great question

great question

Posted by BigguyinATL (M) on April 14, 2011 at 20:50:46

In Reply to: Do Microphones "Hear" Like The Human Ear/Brain Does? posted by thetubeguy1954 on March 25, 2011 at 13:08:42:

Truth number one: The signal reaching you ears(acoustic pressure variations) when reproducing a recording "performance" bares little resemblance to that of a live performance. Truth number two: The signals reaching the microphones in the recording of a performance (live or studio) also have little resemblance to what is heard in a live performance.
Truth number three: (And this is the toughest one to grasp) When you listen to your stereo system, these two somewhat correlated left and right signals (the voltages reaching the loudspeakers) that have little resemblance to anything you might hear in real life, are further convolved as converted back to pressure by a loudspeaker and room responses then reach the marvelously created ear that eventually triggers digital impulses into that multithreaded processor we call the brain that because of our intrigue with the experience and anticipation of music IMAGINES a somewhat real performance.

That we don't recoil at all the possible distortions is amazing. That the expectations we have are easily swayed (some more some less) by the appearance, cables and configuration of a system - even though there is little evidence of the signal changing audibly between software and loudspeaker is NOT surprising
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Do Microphones "Hear" Like The Human Ear/Brain Does? - thetubeguy1954 13:08:42 03/25/11 (28)

Stereophile Test CD1 has the same performance heard by different kinds of mics - Jay Buridan 09:30:46 04/24/11 (4)

RE: Stereophile Test CD1 has the same performance heard by different kinds of mics - b.l.zeebub 13:08:25 05/23/11 (1)

Or to reproduce the result however one likes best - Jay Buridan 15:23:21 05/23/11 (0)

Wow. It's been a long time - Presto 16:48:55 05/10/11 (1)

Thanks for the kind words :) - Jay Buridan 17:35:56 05/10/11 (0)

If we are talking about distant/ stereo miking of acoustic music then it 's likely to be - Timbo in Oz 00:30:00 04/21/11 (0)

no M in sibilance. - hifitommy 20:45:28 04/17/11 (3)

RE: no M in sibilance. - b.l.zeebub 08:49:22 04/18/11 (2)

sibilance. - hifitommy 14:51:14 04/18/11 (1)

RE: sibilance. - b.l.zeebub 15:54:33 04/18/11 (0)

great question - BigguyinATL 20:50:46 04/14/11 (0)

"Normal" don't But ... - danlaudionut 18:07:17 04/02/11 (0)

RE: Do Microphones "Hear" Like The Human Ear/Brain Does? - ahendler 20:14:07 04/01/11 (0)

Really just one thing in common. Both are transducers from "sound" to signal. - Enophile 11:37:49 03/29/11 (1)

RE: only in the crudest sense could the incredible - BigguyinATL 20:53:45 04/14/11 (0)

No - Bill Way 10:41:21 03/29/11 (0)

Ever had someone sing into your ear from an inch away?? - Robert Hamel 09:38:42 03/29/11 (4)

RE: Ever had someone sing into your ear from an inch away?? - thetubeguy1954 13:40:30 04/01/11 (2)

Stick your fingers in your ears it probably ends up being masked - Robert Hamel 09:37:27 04/04/11 (0)

RE: Ever had someone sing into your ear from an inch away?? - ahendler 20:16:22 04/01/11 (0)

Excellent point - mls-stl 19:36:46 03/31/11 (0)

RE: Do Microphones "Hear" Like The Human Ear/Brain Does? - soulfood 15:36:27 03/28/11 (0)

Microphones don't have a memory - geoffkait 13:01:27 03/28/11 (0)

No (long) - Presto 14:31:54 03/27/11 (3)

RE: No (long) - crazed49@sonic.net 22:38:38 04/09/11 (2)

RE: No (long) - Presto 09:52:01 04/13/11 (1)

RE: No (long) - Tony Lauck 19:39:41 04/13/11 (0)

RE: Do Microphones "Hear" Like The Human Ear/Brain Does? - tomservo 17:23:47 03/25/11 (0)

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great question - BigguyinATL 20:50:46 04/14/11 (0)

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