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
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