Best Stereo Mic Bar for Miking Techniques (A/B, X/Y, ORTF)

 

What is a stereo bar and which is best? Find out in this article.

 
 
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Recently, I have been thinking about upgrading my recording gear to external microphones paired with a dedicated recorder for maximum noise performance. As a nature field recording artist, recording in stereo is a must.

After some preliminary research, I learned that a stereo mic bar is needed for holding the two microphones. At present, there is no online resource available for determining the best stereo microphone bar…until now.

This post covers everything you need to know when buying a mic bar. Please see the table of contents below.

In this article you’ll find recommendations for the best budget stereo bar, the best value bar, and the best overall stereo bar on the market.

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Table of Contents:

What is a Stereo Mic Bar?

Stereo Miking Techniques

Adapters:

Tripods

Riser for X/Y

Best Stereo Mic Bar


What is a Stereo Mic Bar?

A basic stereo microphone bar.

A basic stereo microphone bar.

A stereo microphone bar is a recording tool used for holding two microphones in a stereo configuration.

The best part about a stereo bar is that you can use only one mic stand or tripod to hold two microphones.

They are especially useful when recording in A/B, X/Y or ORTF stereo mic arrangements.

To accommodate for these different stereo positions, the bars either swivel (as pictured above) or are slotted, allowing the recordist to choose the spacing between microphones.

Stereo Miking Techniques

A/B

A/B stereo miking based on a pair of omnidirectional microphones.

It is the easiest technique to setup and is one of the most popular methods for recording in stereo.

Increasing the spacing between microphones increases the millisecond delay between sounds reaching each mic. This difference in arrival time is interpreted by our brains as a stereo image.

Our ears are naturally spaced 7 inches apart. Using this spacing between microphones will create a stereo image most similar to how the recorded environment would sound if we were standing there.

Spacing the microphones further apart will result in a wider stereo image. Try experimenting with this distance to find the best result for you.

  • Easy to setup

  • Adjustable stereo width

  • Possible phase issues with mono playback

X/Y

X/Y stereo miking uses a coincident pair of cardioid microphones angled 90° to each other (perpendicular).

Coincident refers to the close spacing of microphones. For this spacing, one microphone must be positioned slightly above the other.

Some stereo bars come with a spacer (riser) for achieving this arrangement.

If you’re in need of a riser, there are a couple of solutions. Click here to jump to that section of this article.

Note: Avoid microphones touching each other to eliminate mechanical noise.

This technique produces a limited stereo image and is best for close-miking situations like podcasting, single instruments and spot sound effects.

  • Weak stereo image

  • Best for close miking

  • Great phase coherence and mono summing

ORTF

ORTF stereo miking uses two cardioid microphones to emulate human hearing.

The mics are spaced at ear width (7”/17cm) and angled at 110°. This spacing and angle replicates the difference in arrival time and the acoustics of our head.

The ORTF technique produces a stereo image wider than X/Y but is still good for mono applications.

If your selected microphones are long, they may cross over each other, requiring one microphone to be slightly raised on a riser. (See adapter section for more information on risers)

  • Simulates human hearing

  • Best for mid-range miking

  • Minimal phase issues when summing to mono

Adapters

Tripods

Tripods are superior to mic stands when dealing with uneven terrain thanks to their individually adjustable legs. However, if you are planning on using one with your stereo mic bar, you will need an adapter.

Tripods are designed for cameras, not audio equipment. That means, they use a 1/4”-20 thread instead of the audio industry standard, 5/8”-27.

Not to worry, there are plenty of affordable options available to make them compatible.

The best option is this female 1/4”-20 to male 5/8”-27 adapter.



Risers

Some stereo miking techniques (see X/Y) will require one microphone to be raised slightly above the other. To achieve this, a riser (also called spacer) is necessary.

For stereo bars that do not include a spacer, there are two popular solutions.

First, you can purchase a quick-release microphone adapter like this one on Amazon. This 5/8” threaded connector will raise one of your microphones by 2.75 inches (7cm). This distance will be good for larger microphones but may be too much for smaller, thinner microphones.

For smaller microphones, a riser can be made by stacking reducer bushings. For this method, you will need opposite connectors (i.e. a 5/8” female to 3/8” male and a 5/8” male to 3/8” female connector).

