Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - Soundmind - Propeller Head Plaza

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Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy

One thing that rarely if ever gets discussed is how loud music should be played in a sound reproduction system. For true accuracy meaning the closest sound to a live performance, there are several factors to be taken into consideration. One factor is the perceived distance between the instruments and the listener. A recording which captures no acoustics whatsoever should be played at the same loudness as if the performers were the same distance from you as your loudspeakers. If the reproduced sound is too soft, it will lack the power of the live instrument. If it is too loud, it will be an overblown caricature of that instrument. Therefore, large ensembles like symphony orchestras or exceptionally powerful instruments like pipe organs would have to be played at deafening levels to sound accurate since litlle of the acoustics of the normal venues for these sources is captured or reproduced (the dreams of some audiophiles notwithstanding.) It should be noted that when related to instruments which use electroinc amplification or music which is deliberately "processed" such as voices enhanced by reverb units, the term accuracy has no real meaning since there is no objective source either real or even theoretical to compare it to. This would suggest that high accuracy sound systems are best suited for soloist instruments or small ensembles where none of the sources is normally heard electronically amplified or processed. Jazz ensembles, string quartets and the like are the perfect candidates. OK, now for the flames I suppose.

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Topic - Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - Soundmind 10:48:05 10/24/04 (11)

Absolutely... - Commuteman 07:39:01 10/31/04 (0)

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - bdiament 06:03:41 10/29/04 (0)

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - gymwear5@hotmail.com 14:08:52 10/27/04 (1)

This is just what the THX spec does - Commuteman 07:43:39 10/31/04 (0)

I hardly think that "correct" is a viable objective, when "accuracy", - Gregm 06:03:50 10/25/04 (0)

How do you know what that was?? - Robert Hamel 12:47:24 10/24/04 (5)

Re: How do you know what that was?? - Soundmind 13:42:32 10/24/04 (4)

Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - Robert Hamel 14:09:45 10/24/04 (3)

Re: Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - oddmanout 04:46:03 10/25/04 (1)

Re: Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - gymwear5@hotmail.com 08:32:32 11/03/04 (0)

Not really - Soundmind 17:08:26 10/24/04 (0)

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