Is Sound Stage an artifact of recording?

Almost everything I go to (live performers) has multiple mics, and the sound systems vary from lousy to great, and some places: where you sit, makes a huge difference, from truly enjoyable to horrid. Carnegie Hall; The Beacon; Town Hall; Webster Hall; ......

Recordings, studio mic setup, electronics, mastering ... cutting the LP, all vary, which is why some LPs, you say to yourself or a friend ’these guys knew what they were doing’

Acoustic Orchestra, NJPAC, a great hall, we could definitely hear left to right Violins/Horns/Cellos/Bass, and front to back Kettle Drums and other Percussion way back there.

I went to small NJ and NYC  clubs twice a week for over 20 years, open mics, always with multiple mics, the sound and imaging, I knew where to sit, and took photos, became well known. I often let my musician friends know if something needed boost or cut, and occasionally signaled the sound guy to adjust .....

Here’s just two people, but with mics, you could enjoy the sound and location of their guitars and voices

Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, used to be absolutely horrible. They overhauled the theater and sound system in 2008, darn good except near the side walls.

I took a group to see BB King and Buddy Guy there in 2009, I never would have gone before the renovation. 

I hated the sound at NJ Garden State Art Center (since renamed), just awful. After a few shows, I refused to go there. My friend  says he has tickets for BB King, where? there, NFW. No, really, I found a spot where the sound is great.OK, well the seats were right next to the sound board, and it was excellent, AND, BB, instead of being a Parody of himself, sat down with a blues quartet, and played entire songs, told stories, I’ll never forget that.

I could go on and on, just to say, Acoustic, it varies by the hall's acoustics and seat location; the amplified sound stage we listen to in person, or at home has to be miked properly for the listeners in the room, and for the recording, by people who know what they are doing, then everything down the line .... like anything else, poor, ok, very nice, excellent.

We want our systems to be capable when excellent shows up.

Don't even get me started about audience behavior.

One of the most interesting topics on this forum.  I seem to agree with everyone's thoughtful comments.  They have really added perspective to my listening and this hobby.  

My collections, analog, digital and streaming include a few monophonic recordings which seem surprisingly pleasant, even compared to their stereo counterparts.  That is now better appreciated.  

Part of the excitement of this hobby for me is the thrill as music begins to play on the system.  Its realism is always a wonderful surprise.  And then those little moments when something happens from the speakers which startles your attention even though you've heard it many times.

Very satisfying.  Playing the music which suits the mood distracts from the day to day so much you want to listen for hours. And probably often do.

Get Thee This DVD of Ray Bryant Montreux ’77

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324736813106

I inherited it along with all the LPs my friend left me.

I start the Video, grainy, lousy, I feared the sound would suck also.

Nope, the sound is terrific. He plays a Giant Bosendorfer

It looks longer than this in the video.

They had 4 mics just for the piano, and a separate vocal mic. 

At one point, a sound guy scampers out and changes Ray’s vocal mic, you hear the improvement.

’Those Guys Knew What They Were Doing’

I stumbled across the LP version one day

https://www.discogs.com/release/4818909-Ray-Bryant-Montreux-77

Hah, this popped up, the dude changing the vocal mic. You see the size of that soundboard?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olUknJkFK-k&list=RDolUknJkFK-k&start_radio=1

The audio on the DVD is far better than that video, the power and deep bass of that piano is captured.

Great discussion, I’ve got more to say, but I am rushed at this moment, but if you have a few moments, I highly recommend you listen to this interview of William Low the founder of Audioquest. The whole thing is amazingly on point with our discussion here, and Mr. Lowe is amazingly frank to the extent of shooting himself in the foot as a manufacturer of audio cables and accessories. He does tend to drone on a little, but his statements are very information dense with lots to think about. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-occasional-podcast/id1332323668?i=1000767807570

This applies to only those who enjoy the symphony and other live acoustic events. I never grew up with that so I could care less. I want the music I grew up with to sound great. How many other generes are there where the musicians stay put the whole time?