From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

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Using the ORTF configuration

Using the ORTF configuration

From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

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Using the ORTF configuration

Another method of stereo recording is the ORTF system, which uses two cardioid mics angled at 110 degrees apart and placed 7 inches apart horizontally. Let's look at how it works. ORTF stands for the Office of French Radio and Television Broadcasting and is sometimes confused with the X-Y configuration. This method tends to sound very accurate since the capsules are as far as your ears and many believe that it's the best sounding of all stereo miking configurations. To set up an ORTF configuration, walk around the room and listen to where the instruments or sound source sounds best. Note the balance of the instrument to the room and stereo image. Now set up two identical cardioid mics in an ORTF configuration where the middle of your head was. Set the trim or gain control and fader levels, so both mics are at the same level. Now pan the channels hard left and hard right. (music playing) Just to hear what it sounds like, replace one of the mics with a different cardioid model. Notice…

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