Stereo sound is comprised of two separate audio channels, left and right. Stereo is meant to provide a more natural and pleasing sound by allowing the sound to be perceived as coming from a sound field between speakers rather than just the speaker itself. Over the last few years 5.1 and 7.1 surround has continued the audio worlds transformation into increasing ways to control and move sound around.

The word itself in Greek carries the meaning of solid, i.e., with depth, breadth, and height implied.

When mixing, the location of a sound in the stereo field is usually altered by changing the pan control on your mixer. However our ears denote the location of sound not just by relative loudness, but also by time delay. You can also apply or cause (by nature of microphone placement) short delay times between your left and right channel to effect its location. You can also change the relative spread of the signal by using certain Microphone Techniques like Mid-Side.

Use of spaced microphones (or delay) causes a more diffuse and farther back sound, while using coincident cardioide microphones will give a close more distinct location to the sound. The following image shows some of the most common stereo techniques and the resulting change in depth and width of the sound.

See Also

Wikirecordings Microphone Techniques Guide

Category: Technical