Microphone Placement Calculator
Calculate mic spacing using the 3:1 rule and stereo pair configurations.
Inputs
ft
°
Results
3:1 Rule Distance
3 ft
≈ 6 smartphones
Spaced Pair Distance2 ft
ORTF Spacing17 cm
X/Y Capsule Angle90°
Min Multi-Mic Spacing3 ft
Direct To Reverb Ratio1%
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Source Distance, Number of Mics, and Desired Stereo Width.
- Review the 3:1 Rule Distance (ft) result.
- Use Spaced Pair Distance (ft) and ORTF Spacing (cm) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Source Distance
| Source Distance | 3:1 Rule Distance |
|---|---|
| 5.23 | 15.7 ft |
| 18 | 54 ft |
| 33 | 99 ft |
| 45 | 135 ft |
What each input means
- Source Distance
- Distance from the sound source to the nearest microphone.
- Number of Mics
- Total number of microphones being used.
- Desired Stereo Width
- Desired stereo image width in degrees.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersSource Distance = 1, Number of Mics = 2, Desired Stereo Width = 90 = 3 input(s) provided
- Calculate 3:1 Rule Distance3:1 Rule Distance3 = 3
- Calculate Spaced Pair DistanceSpaced Pair Distance2 = 2
- Calculate ORTF SpacingORTF Spacing17 = 17
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