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Speakers "Disappearing"

I have read a lot about speakers "disappearing" so that one can't tell from where the sound is emanating. But, what about all the stereo tunes where the recordiing engineer intentionally pans the music to come from one side or the other? Can the speakers be made to "disappear" in that situation? Or, is it just the nature of the particular recording?
rlb61

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,644 posts
 
@nitewulf - 

Some of that is "fake" stereo. Actually multi-track mono recordings they put out in stereo to try and cash in. I think there's at least one famous Beatles recording like that. 

But even then, there's a difference between hearing the instruments coincide with the speakers and hearing the speakers themselves as unique sound sources in your space.

Best,

E
erik_squires
16,644 posts
 
I think you may be confusing the speaker's disappearing with imaging. 

You want the speakers to disappear. That is, you don't want to be aware that you have 2 separate sound sources.  You DO want to hear the location of the recorded instruments in the sound field. The two are mutually exclusive. 

And it should be effortless, with no mental processing or strain, it should be an illusion that does not require you to suspend disbelief. 

Good room acoustics are half of this equation. The other half is the speakers. The more neutral the speakers, the more they "stop sounding like speakers" and sound like music. 

Best,


E
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