Skip to content
Artwork for Recording & Mixing
Recording & Mixing · May 15, 2025 · 30 min

Mic Techniques For Stereo Sound

In this episode, David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings. He examines how the choice of polar pattern and microphone placement can be used effectively to achieve a balanced and immersive stereo image. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Defining Mono 03:08 - Binaural Recording 04:24 - Defining Stereo 05:28 - Number Of Mics And Placement 06:58 - Polar Patterns 07:48 - Figure of 8 Demo 09:09 - The Blumlein Pair Configuration 11:05 - Coincident Cross Pair Figure Of 8 With Demonstration 16:53 - Coincident Cross Pair Of Cardioid With Demonstration 21:35 - Mic Spacing - The ORTF Configuration 24:31 - Mic Spacing - Omnidirectional Without Angling 27:28 - Medley Of Configurations 29:38 - Summary David Mellor Biog David Mellor got his start in pro audio through the Tonmeister course at Surrey University studying music, piano performance, acoustics, electronics, electro-acoustics and recording. He went on to work at London's Royal Opera House, with responsibilities including sound design, front-of-house operation, stage monitoring and electronic design satisfying the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Karlheinz Stockhausen. David has also had over 600 works published in the field of production music. Notable uses of his music include the BBC's Horizon, Fahrenheit 911, and the Oprah Winfrey Show. David has been actively involved in Audio Education since 1986, teaching students of City of Westminster College and Westminster University, also returning to guest lecture at Surrey University. From 2001 until recently David has offered courses in audio online with Audio Masterclass. David now enjoys making YouTube videos for his 84,000 subscribers and releasing music on streaming services and Bandcamp for his dozen or so listeners. YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@audiomasterclass Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OkaDx4vB4O2ssUA5p4M8g Bandcamp - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/ Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

0:00-30:45

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

In this episode, David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings. He examines how the choice of polar pattern and microphone placement can be used effectively to achieve a balanced and immersive stereo image.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction

01:10 - Defining Mono

03:08 - Binaural Recording

04:24 - Defining Stereo

05:28 - Number Of Mics And Placement

06:58 - Polar Patterns

07:48 - Figure of 8 Demo

09:09 - The Blumlein Pair Configuration

11:05 - Coincident Cross Pair Figure Of 8 With Demonstration

16:53 - Coincident Cross Pair Of Cardioid With Demonstration

21:35 - Mic Spacing - The ORTF Configuration

24:31 - Mic Spacing - Omnidirectional Without Angling

27:28 - Medley Of Configurations

29:38 - Summary


David Mellor Biog
David Mellor got his start in pro audio through the Tonmeister course at Surrey University studying music, piano performance, acoustics, electronics, electro-acoustics and recording.


He went on to work at London's Royal Opera House, with responsibilities including sound design, front-of-house operation, stage monitoring and electronic design satisfying the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Karlheinz Stockhausen. David has also had over 600 works published in the field of production music. Notable uses of his music include the BBC's Horizon, Fahrenheit 911, and the Oprah Winfrey Show.


David has been actively involved in Audio Education since 1986, teaching students of City of Westminster College and Westminster University, also returning to guest lecture at Surrey University. From 2001 until recently David has offered courses in audio online with Audio Masterclass. 


David now enjoys making YouTube videos for his 84,000 subscribers and releasing music on streaming services and Bandcamp for his dozen or so listeners.


YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@audiomasterclass

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OkaDx4vB4O2ssUA5p4M8g

Bandcamp - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/


Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

links4

more episodes

All episodes