Whilst compiling data for our web page, I found that there was a lack of information regarding what constitutes a matched pair and a stereo pair of microphones.  So, I decided to address this topic in a blog post for all you readers out there in the blogosphere.

Using a stereo pair of microphones allows an audio engineer to capture a sound source in a stereo image.  That is, using two of the same make and model mics placed to the left and right of the sound source allows the engineer to pan the signals left and right, giving the audience a true stereo perspective. Some of the benefits of using stereo miking include providing the left-to-right position of an instrument(s), the depth and/or distance of the instrument(s), the distance of the instrument(s) from the audience, the recording environment in a spatial or acoustic sense, as well as the timbres of the instrument(s) from the listeners point of view.

So what can you do to make a stereo pair sound even better? Try using a matched stereo pair. A matched stereo pair consists of 2 microphones of the same make and model that were manufactured at the same time in the same plant with the same parts. The easiest way to determine that little bit of information is by examining the serial numbers on the casings of the mics. Two mics with serial numbers that are generally consecutive are considered a matched pair of mics. When you use mics that are built adjacent to each other at the factory, you reduce the risk of slight differences in manufacturing that can change the tone of your audio signal. Some people might say that the difference is negligible, but a trained ear can hear those subtle nuances that make the difference between a good recording and a great recording.