A double Mid-Sides array captures height information a stereo pair cannot

A double Mid-Sides (MS) array uses two coincident pairs stacked vertically: typically two cardioids (mid) and one figure-of-eight (sides). The vertical offset adds height information, allowing post-production decoding into true spatial audio. For location use, the array is mounted in a single suspension and windshield, staying portable. Watson uses both a commercial SoundField 450 B-format mic and two self-built double-MS rigs (Schoeps CCM4V + CCM8, and Sennheiser MKH8040 + MKH30), demonstrating that the technique is achievable outside broadcast budgets. Games drove spatial audio adoption; broadcasting has adopted it more slowly but increasingly.

Examples

Schoeps CCM4V (cardioid) × 2 + CCM8 (figure-of-eight) in Cinela mount. Sennheiser MKH8040 × 2 + MKH30, in Rycote suspension. SoundField ST450 tetrahedral microphone (B-format capture, all directions simultaneously).

Assessment

Explain why a double Mid-Sides array captures more directional information than a standard stereo pair, and describe one post-production step required to decode a double-MS recording to a listenable stereo or 5.1 output.