Ambience Recording is a special case of stereo recording. Most stereophonic techniques apply for ambience recording, as well. However, a stereo ambience often requires some more thinking,as it can have quite different properties, and thus requires different recording techniques. For example, a diffuse ambience in a hall without any discrete sources requires a different recording technique compared with an ambience consisting of a group of discrete sources in distinct directions. We have compiled some practical and theoretical hints for that topic here:

1. Berlin Ambience Demo Set, available for download

The best proof of a the performance of a stereo technique is in the practical listening. For the VDT seminar Berlin Ambience techniques, 2012 a great set of simultaneous recordings was produced with which a perfect comparison of ambience recording techniques in 4.0/5.0 is possible.


Foto: Günther Theile

 

2. Stereo Ambience Demo 

The Stereo Ambience Demo demo offers a good practical comparison of two-channel ambience recording techniques. 

What influence does the stereo technique have on the spatial properties in ambience recording situations? We know that the stereo techniques differ significantly in the directional imaging and the diffuse field correlation characteristics. We have recorded simultaneously four stereo techniques in five different ambience recording situations, in which both direct sources and diffuse ambience exist. Now judge about the spatial and directional differences.

 StereoAmbianceMicrophoneSetup
Foto: Cedric Fischer

The picture depicts the four techniques, including XY, ORTF, "Quasi-ORTF" and AB.

 

3. Ambience Paper

Detailed infos on theory and practical setups are part of the paper (German, English) and the slides (German, English) of the lecture "Ambience recording in 2.0 and 5.1".

 TMT Wittek
Foto: Günther Theile