Great post! I completely agree that stereo pairs aren’t just for classical music recording (although that is the context in which I really learned about them.) This week, I used a spaced pair of cardioids to close mic a piano (SM57’s that worked very well in the specific context), an ORTF pair of cardioids for drum overheads and a small choir (Mojave MA-201), and an ORTF pair of cardioids for room sound (Ear Trumpet Labs Edwina). They all sounded great. A well placed stereo pair can add a sense of depth and realism to a recording.
Cheers,
David
http://www.DavidStreit.com