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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Simpson Microphones thread.
Post Subject: ....deeper....or too deep....Posted by Andy Simpson on: 10/22/2007
 Romy the Cat wrote:

(1)

Interesting that you omitted in your response the “insultingly-extended HF”. I feel it one of the biggest problems as luck of “transients from distance” people foolishly substrates with a presents of bogusly-supplemented and artificially-presented HF.


(2)

I would not buy it “as is”. Implementation is everything but… there are many different aspects of dynamic. As I have written before I recognize not one phrase “dynamic” but at least 4 different aspects of dynamics. I would not say that horn-loading is by it’s nature excel in all aspects of dynamics. It is not to mention that there is expressed dynamic and perceived dynamic…


(3)

The point was not to fight with non-linearities of the ear but to mimic the way how brain proposes the heard. For instance sound, relatively slow traveling in space will reach first microphone sooner than the second and it will be a constant delay. If the microphone #2 has an electro-magnetizing filed, electro-damping and active load then it would be possible to pre-stricture the microphone #2’s characteristics to be optimum for registering the signal of the very given amplitude. Sure, they all are juts fantasies…

Rgs, the Cat


(1)
Yes, I forgot to mention the HF exagerating which occurs in recordings, but it was a simple forgotten point among many.

Usually, this is a _time-domain_ artefact of microphone diaphragm resonance, made worse by excessive proximity. It is not generally achieved by equalisation, nor can it be removed with equalisation. People often consider this form of distortion to be 'detail' but it usually falls over most badly on bowed string instruments such as violin, where diaphragm instability causes painful recordings.

(2)
Of course, I don't expect you to 'buy it' 'as is'! However, as I said, there is a very good reason for horn-loading which I will get to in due course.

(3)
Well, I still do not see any reason why we should try to take the brain or ear into account if we produce a linear record->playback chain. The non-linear ear expects a linear input.

In any case, there is the physical function of the ear, the reasons for non-linearity and the nervous system, all of which are interconnected.

There are many aspects of the overall transfer function of the ear which are discretely significant and we can hardly expect to discuss them all at the same time.

First we have the basic time-domain resolution of the ear - within the well known bandwidth, nominally ~20hz-20khz.

Second we have the amplitude non-linearity of the ear.

Third we have the acoustic transfer function of the outer-ear - based on source location, wave-front, etc.

Then, finally and most horribly, we have the brain, which can chaotically ignore, reinterpret and mistake the input from such amazing sensory organs (please! don't get me started on suspension of disbelief).

These are all critical to 'sound reproduction' in their way but are actually easily considered as discrete systems and not all necessary for our purposes - or within the scope of our possibilities (two channel, non-'binaural').

Regarding the physical ear, the most interesting aspect for me (at present) is the fluid 'damping' of the cochlea. Possibly one reason for the incredible time-domain resolution of the ear.

I believe that this is important to addressing the most basic issue of 'resolution' - ie. time-domain. I address it in microphones and you in speakers (whether directly or not).

Finally, let us dismiss the term 'dynamics' - as you mentioned, it is clearly an undefined marketing term and of no use here.

I prefer impulse response or time-domain response, as these two terms encompass sound _information_ within the audible band. In any case, it is impossible to improve time-domain response without improving all aspects of the dismissed term 'dynamics' - whatever it may mean. :-)

Perhaps, if we keep our first discussion to this discrete area, we can make progress which will inform related areas later.

Best regards,

Andy

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