These audio files accompany my The Mid-Sides Myth article, published in SOS August 2026.
www.soundonsound.com/techniques/mid-sides-myth
msm_01_FullWidthPickup
This is a X-Y stereo recording made with a pair of Shure KSM141 small-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphones configured at a 110-degree mutual angle. A stand-mounted single-driver loudspeaker was recorded playing a short vocal phrase a total of five times, always set up at the same distance from the microphone rig: first on-axis; then at 80 degrees off-axis to the left-hand side; then on-axis again; then at 80 degrees off-axis to the right-hand side; then on-axis one final time.
msm_02_NarrowPickup
This recording uses the same stereo microphone setup and single-driver loudspeaker as in the msm_01_FullWidthPickup audio example, but with the loudspeaker first on-axis; then at 30 degrees off-axis to the left-hand side; then on-axis again; then at 30 degrees off-axis to the right-hand side; then on-axis to finish.
msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened
Here, I've increased the Sides-channel level of the msm_02_NarrowPickup audio file by 6dB, using Voxengo's MSED M-S encoder/decoder plug-in, to match the stereo positioning of its left-hand and right-hand vocal phrases with those of the msm_01_FullWidthPickup audio file.
msm_04_FullWidthVsWidenedNarrow_Left
This audio file provides a direct comparison between the second (ie. left-located) vocal phrases of the msm_01_FullWidthPickup and msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened audio files in the following pattern: msm_01_FullWidthPickup; msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened; msm_01_FullWidthPickup; msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened.
msm_05_FullWidthVsWidenedNarrow_Centre
This audio file provides a direct comparison between the first (ie. centre-located) vocal phrases of the msm_01_FullWidthPickup and msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened audio files in the following pattern: msm_01_FullWidthPickup; msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened; msm_01_FullWidthPickup; msm_03_NarrowPickupWidened.
msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed
Here, I've decreased the Sides-channel level of the msm_01_FullWidthPickup audio file by 7dB, using Voxengo's MSED plug-in, to match the stereo positioning of its left-hand and right-hand vocal phrases with those of the msm_02_NarrowPickup audio file.
msm_07_NarrowVsNarrowedFullWidth_Left
This audio file provides a direct comparison between the second (ie. left-located) vocal phrases of the msm_02_NarrowPickup and msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed audio files in the following pattern: msm_02_NarrowPickup; msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed; msm_02_NarrowPickup; msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed.
msm_08_NarrowVsNarrowedFullWidth_Centre
This audio file provides a direct comparison between the first (ie. centre-located) vocal phrases of the msm_02_NarrowPickup and msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed audio files in the following pattern: msm_02_NarrowPickup; msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed; msm_02_NarrowPickup; msm_06_FullWidthPickupNarrowed.