ABSTRACT
This chapter includes a review of the fundamentals of microphone characteristics, a discussion of the function of each type of microphone, and their use in standard stereo microphone techniques. References are included to various sources that provide more technical information for those readers who have an interest in exploring the intricacies of microphone design. Newcomers to audio recording will be introduced to the various characteristics of each microphone type, and the most common techniques for two-microphone stereo recording. Some general traits and “best uses” will be addressed, and a short section on preamplifiers is included here. Recording engineers need to prioritize the use of their available microphone inventory-saving the best microphones for the most important applications within the recording process, whether they have 4 microphones or 24.
