Why is 2 Channel better than multi-channel?

What Eldartford is saying is correct in that gen x-y ers are growing up in automobiles and that is where they are cutting their " audio teeth". They spend gobs of cash on car systems and the sense of surround is mandatory and the progression to dvd-a discs will be the next rage . This is where dvd-a will take off . I am in the sacd camp however and hate to witness this fight .

I'm joining this thread a little late, but have some thoughts on how the recording industry could properly use surround channels to optimize music recording. This is based on the idea that music has been historically recorded in 2-channel formats, and I'm including some thoughts about recording. I'm not sure if anyone is familiar if any of this has been tried or is being done, but would be curious to know. Let me preface all of this by saying I am no expert, so if some of my terminology is not accurate, please forgive me.

When sound is recorded, microphones are used. One of the simplest ways to make a stereo recording is with a "coincident pair" of microphones. This involves placing a pair of microphones at roughly what the listening distance would be away from the sound source in a criscross patern. One mic feeds the left channel, the other the right. Pretty simple. The next thing to do would be to add "room ambiance." In many pop music recordings, this is done with electronic signal processors to the recorded signal. However, if one were to, say, record a string quartet with a coincident pair in a small auditorium (left and right channel) and then place two additional microphones, one on either side of the rear of the room, could these not be used to provide "surround" information for the rear channels? I suppose additonal mics could also be placed for "back" channel information in a 7.1 setup. Not really sure what to send to the center channel, though.

Anyhow, I just wanted to throw this out there.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, This is an interesting read on how one new multichannel recording was done...http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue9/eliasdsd.htm

Dave

When I used to sell audio, I noticed that there were two kinds of customers.....those interested in music and those who seek sound effects. This division seems to have been exacerbated by the introduction of multi-channel.

And Eldartford brings to the forefront an important observation too. Home theater is pretty much car stereo brought indoors.

Regardless of its theoretical potential, HT remains a poorly executed medium. And absurd. Does anyone remember quadrophonic headphones?

smear

any more channels not set up correctly get smeared

how many recordings really take advantage of multi channel

usually it's the solo projected to the back

more is not better