What Exactly Does "stereo" Rec. Mean? Options

[meadows.83]

I'm definately a beginner in the world of recording, and I just wanted to know
what exactly "stereo" recording was. I had an idea that "stereo" meant
recording two tracks for every sound and having each track sound out
of either the left or right side. Is this correct? AND does this apply to
all instruments and sounds? THANX.

[kaboombahchuck]

Yes stereo is 2 tracks. Most folks record in mono and then pan stuff around. I always record in stereo, there are slight differences in the sounds that some electronic music devices make left to right. Also when using rotory, flange, and simular effects, stereo recording comes in handy.

[lepetitmartien]

You hear in stereo, in binaural stereo. But as the world is not a stereo system, a stereo system is an aproximation used to reproduce reality be it real (stereo binaural recording) or fake (monos mixeds panned etc)

Quadriphony or 5.1 to 10.2 systems give a supposedly more "accurate" perception of the world of sound. yet they are more difficult to tune accuretely (more sources = more problem). they also are mostly as fake as a stereo recording mixed from mono sources (in a way to sound "natural", each voice, instrument being in a "logical" and "natural" place which is a cultural habit -voice in the middle, positions of the intruments in a symphonic orchestra)

And there are psycho accoustic procedures that permit to simulate in stereo a 3D space…

To return to the basic question, in mono you are on a line, the subject is more or less present yet in one unique point. in stereo the recording is bidimensional you have added a possibility of lateralisation of the sound. For example: if you record a piano from the position of the player, in mono you hear the piano in one point only, in stereo, you have basses on the left, treble on the right, medium in the middle (partly on left and on right), and a bit of each other in the other canal (left and right) your point is now a line.

Some producers even record voices (a mono source) in stereo because they find it brings life that can not be reached thru a delicate panning.

There are other considerations: how many channel do you need, have you the place for them? Can you make a stereo recording (a bit of a science)? etc etc.
A lot of decisions on mono and stereo are taken because either it's easy/uneasy, interesting or not, the channel are here or not… or it's plain no use

After, as kaboom said rightly, you can have a mono turned into stereo tru effects, or a stereo recording of a mono source slightly different if effected by a stereo recording and its slight differences at processing.

To record in stereo, either you have an instrument (synth) which is stereo in essence (not all are) of you use mics. Mics can be: a stereo mic in one piece, a stereo couple (2 matched mics in a suitable pattern like the ORTF -french public TV in the 50s-70s- one), a binaural mic (usually a fake head with mic in place of ears).

Now I should really go to sleep… there still a lot to be said

[pandrews]

This might be a silly question. Are you recording on to tape or in digital audio on a virtual (desktop) studio? A single digital audio track could be in stereo.

[lepetitmartien]

Don't mix up tracks and channels, as well as the way digital audio files can be presented.