and three together so they move with one fader. Then pan channel two

hard left and channel three hard right. At this point you can adjust the width of the stereo image by change the balance

between track one and the group channels two and three.

Applications Guide