From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blumlein Pair is the name for a
stereo recording technique invented by
Alan Blumlein for the creation of recordings that upon
replaying through headphones or loudspeakers recreate the
spatial characteristics of the recorded signal.
The pair consists of an array of two matched
microphones of bi-directional (figure 8) pickup pattern,
positioned 90° from each other. Ideally, the
transducers should occupy the same physical space; as this
is impossible the microphone capsules are placed as close to
each other as physically possible. The array is oriented so that
the line bisecting the angle between the two microphones points
towards the sound source to be recorded (see diagram). The
pickup patterns of the pair, combined with their positioning,
delivers a high degree of stereo separation in the source signal
as well as the room ambience.
The Blumlein pair produces an exceptionally realistic stereo
image, but the quality of recordings is highly dependent on the
acoustics of the room and the size of the sound source.
The traditional microphone for Blumlein Pair recording is the
ribbon microphone, although some microphones are
purpose-built for the type of coincident arrangements that are
required for the Blumlein pair.
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Bidirectional (Figure 8)
Microphone Sensitivity Pattern
(Red dot is microphone, viewed from above) |
Blumlein Pair Array
(2 crossed Figure-8s)
(Small arrows indicate front of individual
microphones, large arrow indicates front of array.) |
External link
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2000 article describing stereo miking techniques from
Electronic Musician
