Toole and why I like Tone Controls


In another thread I was pointed to a really excellent paper by Dr. Floyd Toole (he doesn't use the Dr. but it is well earned) on getting to neutral.

So I want to go back with a little history. In all of audio reproduction theater sound reproduction is among the most rigidly controlled areas of audio. From the needs of Dolby Surround playback, to introduction of acoustic decay requirements introduced by THX, and more, the attempt to deliver a uniform theater experience has been a subject of serious effort by many, and continues to be so.

That's in sharp contrast to consumer music.

So while this article focuses heavily on theater sound, it also touches on just how difficult it is for even theater sound experts to get to neutral. If they can't do it, imagine how hard it is for music!

And, yes, I'm going to hijack Dr. Toole's paper to plug tone controls. With all the guessing that goes on, not using tone controls, and not having great tone controls to use is folly.  Quote me. I said FOLLY!

http://www.aes.org/tmpFiles/elib/20200201/17839.pdf

Also, personal request, if anyone knows how I can get in touch with him and be a fan boy, please let me know. :) I'd love to hang with him, and it turns out he's a local.
erik_squires
In all of audio reproduction theater sound reproduction is among the most rigidly controlled areas of audio.
In fact its not controlled at all. This is complete misrepresentation. As usual.
The only thing you could possibly be referring to is THX. Which is a trademark, not a standard. THX is for Tomlinson Holman eXperiment, the result of some research they did into what it would take to reproduce sound at realistic levels.

THX was a great marketing move and became the de-facto standard. The key word being de-facto! There is in fact no standard whatsoever, other than the ones THX set, which only apply to theaters that wish to use the THX logo in their marketing. Which a lot did, and do.



He posts on a number of forums although, apparently, not here.  Do a little Googling for him.