DSF2 MKII Owners Manual

SoundField DSF-2
User Guide
Getting Started
Page 5
MICROPHONE ORIENTATION GUIDE
The illustrations below show the correct status of the End-Fire and Invert switches on the DSF-2
controller relative to the orientation of the microphone.
KEYS TO PROPER PLACEMENT OF SOUNDFIELD MICROPHONES
Getting the mic in the right place is the first step in making a good recording. With SoundField
microphones, it is too easy to be lulled into complacency by the excellent stereo and surround
sound pick-up they provide. The temptation is to put it up, turn a few knobs, and go with it.
However, with a little more attention to detail this “good” sound will always become even better.
Be sure to set the appropriate Orientation mode (Side Fire or End Fire ) to tell the DSF-2
processor how the microphone is facing. Then, before ever opening the mic up to stereo, it is
important to listen to the microphone as a monophonic pick-up. Set the Pattern control to Omni and
the Width control to 0° and listen to the overall sound. Pay particular attention to the balance
within the sound source - i.e. the balance among the performers, the relationship of direct-to-
reverberant sound, extraneous noises, etc. If it doesn’t sound right, move the microphone around
until it does. At this point adjust the Pattern control to focus more on the sound source and less on
the surrounding environment by utilising the cardioid and figure-of-eight patterns.
Remember that the essence of SoundField microphones is based on the Mid/Side technique, where
the Mid microphone provides the basic sonic balance. Therefore, once it sounds good in mono, it
always will sound great in stereo; the converse, however, is not necessarily true. Only after you are
satisfied with the mono pick-up, should you open-up the microphone into stereo. Set the Pattern
control to the polar pick-up you think will be a good starting point and adjust the Width control for
your desired stereo image. You can adjust both controls to achieve exactly the right stereo
perspective for your recording. Pay particular attention to the direct-to-reverberant sound.
Remember that too much reverb makes a recording sound “mushy” and vague. The beauty of
SoundField microphone systems is their unequalled clarity and articulation. Don’t waste this by
including too much extraneous sound - unless, of course, that is want you want to do! Also keep
an eye on the level meters to be sure that you are not likely to overload the microphone’s
electronics.