After writing What is Phase? last week, one of my readers emailed me, asking me to address the 3:1 rule of microphone placement. (Thanks Mike!)

What is the 3:1 Rule? According to the handy Sweetwater glossary,

…when using two microphones to record a source, normally you will get the best results by placing the second mic three times the distance from the first mic that the first mic is from the source. Confusing? An example: If the first mic is 1 foot from a source, the second mic should be placed 3 feet from the second mic. Using the 3:1 Rule will minimize phase problems created by the time delay between mics.

This rule originated when engineers were micing multiple sources in the same vicinity. The same principle applies. If you are recording two different sources of sound, their respective microphones should be at least three times further apart than they are close to their respective sources. Keep in mind that rules are meant to be broken; you may prefer the sound created by ignoring the 3:1 Rule – experiment and let your ears be your guide!

Before you scroll down to the comments section and start asking me how the 3:1 Rule came into existence, let me just say that I honestly don’t know. I’m not exactly sure why it’s 3:1 as opposed to 2:1 or 5:1. However, what I do know is that a lot of people who are much smarter than me developed this theory, and it seems to work well.

The basic idea here is that you want to get the 2nd microphone at least 3 times the distance away from the first. When you get the microphones this far apart (or farther), then you provide enough separation between the two mics to keep the combined recorded signal from having phase issues.

A great example of this is recording a choir. Most new engineers try to put as many microphones in front of the choir as possible.

It looks something like this:

I used to get all sorts of calls at Sweetwater from churches who weren’t happy with their choir sound. Nine times out of ten, they would have too many mics on the choir. Each of those mics was picking up so much similar information as all the other microphones, and the choir ended up sounded thin and small.

The solution? Less is more. The 3:1 Rule would look like this:

Perhaps 3 feet away from the choir is a bit close, but it really depends on the application. You could move the microphones back one foot, then have the microphones be 12 feet from each other. Even a pair of microphones would sound better than seven mics. However, with a source as wide as a choir, three microphones seems to be a good number.

As the Sweetwater glossary stated, the 3:1 Rule is just like any other “rule” you’ll run across in the recording world. Regardless of what everyone says you should do, do what sounds best.

[Photo Credit - mrgilles]

If you enjoyed this, you may also like...

1. Day 17 – Using Multiple Mics [31DBR]
2. What is Phase?
3. How to Record Violin (or ANY new instrument)