By using the mid/side technique, an extremely natural and versatile stereophonic image can be pro-
duced. Not only can this rival or surpass any other conventional stereo pickup, it also is the only one
that is capable of providing a virtually infinite variety of stereo perspectives while remaining fully
mono compatible.
Carrying this principle even further, by employing bidirectional patterns oriented along the three car-
dinal axes –– lateral, fore/aft, and vertical –– and then matrixing these with an omnidirectional pickup,
the complete spherical sound field can be described. This is the essence of the Sound-Field microphone
system, developed by Michael Gerzon in the 1970s.
For a detailed treatise on stereophonic and surround-sound recording and reproduction techniques,
refer to The New Stereo Soundbook, Third Edition, by Ron Streicher and F. Alton Everest. Available
exclusively from AEA and www.stereosoundbook.com.
