Support microphone

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The term support microphone belongs to the sound recording technology . Support microphones are used to improve sound recordings in stereophony . Since a main microphone system is used here, the transient processes and the noise components of a sound and the impression of proximity can be emphasized by adding support microphones closer to the sound sources and at the same time the room sound (diffuse sound) can be reduced somewhat.

Sound balance - the interaction of the microphones

Adding support microphones to the loudspeaker signals leads to greater localization sharpness . The clarity of a certain sound is also increased because the signals from the support microphones run ahead of those from the main microphone system, which also reduces the spatiality or the spatial impression. In this way, a depth graduation that appears too large must also be reduced. Support microphones can improve an unbalanced sound balance between the instrument groups. Masking effects can be mitigated if z. B. a harp cannot be heard in the tutti. If the tutti is over and the harp is playing almost alone, the effect of the support microphone becomes noticeable and this mixing level has to be reduced.

Support microphones improve the localization of certain sound sources. The sound signals picked up by microphones must support with pan controls to the desired location of Hörereignisrichtung between the speakers as inter-channel - level difference can be set. Often it sound that appears with a main microphone too tight will, with left- and right-standing support microphones, so with so-called "booms" ( outriggers increased caution). Signals from support microphones can even be used to be sent alone into a reverberation device.

If you do it skillfully, you can use support microphones, for example, to make the string sound even more extensive. There are countless other use cases and "tricks" for them. Understanding the effect of support microphones and how to use support microphones and weighing up in which case and how the use of support microphones is correct is one of the constant essential exercises of the sound engineer.

If the main microphone system is not used during a recording , the support microphones are left alone. This type of recording is then called polymicrofoning , as it is exclusively common in light music.

Delayed support microphones

In addition to many other parameters that can be influenced in the mix of a sound recording, thanks to modern digital technology there is also the option of delaying the support microphone signals by delaying the run time on the (digital) mixer so that the run time differences between the support and main microphone are eliminated be balanced. The aural benefit of this measure as well as the exact amount of the delay necessary are partly controversial among experts. If the main microphone does not have a high level component, the delaying of support microphone signals has no effect.

Microphones in the PA system

Microphones that are used to amplify sound during public addressing are not support microphones. There is also no main microphone . Even if the microphone structure looks similar, especially with poly- microphone use, a distinction must be made between sound recording and sound reinforcement. With the sound reinforcement one goes very close to the sound source in order to avoid feedback whistling. The "correct" sound is dispensed with, which is not available in such close proximity.

literature

  • Thomas Görne: Microphones in theory and practice. 8th edition. Elektor-Verlag, Aachen 2007, ISBN 978-3-89576-189-8 .
  • Norbert Pawera: Microphone Practice . 4th edition. Franzis Verlag, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-932275-54-3 .
  • Michael Dickreiter: Handbook of the recording studio technology. 6th edition. KG Saur Verlag, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-598-11320-X .

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