Blumlein Microphone Technique
From WikiRecording
What is the Blumlein technique?
The Blumlein recording techniques can give a natural sound with relatively no phase cancellation. Two figure eight pattern matched microphones are usually mounted in an 'x' pattern on the same horizontal plane: that is one on top pointing down(but picking up the figure eight from the sides) and the other on bottom pointing up (but picking up figure eight from the sides 90 degrees off from the other set).
The reasoning behind the setup is to position the microphones as close together as possible to avoid phase problems. This, when done in a great sounding room with good placement can be amazing. The key is the room. The Microphones should be positioned such that the left facing microphone picks up the leftish side of the sound source and the right facing microphone picks up the right side of the sound source, the center is picked up by both. This produces a stereo image, while providing the rear end of the figure 8 pattern to pickup room noise.
WARNING: Do not place them in such a way that one microphone picks up the direct source and the room, and one picks up the right and left evenly, if it is setup in such a way you would not be able to recreate the stereo nature of the sound.
