Stereo Reproduction and Microphone Techniques

Two-Channel (2-0) Stereo

Source

Blumlein Stereo

Stereo Soundstage

Summing Localization

Phantom and Discrete Images

• Discrete speaker images:
  • Clearer, more precise, timbrally assertive, smaller.
• Phantom images:
  • Larger, less focused, weaker sounding.

Image Width

• Mono point-sources:
  • Centered, off-center, or to one side.
• Spread images:
  • Narrow or wide.
  • Symmetrically or asymmetrically panned.

Listening Exercise

Companion website

Beyond the Loudspeakers

• Context: Stereo sources may appear super-wide based on surrounding content.
• Out-of-phase content: Decorrelation can make stereo sources appear wider than the speaker positions.

Depth Concepts

• High frequency attenuation
• Reverb
• Amplitude balance

Depth Listening Examples

Website

Static and Dynamic Panning

• Static: Panning that doesn’t change through the mix.
• Dynamic:
  • Fly-bys
  • Auto-panning
  • Ping-pong panning

Listening Exercise

Image Symmetry

• Balance guitar panned left with something else right.
• Panning percussion across the stereo field.

Possible Stereo Image