Samples recorded in stereo. Why?

[koolkeys]

I'm just curious, but I have seen some sample libraries recorded in stereo, and I don't understand why.

Now, I'm not talking about synths and such, but instead about realistic instruments. I mean, how many instruments that are acoustic actually make sounds in stereo? None that I know of.

Now, of course panning individual samples a bit to the left or right is different. But I'm talking about the samples themselves being recorded in a stereo format.

Why would you do that? Maybe I'm missing a good reason? Because to me, it just seems like you are doubling the disk space for no good reason.

Brent

[Ben H]

The simplist reason... because we have two ears.

Each ear hears the sound slightly different and gives the sound depth.
That is why a dual mono sound, sounds wrong.

That's the non-technical expaination, it gets more complicated than that.

[vieris]

If room ambiance is part of the sample. Like drum samples recorded in a famous room or a violin in a classic hall. That kind of thing. Or if it's a multi miced instrument. Acoustic guitar with a fret/bridge mic setup.
But you are correct if it's a dry sample no real need for stereo.

[koolkeys]

The simplist reason... because we have two ears.

Each ear hears the sound slightly different and gives the sound depth.
That is why a dual mono sound, sounds wrong.

That's the non-technical expaination, it gets more complicated than that.

Very good point. But I don't know that recording it in stereo actually replicates that, does it? I mean, when you play a mono sample through speakers, THEN we will STILL hear it through two ears, right?

All I'm trying to say is that if I play a trumpet(just an example), the sound comes from one place only. It may be heard by my ears at different times, but the source is still one location. So I just think that if you play a mono sample through speakers, the listener will hear it as if I played it straight to them.

As for room ambience, I guess that could be a use. But many times, it's just plain dry instruments recorded that way.

Sorry, not trying to dismiss these reasons. I could very possibly just not understand them totally. My brain is a bit fried right now so I wouldn't doubt it.

Brent

[koolkeys]

If room ambiance is part of the sample. Like drum samples recorded in a famous room or a violin in a classic hall. That kind of thing. Or if it's a multi miced instrument. Acoustic guitar with a fret/bridge mic setup.
But you are correct if it's a dry sample no real need for stereo.

Well if it's a multi-miced instrument, wouldn't that be two separate mono files? They are meant to record two sound sources technically, no?

Or maybe I misunderstood you on this one?

Brent

[vieris]

Well if it's a multi-miced instrument, wouldn't that be two separate mono files? They are meant to record two sound sources technically, no?

Or maybe I misunderstood you on this one?

Brent

Many sample sets are multi-miced setups "premixed" to a stereo file. like a drum kits overheads are premixed with the close mics. This is conman with symphonic samples as well.

[joeykusack]

kk, think of it like this:

Do you want that bird you just recorded to have the ambiance of "where" it's recorded, or would you rather it be mono like a non-stereo tv set?

Hope that makes sense.

[Shy]

All I'm trying to say is that if I play a trumpet(just an example), the sound comes from one place only. It may be heard by my ears at different times, but the source is still one location.

It's actually not so simple. People usually think of it in terms of "this sound comes from this specific location and a sound generator this shape and size", but those two parameters are only a little of the total. Instruments from different materials and in different shapes generate sound that spreads and travels in different ways. And it doesn't just come down to harmonics and cancellation or collision of "sound waves" in space, it's far too complicated for me or anyone without a deep understanding and knowledge of mechanics, physics, acoustics and more to really understand.

What's simple to understand though, is what you actually hear. Stand in a room with very little ambience (studio, booth, etc) and give a violinist different sounding violins (violin is just a good example as the variation is big). You will hear a different "stereo image" with different violins, no matter how dry or small the room is and how close you are to the instrument. Even if not very noticeable, you will understand how much the "stereo" matters here. What reaches your left ear is simply not what reaches your right ear, and whether it's a real acoustic instrument you're listening to or a recording of one, the stereo image is essential.

[bduffy]

Well if it's a multi-miced instrument, wouldn't that be two separate mono files? They are meant to record two sound sources technically, no?

Or maybe I misunderstood you on this one?

Brent

Many sample sets are multi-miced setups "premixed" to a stereo file. like a drum kits overheads are premixed with the close mics. This is conman with symphonic samples as well.

That was quite the Freudian slip!

[vieris]

nice

[atelierrobin]

The simplist reason... because we have two ears.

Each ear hears the sound slightly different and gives the sound depth.
That is why a dual mono sound, sounds wrong.

That's the non-technical expaination, it gets more complicated than that.

Very good point. But I don't know that recording it in stereo actually replicates that, does it? I mean, when you play a mono sample through speakers, THEN we will STILL hear it through two ears, right?

All I'm trying to say is that if I play a trumpet(just an example), the sound comes from one place only. It may be heard by my ears at different times, but the source is still one location. So I just think that if you play a mono sample through speakers, the listener will hear it as if I played it straight to them.

As for room ambience, I guess that could be a use. But many times, it's just plain dry instruments recorded that way.

Sorry, not trying to dismiss these reasons. I could very possibly just not understand them totally. My brain is a bit fried right now so I wouldn't doubt it.

Brent

Because a stereo recording of the instrument played through a good pair of stereo speakers will sound more like the real instrument than a mono recording played through a mono speaker. The main reason for that I think is because real instruments are capable of much more complex sound emissions than a single speaker can reproduce. Until someone comes up with a single speaker capable of emitting sound in the same multidimensional pattern as an instrument can, two or more speakers are likely to sound better when playing back the instrument. And if someone doeas manage to do that, each speaker will likely be of a different shape/material for each instruments it tries to reproduce.

A good example of how difficult it is to reproduce a single instrument with a single speaker is the drum kit, especially the bass drum. There are probably better examples of course but that is the one I have noticed the most myself.

When I walk outside on the street I can always tell if someone is playing real drums in a nearby building vs a recording played through speakers no matter the size of the speaker.

Patrick Robin

[whyterabbyt]

Now, I'm not talking about synths and such, but instead about realistic instruments. I mean, how many instruments that are acoustic actually make sounds in stereo? None that I know of.

put it another way, though. how many instruments that are acoustic do you actually hear in mono?

[Bonteburg]

Nobody has mentioned the most valid reason not to use stereo samples yet - inflexibility.

I totally get the "famous room" argument, but for generic accoustic drums or instruments I much prefer to have them as dry as they come and in mono.

[vurt]

Nobody has mentioned the most valid reason not to use stereo samples yet - inflexibility.

I totally get the "famous room" argument, but for generic accoustic drums or instruments I much prefer to have them as dry as they come and in mono.

but dry mono has been done over and over, to make actual sales i guess they need to give us something different.

i can see the benefit for example with acoustic guitars or cellos for example, where the instrument gives many tones depending on mic placement, mixing two mono samples after the fact to get a realistic cello with body and neck sounds would be a pain and wouldnt sound as natural as a stereo pair mixed at source?
so its not just an ambiance thing either but a realism thing, how often do we hear "well you can tell its sampled, it just doesnt sound natural" even when we apply fret noise and string squeak, it sounds added after the fact.

[Stupid American Pig]

stereo micing gives placement to the instruments much better than panning does.