ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how to do an on-location stereo recording of a classical-music ensemble. Many record companies prefer to use multiple microphones and multitrack techniques when recording classical music. For classical-music recording, the preferred microphones are condenser or ribbon types with a wide, flat frequency response and very low self-noise. Stereo bar mounts two microphones on a single stand for coincident or near-coincident stereo recording. The microphones must be placed closer to the musicians than a good live listening position. The microphone placement controls the acoustic perspective or sense of distance to the ensemble, the balance among instruments, and the stereo imaging. Full stereo spread on speakers is a spread of images all the way between speakers, from the left speaker to the right speaker. The stereo spread heard on headphones may or may not match the stereo spread heard over speakers, depending on the microphone technique used.