This Amazon listing includes both of these adapters in a 2-pack, offering a one-stop-shop riser solution.

Best Stereo Mic Bar

As always for these types of recommendations, I put myself in the shoes of the consumer. Most of the time, I actually am that consumer, shopping for the product myself. In this process, I ask myself three questions:

  • What lowest-cost option gets the job done?

  • What is the best cost-to-performance option?

  • What option makes life the easiest?

Answering these three questions allows me to find the best product for whatever budget I have for that item.

To find the best options for stereo microphone bars, each bar had to meet the following criteria:

  1. Cover all popular miking techniques. All microphone bars on the below list must support A/B, X/Y and ORTF configurations. This will allow you to grow with your stereo bar. You may only want to record in X/Y for now, but what if you want to try the wider spacing of A/B or ORTF in the future? By going with any of these recommendations, your creativity won’t be limited by your stereo bar.

  2. Established product. Many products are designed strictly for aesthetics and not functionality. You can easily spot them by finding low-priced options with many features typically costing much more.

    Do your homework and you will find that the product is built from the cheapest materials available and lacks the build quality to carry out any of its functions over time (if at all). These companies operate on a “get rich quick” scheme.

    They sell lots of their inferior products and then, when they begin breaking and people want their money back, they find that the company has disappeared. No customer service and no website.


Best Entry-Level:

K & M 23550 Adjustable Microphone Bar

K & M Stereo Microphone Bar

The K&M Stereo mic bar is a quality, bare-bones stereo bar capable of A/B, X/Y and ORTF techniques. The 3/8” threaded connections slide back-and-forth on the solid aluminum stereo bar.

Made in Germany from solid aluminum, this stereo bar from K&M is the perfect low budget solution.

With a maximum spacing of 6.7” (17cm), this holder can achieve A/B, X/Y and ORTF mic configurations.

The two mic connectors are 3/8” thread. It connects to a mic stand with 3/8” as well.

For mounting to 5/8” mic holders, you will need this adapter.

For mounting to 5/8” mic stands, you will need this adapter.


Best Enthusiast:

Rode SB20 Stereo Array

The Rode SB20 is a popular, well executed stereo bar. The distance markings are helpful for accurate microphone spacing and the included riser is nice for X/Y setups. The plastic build quality makes it lightweight but less durable.

The Rode SB20 is the best value mic bar because of its features and included accessories.

It features a horizontal spacing guide with markings for 10, 15 and 20 centimeter widths between microphones (20 cm (7.87”) is the maximum spacing).

Additionally, it has a degree guide for setting the angle for ORTF and X/Y recording.

This stereo bar includes a spacer for raising one of the microphones slightly above the other.

The bar mounts to a mic stand with a 5/8” thread. The two microphone clip connections are male, 3/8” screws.

The only drawback to this stereo bar is its plastic construction.


Best Professional:

Grace Design SB-30 Kit

The Grace Design SB-30 is built for professionals who demand maximum performance from their gear. Every component is made from machined metal and is built to last. The kit includes: 30cm bar, clamp, (2) standard mic holders and (1) tall mic holder.

The Grace Design SB-30 is the best stereo bar available. Machined from steel, aluminum and brass, the SB-30 is built to last a lifetime.

It has a maximum spacing of 10.2” (26cm) and the entire bar can be tilted 90° down or 70° up to change the direction of both microphones. If you need even wider spacing, the Grace Design SB-60 Kit comes with a 24” (60cm) bar.

It includes two microphone holders with 5/8” threading and includes one tall microphone holder for spacing one microphone slightly above the other.

Each microphone holder has degree markings inscribed on the front and can be rotated with a dedicated adjustment screw. This means that you can lock your microphone in place and then precisely rotate the mic to the exact angle required (it’s basically like an independent pan control on a tripod head).

The SB-30 attaches to a mic stand with 5/8” threading.

The only drawback to this stereo bar is the price, but it’s well worth it if you frequently record in X/Y, A/B or ORTF configurations.



Final Thoughts

It seems like there’s a big gap in the stereo microphone bar market. There aren’t any options between the price range of $50-$300.

Hopefully a product will be inserted within this range but, until then, the K&M Stereo Bar, Rode SB-20, and Grace Design SB-30 remain the best options for their respective budgets.

I hope that you found this information useful in your hunt for the best stereo bar for your recording needs.

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