Wilson Audio Haters

Single mike recording is not the same thing as monophonic playback, which blends the lateral information into a single source of sound.

One microphone captures the spatial information (distances from the microphone) most accurately if done correctly, vs multi-mike recording where the mixing/mastering engineer (hopefully) blends multiple microphone tracks to simulate correct placement of the instruments (this is called "mixing"), too often using artificial reverb or other techniques to do so.

Try Cowboy Junkies, "The Trinity Session" to see what I mean. A single-miked live recording (using only a Calrec Ambisonic microphone and mastered but not mixed), yet anything but monaural. If your system does not demonstrate the effects of what I am describing, it is not reproducing depth and spatial information very well. How important or even whether this is important at all to an individual listener is not the subject of my posts.

Another great test is the Opus 3 Test Record 1: Depth of Image (CD 7900) and also available on LP IIRC.

Dave

dlcockrum

Single mike recording is not the same thing as monophonic playback, which blends the lateral information into a single source of sound.

One microphone captures the spatial information (distances from the microphone) most accurately if done correctly, vs multi-mike recording where the mixing/mastering engineer (hopefully) blends multiple microphone tracks to simulate correct placement of the instruments, too often using artificial reverb or other techniques to do so. This is called "mixing".

Try Cowboy Junkies, "The Trinity Session" to see what I mean ...

I think this is an issue of semantics. Trinity Session was recorded with a stereo microphone, so calling it a "single mic" effort is a bit confusing.

There's nothing inherently advantageous about the Calrec mic used on Trinity Session. Proper stereo X/Y and M/S mic techniques can result in excellent imaging and stereo reproduction.

Okay cleeds, whatever. It is a single mike placed at a single point in space.

Doesn’t change a thing regarding reproduction of depth. Forest for the trees.

Dave

@cleeds I didn’t think it was confusing to call a single stereo mic (not mike) a single mic recording. I think maybe you had single mic and mono mic meshed in your mind..
The main point was that a single point for recording sound can lend a more accurate soundstage than multiple mics, where the soundstage is then dependent on the mastering session.

"Mike vs mic". Now that is an appropriate correction, Todd. Thank you.

Dave