[SOLVED] [Tascam DR-40] When to use X/Y or A/B? What do those buttons do?

[yetanotherlogin]

Hello,

I own a Tascam DR-40.

I have little experience with audio, and can't figure out…
1. When to leave the microphones folded (ie. X/Y) and when to spead them (A/B)
2. What those three buttons do

Thank you.

[Cornucopia]

It is clearly stated in the manual, on or around pg.32.

X/Y is very close to totally coincident, so stereo spread is due to pickup sensitivity changes and differences mainly in volume. Best for mono compatibility and for sharper phantom image.
A/B is wider, so stereo spread includes inter-aural time/phase differences as well as volume. Better for wider, more open soundstage, but has some freq. quirks, esp. when mixed to mono, and is a little muddier in imaging.

Scott

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks.

For others' benefit, here's what the Reference Manual* says:

"This unit’s built-in microphones can be adjusted, allowing the angles of the microphones to be changed. You can choose clear stereo sound or wide stereo sound according to the recording source, situation, etc. by opening or closing the microphone pair.

Setting the mics to record a wide stereo sound (A-B position)

Spread the stereo microphone to the left and right. (A-B position)

Set this way, the two microphones are spread widely left and right, and recording is possible with a strong stereo field that is good for music, for example. If you open or close the microphone pair while using the built-in stereo microphone and the left-right channels does not suit the angle of the microphone, a pop-up message appears to ask whether you want to swap the left-right channels of the microphone. (See “Microphone position detection” on page 34.)

Setting the mics to record a clear stereo sound (X-Y position)

Close the stereo microphone. (X-Y position)

Set this way, the microphone pair is close, and recording is possible with a clear stereo field with less phase difference. If you open or close the microphone pair while using the built-in stereo microphone and the left-right channels does not suit the angle of the microphone, a pop-up message appears to ask whether you want to swap the left-right channels of the microphone. (See “Microphone position detection” on page 34.)

3/4 [SOLO] button

When in 4-channel recording mode, press this to open a display pull-up that shows meters with the input level settings for 3/4.

Press when the 1/2 input level meter pull-up is displayed to switch to the 3/4 input level meter pull-up. Press and hold when recording or playing back in DUAL or 4CH mode to use the solo function, which switches the monitored sound to sources other than channels 1 and 2. Press and hold to solo channels 3 and 4.

1/2 [SOLO] button

Press this to open a display pull-up that shows meters with the input level settings for 1/2.

Press when the 3/4 input level meter pull-up is displayed to switch to the 1/2 input level meter pull-up. Press and hold when recording or playing back in DUAL or 4CH mode to use the solo function, which switches the monitored sound from other sources to channels 1 and 2. Press and hold to solo channels 1 and 2."


* after finding a way to remove the copy lock. Morons.