I learned recently there is more in a .wav-file as pure sound information, I now have difficulties in being certain about what is shown and interpreted in WaveLab.
I use Zooms XY- and MS-micros. Unfortunately, the filename that is created in a Zoom H6 or H5 does not tell you, what micro was used, nor is there something that is shown to the end user in the file-dialog from the windows operating system.
If I open such a file recorded with a MS-micro, the following is shown:
Until recently, I interpreted LR as L being the mid channel and R being the side.
If I toggle to the MS-view, it looks like this:
I think, it depends on how the Side recording mode is set at the H6. In RAW mode, the Mid signal is written unprocessed to the first channel and the Side signal to the second, the recording is therefore M/S and has to be decoded in the editor to obtain Stereo. Otherwise it is mixed internally to Left+Right, i.e. a usual Stereo signal, with the Side Mic level (+6/0/-12dB/off[=mono]) selected in the menu.
I have (not ?) found a mixing (?) setting in the Zoom H5 or H6 settings under menu → IN/OUT → L/R MS-RAW Monitor. It is set to Stereo. Because it states “monitor” I thought it is only for the playback of the zoom H5/6. Is it not? If I change it to RAW the display on the Zoom gadget now shows MS instead of Stereo. In a Zoom F1 I came across such setting as to choose the angle what I don’t want and … That could be such mixing setting. I record in 24bit 48kHz with a backup recording in the wave format. That is … because I recorded ones with 24bit and 96kHz … and there was clipping. No solution I have tried so far restores the original sound adequately for HiFi-aficionados. ( iZotope RX DeClip … in WaveLab I found no solution for this use case at all. There is an “Error correction” window but I do not know for what errors and better though, how to fix the WaveLab-assumed errors anyhow. I wonder what use case it was used for in old WaveLab-times or is in use today. I think there were / are deeper thoughts behind this dialog.)
What I would like to know from WaveLab by reading in audio- (wave-) files is: I want to know if there is such a micro info and if so, had it been calculated around. Better though … If there were such interpretation … let the user have the choice and inform him.
So far I have used the WaveLab-Steinberg → Tools – M/S-LR Plugin to get the stereo sound.
… to judge by ear … there is an enormous resonance … that makes it more difficult. Moreover, I don’t want lose time in judging around and guessing blindly and may fool myself. Using the M/S-LR Plugin sounds right … but the graphical image from the first post …
You can also try reading the EXIF data in your audio file.
Some data may be hidden from regular Metadata readers as Wavelab’s, Audition’s or even Media Info.
You can try https://www.metadata2go.com/ to test and see if any info pertaining to Mid and Side channels identification is present in the file.
I could not have imagined that a setting for the saving of the RAW recording of the MS-capsule is not to be found in the menu settings. I searched the whole submenus again and again and had given up. What a trap Zoom here provides for intuitive users like me.
I asked also zoom Germany per email. No response so far.
Solution: One has to search the manual for it. (Or find the only one youtube-video that I found that addresses this.)
Yes, I personally find it very strange to hide it in the user manual in this way. I find it strange not to provide at least a hint accessible via the main menu.
A manual for the ZOOM MSH-6 MS part I do not have found.
