M-S stereo miking, surround?

[rameau]

Now that MS stereo can be decoded in editing software (as opposed to the previously required matrix box) I wonder if more people out there are using it more and have any advise or experience with it? I find it exceptionally useful for recording in a quiet ambient room (concert hall, church) where it is desirable to obtain natural room reverb in the mix. Just the fact that room ambience can be changed and tweaked AFTER the recording offers a whole new mind-blowing set of possibilities (ie: eq's and other dsp can be applied seperately to the "room" and/or to the "subject" or sound source). My recent application involves recording solo classical guitar in a concert hall using 2 multi-pattern Neumann u89i's (one set to cardioid and one figure 8). My big question is, can MS stereo recording be mixed in surround? Anyone know about this?

[Nika]

M/S is a great mic technique, especially to help reduce the effects of movement that can often be obvious when using non-coincident pairs and still getting a wide stereo image.

It can certainly be used in surround by adding a pair of mics for the rear and "phantoming" the center. As of yet, surround micing techniques are rather young and nothing has been formalized or made official yet. It will only be through a lot of experimentation, much like we went through in the 1950's and 60's with the first stereo recordings, that we will find specific techniques that are preferred for various reasons. Until then, experiment away, just like everyone else is doing.


Cheers!
Nika.