record audio , especially for sounds that are traditionally heard in an acoustical space like a concert hall . Combining mono and stereo tracks is a very powerful way to establish an impressive sound field .
CHALLENGE : Learning when to use stereo mic techniques versus mono mic techniques can take a little time but it usually comes down to the size of the source and how stable the track needs to be in the mix . It doesn ’ t make any sense to use a stereo mic technique on toms , snare , and kick drum because those sounds need to be positioned very specifically in the mix . But , it does make sense to use a stereo mic technique for the overheads and room mics to add space and size to the drum sound . It doesn ’ t make sense to record a lead vocal with a stereo mic configuration because the singer moving around would constantly be altering the left-right positioning . However , tracking a large or small choir with a stereo mic technique makes perfect sense . so that the listener gets a sense of the acoustical environment in which the choir was tracked .
SOLUTION : As we continue , we ’ ll see different mono and stereo techniques that provide excellent results so it ’ s important to reference the following standard stereo miking techniques . In most applications it ’ s very important that the stereo image collapse to mono in a way that stills sounds full and clean . Simply setting two mics randomly is likely to capture an image that sounds thin and hollow in mono , even if it sounds huge in stereo . This used to be extremely important when mono AM radio and television were the norm , but today the primary consideration is what the recordings sound like if they ’ re played through a mono live sound system . It can be heartbreaking when you toil over a mix that sounds fantastic in stereo but , when played at a live gig over the sound system , sounds small and weak because some of the big stereo sounds don ’ t sum faithfully to mono .
1 . X-Y . The X-Y technique is a very popular choice because it provides a very accurate stereo image while summing very well to mono . It is a coincident technique because the two mic capsules are located on the same vertical and horizontal plane and are positioned as close together as possible without touching . The fact that the two capsules are so close together means that they capture sound waves in the same phase relationship so they sum to mono perfectly . The X-Y technique , as with most stereo mic techniques , typically captures sound from a distance of more than a foot or two . Small- or large-diaphragm condenser microphones are commonly used for the X-Y technique . continued on 160