Blumlein

Blumlein is a surname of German origin. The most notable figure bearing the name is Alan Dower Blumlein (1903–1942), a British electrical engineer known for pioneering work in audio engineering and wartime research for EMI.

In audio recording, Blumlein is best known for developing the stereo recording technique that bears his name, the Blumlein pair. This method uses two bidirectional (figure-of-eight) microphones placed coincidentally at a 90-degree angle to capture a stereophonic image with natural room ambience. The approach was described in his writings on high-fidelity sound recording in the 1930s and has influenced many modern microphone techniques and recording practices.

Blumlein’s work extended beyond audio into telecommunications research conducted for EMI during the same era. His career was cut short by his death in 1942 during a test flight, which ended his contributions to engineering.

Legacy of the technique remains strong in audio production. The Blumlein pair is considered foundational in stereo microphone practice and continues to be taught, cited, and emulated in music recording, film sound, and acoustic research. The name Blumlein is thus chiefly associated with early advances in stereo capture and the enduring influence of his approach to microphone technology.