I used the TetraMic to record speech walk-arounds, acoustic guitar in a live room, and an old-time string band with the mic in the center of the group.
The TetraMic fed a PreSonus Firepod audio interface and a computer running Reaper DAW software. I had tried the software with Cakewalk Sonar Producer, but they were not compatible.
Overall, the sound quality of the TetraMic was excellent. Image focus and placement sounded natural. Localization was precise, yet with plenty of ambient detail.
I heard clean, clear sound, plenty of low end and depth, and no audible distortion. Movement of images across the stereo stage was very smooth.
When used outdoors with a windscreen, the mic picked up little or no wind noise.
The string band recording sounded natural but a little lacking in upper-midrange presence compared to a typical close-miked commercial recording. It was hard to hear the guitar strings being strummed.
The response curves do show a small dip in that range. However, it was easy to get a brighter sound with equalization.
While listening to that string-band recording, I set up one virtual cardioid mic in VVTetra VST. As I rotated the cardioid in a circle using the Azimuth setting, I heard each instrument in isolation. Very cool!
According to Core Sound’s president, Len Moskowitz, “Folks are using this function for post-production of panel interviews to highlight specific speakers, and also in movie sound post to follow a moving sound source around. It won’t replace a boom operator but does provide another powerful tool for the sound crew. For music, you can highlight a soloist, like a spot mic.
“You can also do this function more than once (for multiple sound sources), and then mix the resulting decodes together.
“So do a Blumlein decode for stereo ambience and mix in spot decodes for soloists. You can also move a microphone’s pattern null around to exclude noise sources, even ones that move around.”
I received excellent technical support from Len Moskowitz at Core Sound and from the software’s developers, David McGriffy and Richard Lee.
The TetraMic is a huge advance in recording technology, and a great value. Highly recommended.
Core Sound provides a 30 day trial period. All TetraMics returned within 30 days of shipment qualify for a full refund (minus shipping and handling charges) provided that they are returned in as-new condition. TetraMic is sold with a 1 year limited parts and labor warranty.
You can find out more about the TetraMic at www.core-sound.com, and company owner Len Moskowitz can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
AES and Syn Aud Con member Bruce Bartlett is a recording engineer, microphone engineer and audio journalist. His latest books are Practical Recording Techniques (5th Ed.) and Recording Music On Location.
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An in-depth yet easy-to-understand discussion of wireless systems, how they operate, issues that can plague performance, and solutions that do the trick in the vast majority of situations.
Nice to see someone addressing the price range that makes VIRTUAL surround affordable. 4 channels of full bandwidth is all you need ("QUAD ON THE POD" anyone??)...then you don't have to worry about making everything below 80Hz,or even worse, below 120Hz(!) MONO. I thought we left that behind with the cutting lathes.
Best wishes with your new mic!