While investigating recording techniques recently, I came across an interesting tidbit about stereo recording. I had assumed that the XY and mid-side (MS) stereo recording techniques would produce essentially the same stereo image, if the mid-side levels were adjusted properly. Both are coincident techniques, and they seemed to be interchangeable, aside from the ease of adjusting the stereo width of mid-side in post. Then I came across this post about recording the Wren Chapel Organ. (Note: The page isn’t working for me at the moment, but a copy is available on the Internet Archive.)

As the samples from the Wren Organ demonstrate, XY and MS recording do not produce identical stereo images. The XY recording sounds noticeably narrower, even after adjusting the stereo width in post. The difference probably doesn’t matter much for close recording, but it is significant when recording a large, distant sound source like a pipe organ. The MS recording sounds more spacious.

Recording engineers seem to favor spaced omnis (AB recording) for capturing pipe organs, but it’s good to know that mid-side recording can produce good results as well. As a videographer, I like the mono compatibility of mid-side, and it means a little less work in post.