Double M-S surround

[SMuir]

Has anyone had any experience recording "double M-S" surround? My understanding is that the technique involves adding a rear-facing cardioid mic to a standard (front-facing) M-S pair, thereby creating a second M-S matrixed stereo image for the rear channels. From the sounds of it, it should give a phase-coherent 5.0-channel surround image (when de-coded in post) while only requiring 3 tracks during production.

Here's the application I'm concerned with: a live outdoor folk concert which will be the keystone of an upcoming broadcast documentary on which I'm working. The producer and director are both eager to deliver a surround mix, and there's nothing I'd like better than to accomodate them. However, the budget is a bit tight, and I'm trying to avoid costly surround arrays. Since I already have an M-S kit (Sennheiser MKH416/MKH30), it would be nice if I only had to rent an MKH50 on top of the various instrument and amp mics. That, and a 3-channel surround matrix, as opposed to a quad-surround setup, would leave me with one more track to work with on the multitrack recorder.

 

[wabbit]

I have heard of it before but never actually considered trying. Definately would be interesting. You should try posting on RAMPS. I am sure someone in there has done it or is familiar with it.

Be sure to keep us updated if you go through with it.

Cheers

 

[ullanta]

I'm not a big fan of coincident surround techniques... I've used a double-MS with compete MS setups spaced 10' apart or so, bit even still would've preferred separating the rear mics. I'd say give it a shot, but coincident surround just doesn't have the spaciousness and realism of spaced mics...