Is it better to record with two mics versus just one?

[JerryD]

Hi all,

I'm new to recording. It seems to me if you used
two mics you would more accuratly capture your
sound. Is this true or does it just cause problems?

Thanks, Jerry

 

[drstawl]

Not just causing problems. it gives you a stereo field in return for more background noise. Typically a really close call. The stereo pair will be the cleaner choice hands down if it works.

 

[FunKMasTer]

Well... stereo image in not the only advantage of using 2 mics...(<b>im not saying 2 mics is always better...</b>) u can use 8 mics for a drum kit and make it mono, or u use just 1 mic when u want to record a "mono drum kit"?(but it can sound pretty good indeed...) U can use 2 mics in a snare drum(1 at top other at botttom with phase reversed) to get a great fat sound, or in a guitar combo amplifier(1 at front other at back phase reversed) to get a really big sound, etc...i could give u more examples but all this just to say: Experiment! - thats the only way to learn and improve...

 

[Tom Hicks]

watch phase problems

The comment above about miking the front and back of an open-backed cab will indeed produce an out of phase signal that will eat up your bass response.
Technically,any two mikes are "stereo".But in order to produce an accurate image in the stereo field you would need to use one of the standard stereo techniques like coincident recording(capsules touching,angled 90 degrees).
For miking guitar cabs,say,a common two-mike use is mike #1 close on the speaker cone and mike #2 some distance away to capture room tone.
Tom

 

[Wil Davis]

Two mics are essential for stereo. You have to be careful with the placement. Depending on the pickup pattern of the microphones, there are numerous ways of stereo micing. If you're not using coincident micing (ie where the mics are as close to each other as possible) there is a basic "rule of thirds" which states that the distance between the mics should be at least three times the average distance of the mics from the performers. Ignoring this rule can lead to all sorts of phase-cancellation effects.

If you're micing one instrument/voice/whatever with two mics, you might want to try one mic close-up to get the "prescence" and all the nuances, and the other further away to get more of the ambience. That's not the same as "stereo" micing.

Placement of the microphone(s) depends on what effect you're going for.

Hope this is helpful (if somewhat long...)

- Wil

 

[FunKMasTer]

Re: watch phase problems

The comment above about miking the front and back of an open-backed cab will indeed produce an out of phase signal that will eat up your bass response.
Technically,any two mikes are "stereo".But in order to produce an accurate image in the stereo field you would need to use one of the standard stereo techniques like coincident recording(capsules touching,angled 90 degrees).
For miking guitar cabs,say,a common two-mike use is mike #1 close on the speaker cone and mike #2 some distance away to capture room tone.
Tom

Like i said <b>'Above'</b> , Tom , U must <b>invert the phase</b> on the back mic... and that thechnic (like the other i mentioned ) isn't for creating a stereo image so i tottaly disagree with u when u say<b>"Technically,any two mikes are "stereo"."</b> What i was tryin to say when i 1st replied is that there are many situations where u record with 2 mics technics without the purpose of "stereo imaging", like the last technic u posted...

 

[regebro]

The correct answer is....

It's neither worse nor better, just different.
Not very useful answer? Well, hey thats recording...

If you want accurate sounds, you need two similar mics whcih you do proper stereo recordings with. That is more accurate than mono. But you can also use the two mics to record the sound from two places getting slightly different sounds to make the total fuller. And lots of other variations.