Vocal - Guitar Separation using Figure 8 Mics

[jordieg]

Great great great technique man. Thanks for taking the time and sharing this

[homebrewedmusic]

@jordieg I've been working on some old band tracks where we used this trick, and it's still amazing to be able to separate the vocal and the instrument so well.

Fran

[jessem131]

Great video, could you recommend a pair of inexpensive mics for this technique?

[franguidry]

@jessem131 The least expensive switchable mic I know is the CAD M179. Ribbon mics are naturally figure 8 and there are many inexpensive ribbons available these days, but they require very high gain preamps and their high frequency response is rolled off so some people find them too dark.

Fran

[jessem131]

@franguidry Thanks for the quick reply. I'll probably just have to keep making do with one USB mic for the time being.

[joelonsdale]

Great - I had exactly this problem today! If only I had watched this FIRST! Oh - and if only I had two figure-8 mics...

[DuskY1991]

May I ask what exact microphones were used in this video? Thanks.

[franguidry]

@DuskY1991 I used a Rode NT2-A and a Rode NT2000.

Fran

[teeno7]

buy mark stavrou's mixing with your mind.

[franguidry]

Will he give me additional insight into achieving separation?

Fran

[teeno7]

he does mention this same method. but i would recommend reading it if you do anything with recording, and mixing. i feel like keeping the book to myself since its so good. 200% recommended read!

[ascezik]

Great vid! One question. Will the headworn mic with cardioic characteristic separate the guitar from the voice as well as figure 8 mics? Thanks!

[homebrewedmusic]

I don't have any experience with a headworn mic, but it would at least give you a fighting chance because of the greater proximity to the vocal source.

It will help if you can bend the mount so the rear of the cardioid points directly at the guitar.

Should be an interesting session.

Fran

[DuskY1991]

Can I get ok results when there's just an SDC with cardioid/hypercardioid/omni pattern and an LDC with only a cardioid polar pattern?

If so, which pattern would i use on the SDC, and how should I then position the LDC relative to the SDC?

Great video.

[homebrewedmusic]

You won't get the level of separation with anything other than bidirectional mics.

You have to experiment with your mics in your room to figure out how to use them best. Look at the polar pattern diagrams on your mics, and recognize that it is a three dimensional pattern. The use that knowledge to place the mics.

Fran

[DuskY1991]

Awesome man, thanks a lot.

[coolbassman]

Why do you set the mics to figure 8 and not just the out front baloon as you call it? Is it because the node is not at the top of the mic in that pattern?

[homebrewedmusic]

Figure 8 has a much deeper null. Cardioid pattern mics, even hypercardiods and such, pick up a lot from the side and rear. The figure 8 really picks up very little from the sides.

Fran

[coolbassman]

Thank you, didn't know that. Very good information

[DuskY1991]

Very helpful video.

I'll be trying this technique sometime.

The problem I'm facing noow is not having sufficient money to buy two microphones.

[williamfournier]

thanks so much. that was really helpful :)

[Annandaledave]

Nice job. Very imformative and clearly presented.

Thanks

[Bgharar]

thats exactly what i was looking for. many thanks

[TJazzy1]

Very informative.  Great video!

[singercg]

Learned a lot from this - THANKS!