IME, spaced configurations tend to complement a soundboard best and vice-versa, as the spacing between mics provides the open, ambient content that a dry soundboard tends to lack, while the soundboard provides plenty of clarity and a rock solid center image. Also, increased spacing between mics allows for less angle between them while still producing sufficient stereo information. That allows you to point the microphones more directly toward PA, providing clearer pickup of the PA, especially vocals. This becomes increasingly important as the recording position is shifted farther back in the room, especially if there is no soundboard feed providing good clarity.
What is "Improved PAS"?
Improved PAS (Point At Stacks) is a way of figuring out what the most optimal spacing between a pair of microphones would be if they are pointed straight at the PA speakers. The spacing is determined by the angle between the microphones - the narrower the angle, the wider the spacing. Choice of pickup pattern has some influence too - a more open pickup pattern benefits from a bit more spacing than a tighter pickup pattern. Even if you can't practically achieve the full spacing suggested by Improved PAS, it's helpful to know what the ideal spacing would be from that particular recording position, as you can then use as much spacing as you are able to practically achieve, then compensate by pointing the mics somewhat wider than the PA. The question becomes how much wider you can point them while still retaining sufficient clarity.
All the standard named patterns from X/Y to DIN, ORTF, NOS, etc are essentially specific points along the continuum of angle verses spacing in Improved PAS.
Coincident mic configs like Mid/Side and X/Y can be very attractive because they use no spacing, making them compact and more practical to run in some situations than a spaced pair. But the absence of any spacing means they need a significantly wider angle between mics to produce similar stereo information to a spaced microphone configuration. The same general principle applies: The closer the recording position is to the stage, the wider the angle between microphones becomes and less spacing is needed between the microphones.. all the way down to needing no spacing at all, which is X/Y. That relatively wide angle between mics poses less of a problem when the recording position that is relatively close. Mid/Side instead of X/Y can help somewhat because the Mid microphone is pointed directly forward toward the stage, and the angle between L/R channels is virtual, determined later by the M/S ratio.
Even if you prefer to keep things simple and choose between just a few different standard configurations rather than trying to optimize PAS spacing for each specific situation, getting a good grasp on the general Improved PAS relationship can be very helpful in deciding between whatever standard configurations you have available to you.
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