Mid Side recording question

[Dave S.]

Hello,

I’m using a stereo mic for Mid Side recording and instead of duplicating the side signal to separate tracks after recording I’m trying to set up a stereo audio track with the same side signal input coming in on both channels and using a multi mono trim plug-in to flip the phase on one side. I know I can take the side signal track, duplicate it, and then put those on a stereo track but I’m just trying to save a couple steps.

I’ve set up a stereo input in the IO and put both of the mono sub paths on the same channel but when I use that as the input source on the side signal recording track it’s still capturing separate mid and side signals instead of capturing the side signal twice.

Am I doing something wrong or is it just not possible to set up that kind of Midside “decoder” with PT stereo tracks?

[Top Jimmy]

How exactly are you using a stereo mic to record mid/side? The typical mid/side combo is a cardioid and a figure 8.


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[Dave S.]

Originally Posted by Top Jimmy

How exactly are you using a stereo mic to record mid/side? The typical mid/side combo is a cardioid and a figure 8.


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Hey Jimmy,

I’m using an AEA R88. There’s a section in their manual that describes how to use it for MS, I can post the description if anyone’s interested, but I’m really just wondering if there’s a way to send 1 one of the channels (the side) to both sides of a stereo track in PT.

In other words, not even thinking about Midside recording, if I was just using a single mic to capture a source could I send that to a stereo track in ProTools with identical inputs for both? Instead of just having to duplicate mono track with the same input.

[Top Jimmy]

Why don’t you send the side to a mono track and put a mono/stereo plugin in the first slot.


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[Dave S.]

Originally Posted by Top Jimmy

Why don’t you send the side to a mono track and put a mono/stereo plugin in the first slot.


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Because I wanted to see if I can do it with PT’s built in functions instead of having to get a MS decoder plug-in.

[Top Jimmy]

That is using Pro Tools’ built-in function, and I didn’t say you had to use a mid/side plugin.


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[JFreak]

Here. Read and understand.

[Crank]

If I'm not using a 3rd party MS decoder plugin I record the fig 8 mic onto two mono audio tracks with the same input. 1st fig 8 audio track is panned left, the 2nd is panned right with a reverse Ø plugin on. Group the two faders as your "S" of "MS".

[smurfyou]

I think PT needs both legs of a stereo bus for the input of a stereo track. Not sure you can trick it with subpaths assignment.

BUT easy way to do this is to mult your signal by bringing your mic input into a mono aux first. Make the output that stereo bus you made BUT not the main bus, use the subpaths so it's still a mono out with no pan loss. CTRL-Click on the output section to assign both mono subpaths.

At least I think this would work, never tried it. I just use an M/S plugin,

[Dave S.]

Hey Top Jimmy,

Your replies come across as combative and short. I wasn’t trying to tell you to go read the manual for the R88, so sorry if it came across that way, I meant that I could post that info if it helped since you asked how “exactly” what I was using.

JFreak, I’m not sure what your reply is intended to do, it comes across the wrong way too. I know how to set up MS in ProTools for what I’m doing. All I was asking is if there is a way to do it with less steps using a stereo audio track instead of duplicating the mono side track and flipping the phase on one of them.

Thank you smurfyou and Crank for helpful replies.

I tried the sub paths assignment, putting them both on the same side, but it didn’t do the trick. No worries, it’s like one extra step, so I’ll do it the old-fashioned way or maybe try an MS plug-in to see if it’s quicker.