RME HDSPe MADI FX [71/87] Ms processing

User's Guide HDSPe MADI FX © RME

Recording a Software's playback

In real world application, recording a software's output with another software will show the fol-

lowing problem: The record software tries to open the same playback channel as the playback

software (already active), or the playback one has already opened the input channel which

should be used by the record software.

This problem can easily be solved. First make sure that all rules for proper multi-client operation

are met (not using the same record/playback channels in both programs). Then route the play-

back signal via TotalMix to a hardware output in the range of the record software, and activate

Loopback for recording.

Mixing several input signals into one record channel

In some cases it is useful to record several sources into only one track. For example when us-

ing two microphones recording instruments and loudspeakers, TotalMix' Loopback mode saves

an external mixing desk. Simply route/mix the input signals to the same output (third row), then

redefine this output into a record channel via Loopback. This way any number of input channels

from different sources can be recorded into one single track.

27.6 MS Processing

The mid/side principle is a special positioning technique for

microphones, which results in a mid signal on one channel and

a side signal on the other channel. This information can be

transformed back into a stereo signal quite easily. The process

sends the monaural mid channel to left and right, the side

channel too, but phase inverted (180°) to the right channel. For

a better understanding: the mid channel represents the function

L+R, while the side channel represents L-R.

During record the monitoring needs to be done in 'conventional' stereo. Therefore TotalMix also

offers the functionality of a M/S-decoder. Activation is done in the Settings panel of the Hard-

ware Input and Software Playback channels via the MS Proc button.

The M/S-Processing automatically operates as M/S encoder or decoder, depending on the

source signal format. When processing a usual stereo signal, all monaural information will be

shifted into the left channel, all stereo information into the right channel. Thus the stereo signal

is M/S encoded. This yields some interesting insights into the mono/stereo contents of modern

music productions. Additionally some very interesting methods of manipulating the stereo base

and generating stereo effects come up, as it is then very easy to process the side channel with

Low Cut, Expander, Compressor or Delay.

The most basic application is the manipulation of the stereo width: a change of the level of the

side channel allows to manipulate the stereo width from mono to stereo up to extended.