Demonstrating multiple stereo miking techniques for 360 degree recording

20 November 2025

I took some time recently to test five stereo recording techniques for recording in 360 degrees, where the musicians are in a circle facing inward. This might not be an arrangement you would want to produce in a studio, necessarily, but it certainly might occur in live performance situations.

In the following video, I demonstrate:

• a spaced pair of omnis (at 30cm)
• the same spaced pair with four cardioid solo spot mics
• four independent cardioids in two different configurations, including double XY
• omni mid/side

I discuss phase issues and comb filtering, and I test mono compatibility of three mic techniques.

In this demo, I test the mics by walking around them and speaking. I didn't assemble a bluegrass ensemble in my office.

Reference

• Visualization of all stereo microphone systems with two microphones

Hardware

• 2 x Schoeps MK2H
• 2 x Austrian Audio OC818
• Cranborne 500R8 w/Camden 500 preamps
• Behringer ADA8200
• Zoom F8n Pro

Software

• Harrison Mixbus 10

Video outline

• intro, caveats, apologies
• recording environment
• goals
• stereo mic configs
• noise rejection in 360 degrees
• spaced pair of omnis
• multi-pattern LDCs
• "four cardioids" (silly config)
• double XY
• omni mid-side
• Sengpiel SRA calculator
• test recordings
• listening
• stereo phase scope
• spaced pair of omnis
• spaced pair of omnis w/spots
• "four cardioids" (still silly)
• double XY
• omni mid-side
• mono compatibility
• mono spaced pair
• mono double XY
• mono omni mid-side
• closing (not a conclusion