If you use m/s often enough and a commerical unit is not available, then it might be worth while to "roll your own". The circuitry for the decoder+hp amp is not exotic and within the reach of the DIYer.

Zilla,

That's one option I'm considering. I have built more complicated things than that, so it's a viable option. I'm just feeling a little lazy at the moment... too many (non-recording) projects already in the queue! :(

Michael

You might be able to pick up an MS version of one the pattern boxes for an AKG stereo mic on ebay. Of course you can't use the patterns, but phantom power will pass through the box and you can decode on the way back. I seem to remember a quesion on the AKG forum about this, but I think you have to change the sockets or buy (or make) an adapter for the mic end. The box is quite small, but I suppose Zilla's solution would probably be less work than messing around with the sockets.

For M/S monitoring purposes, I used to use a tiny mixer, and pass the signal from the S mic through a send and and then in inverted to a third channel. I can't remember what the mixer was (it wasn't mine), but it was tiny and cheap. It may even have been Behringer, but it was good enough.

John

John

Here a a couple of things to consider:

http://www.paia.com/msdecwrk.htm Schematic for decoder

and

http://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/8392.htm Headphone monitoring transformer for M-S

and

http://www.offbeatopenhats.com/ms/sndms.html Info on MS

Hope these help!

Tom,

Great references. I think I will order one of the Sowter headphone transformers (about $45 inlcuding shipment from the UK) and roll it into a little box. Will let you know how it works out. If anyone else is interested, they are cheaper by the dozen. :lol:

Michael

Well... it took almost 2 months to get the Sowter 8392 transformers from the UK, but the price through the US distributor was only about $28 each. I think they might start keeping them in stock in the US (since somone bought a few?), so you might not have to wait as long.

Got two (my wife records with me, so we need his-and-her decoders) and put them into the front of a rack mount chassis that will eventually hold 4 Jensen mic splitters in the rear when it's done.

Pleased to say that they work very nicely for real-time monitoring purposes. Highly recommended. Cheap, functional, and reliable.

Good lord, Thomas! "PAIA" !!!!!

I didn't know they were still around! :-) Thanks for that link! It's GREAT to go to their website and poke around (Such memories! Hot solder and burned fingertips, too!)

I'm thinking about buying one of their tube preamp kits, hot-rod it, put my name on it, and start offering it as a $4000 boutique model.

Heheheh..... :twisted: