User guide

Percussion

The SF-24 records percussion instruments naturally, without upper frequency hype or low-end

boominess. Congas, bongos and the like can be recorded with left/right stereo effect by

positioning the mic within a few feet of the instruments. Shakers, bells, triangles and other

instruments that are often problematic in the upper frequencies will record naturally and non-

abrasively.

Vocal with Acoustic Guitar

For recording a vocal with acoustic guitar, two separate mono

tracks are required with little leakage between the tracks. One stand

and one SF-24 can do the job nicely when the two axes of

sensitivity are correctly oriented (see illustration).

Note:

The SF-24 is not recommended for close-miking loud ampliﬁed

instruments. Its sensitive ribbon elements were not designed for

extremely high SPL applications like close-miked electric guitar.

For close-miking high SPL sound sources, ruggedness is a must

and we recommend using our R-121 or R-122 ribbon microphones.

Specialized Stereo Recording Techniques

Classic Blumlein Technique

For many years, “coincident” microphone setups have been widely used for picking up sounds in

stereo as naturally as possible. The “Blumlein” technique, named for A.D. Blumlein, involves the

use of two ﬁgure-eight microphones positioned as in

the sketch (see Figure 1); so that one faces left and

the other faces right, at an angle of 90 degrees (i.e.,

each displaced 45 degrees from center).

Each microphone ultimately feeds one speaker in a

stereo system, and due to the directionality of the

microphones, the result is a very well deﬁned stereo

image on playback. For classical music, particularly,

the reproduction can be very satisfying.

The SF-24 stereo microphone is two identical ribbon

microphones in just this Blumlein orientation: if the

microphone is placed in front of the performance,

with the Royer logo facing the center of the ensemble

to be recorded, the microphone will give a stereo

recording as per the Blumlein technique. Because of

the togetherness of the SF-24’s ribbon transducers,

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Figure 1