ABSTRACT
This chapter expands the recording techniques of the previous chapter by showing how pairs of microphones can be used to capture single-instrument recordings in stereo. A wide variety of stereo microphone techniques are covered in depth, including coincident XY and MS; spaced AB; near-coincident setups (such as ORFT, NOS, and DIN); and baffled-stereo and dummy-head methods. All these setups are viewed in terms of how the mic array's physical configuration (including mutual angle, spacing, and positioning) affects its presentation of the in-room acceptance angle over loudspeakers, specifically in terms of tone, wet/dry balance, imaging, mono-compatibility, and centre-versus-edge balance. The question of stereo imaging on headphones is also addressed, in conjunction with monitoring and metering workarounds for recording purposes.
