Why should we think of "what microphones heard " as a standard

Microphones certainly are transducers, the recording equivalent of the phono cartridge in playback. They therefore are more inherently prone to distortion than are electronics, but the way in which outboard processing is used by the vast majority of recording engineers (aside from guys like Kav Alexander of Water Lily), the electronics are actually more responsible for the lack of audiophile-quality sound found on most of our LP's and CD's than are the microphones used. Ask Ralph Karsen (atmasphere) if you don't believe me ;-) .

Yeah, microphones and speakers - the beginning and the end. As important as everything else in between is, I would get it right first.

Oops, Karsten.

I live in the Boston area and I have attended many concerts. In trashy night clubs and at the symphony hall.
Back when I was obsessively trying to remember what I heard to compare it from records. (while going home and my ears still ringing). I finally remembered an article in TAS where the mics were hung from the ceiling for a classical recording and thinking to myself, What am I doing? I can never afford those tickets besides, they wouldn't let me hang from the ceiling anyway.  hmmmm

Eric and Inna..... truth...
i grew up with a dokorder 4 track and a microphone/ line level mixer ... rock/punk/rockabilly stuff... so when I built the mobile rack at retirement I was convinced I needed a mixer - budgeted an absurd # for a compact Neve console.... lucky I know somebody to borrow from first... ALL downhill on the simple 2 microphone stuff....

btw about to cue up a nice Waterlilly  in a minute....

btw the A-77 is a killer portable RtR, carry handle built in !!!!!!