Recording Music on Location, 2nd Edition

ESurround-Sound Miking Techniques

So far we’ve examined two-channel stereo recording techniques. These methods reproduce the instruments and hall reverb in front of the listener, in the area between the two loudspeakers. In contrast, surround-sound places audio images around the listener. The musical ensemble is usually up front, and the hall ambience is all around.

Stereo uses two channels feeding two loudspeakers. Surround sound uses multiple channels feeding multiple speakers.

Surround gives a wonderfully spacious effect. It puts you inside the concert hall with the musicians. You and the music occupy the same space—you’re part of the performance. For this reason, surround is more musically involving, more emotionally intense, than regular ...