Audio Masterclass Releases 'Microphone Polar Patterns and Stereo Configurations' Multimedia Set

Audio Masterclass, with a background in audio training since 1986, has released their 'Microphone Polar Patterns and Stereo Configurations' audio and video multimedia set, recorded in London's Abbey Road Studio 2, where The Beatles made many of their famous recordings. The downloadable multimedia set demonstrates, in audio and video, microphone directivity patterns and basic stereo setups.The downloadable multimedia set consists of...

• 'Studio master' 24-bit/96 kHz .wav audio files, which can be loaded into any digital audio workstation software
• 24-bit/48 kHz .wav versions of the audio files, for those whose DAW does not support the 96 kHz sample rate
• AAC (.m4a) versions of the audio files, for those whose Internet connection is not fast enough to download the .wav files conveniently, also suitable for iPod listening
• High-resolution .mp4 videos of all of the recordings
• Medium-resolution .mp4 versions of the videos
• Photographs and microphone information sheets
• Session notes

The Polar Pattern recordings feature the Schoeps CMC 6 microphone body together with the MK 2H, MK 4, MK 41 and MK 6 capsules, demonstrating the omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid and figure-of-eight directional patterns.The recordings demonstrate each capsule's directivity pattern over a full 360 degrees, showing clearly, among other features, the null points of the cardioid, supercardioid and figure-of-eight patterns, and also the real-life performance of a typical omnidirectional mic (which is not quite omni at all frequencies!).

STEREO CONFIGURATIONS

The Stereo Configuration recordings feature the Schoeps CMC 6 microphone body with the MK 4 and MK 6 capsules, demonstrating the coincident crossed cardioid, ORTF, coincident crossed figure-of-eight and spaced cardioid basic stereo setups.The varying degrees of precision of the stereo image are captured very effectively, as are the differences in the 'sense of space' caught by these four standard stereo configurations.Once loaded into a DAW, it is also possible to investigate the mono compatibility, or lack of compatibility, of the various setups. As can be clearly heard, some configurations are much more mono-compatible than others, especially when taking different angles into account.The figure-of-eight recording also clearly demonstrates the 'no go' areas at the sides of the mics where the two channels are 180 degrees out of phase.

SUITABILITY

This multimedia set is suitable for those who want to hear clearly the differences between the omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid and figure-of-eight polar patterns, recorded in the thoroughly professional environment of Abbey Road Studio 2. Also the coincident crossed cardioid, ORTF, coincident crossed figure-of-eight and spaced cardioid basic stereo configurations, similarly recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2.

The set is particularly suitable for students, and for educators seeking good instructional material to play to their classes.

The 'Microphone Polar Patterns and Stereo Configurations' multimedia set is available now for download directly from Audio Masterclass for $27. For more information visit: http://www.audiomasterclass.com/publications/index.cfm?a=microphone-polar-patterns-and-stereo-configurations