Using the X/Y configuration

The X-Y array is perhaps the easiest to set up and the most widely used stereo miking configuration.…X-Y requires two identical directional micro phones that are mounted so that their grills…are nearly touching, or with their diaphragms angled apart in such a way that they aim…approximately towards the left and right sides of the instrument or ensemble.…Unlike what you may think, the mics are not crossed in an X pattern in this configuration.…In fact, the mic capsules are placed as closed as possible to one another in a 90-degree angle.…

The greater the angle between microphones, the wider the stereo spread.…Let's hear this for ourselves by setting up two identical cardioid mics in an X-Y configuration.…Set the trim or gain control and fader levels, so both mics are at the same level, then pan…the channel hard left and hard right.…(music playing)…Just to hear what it sounds like, replace one of the mics with a different cardioid model.…

As you can hear, the stereo image becomes very imbalanced and unnatural sounding.…