2. misc-audio
  3. 191432-1069

When I listen to my system.......

As I have stated many times, I listen to the musicianship and the composition. As I listen to SRV, just as an example, there are three musicians working together to create a "performance". How is it that anyone can put tone, sound staging, or anything else with the "sound" before the performance. There is much information on our recordings, and generally, many of these recordings are just so so with the fidelity. In fact, why do many listeners only listen to top notch recordings of higher fidelity, of the "sound", rather than appreciate those qualities I look and listen for. Is it because I was a singer / vocalist in my youth? Is it because I was around musicians who shared the joy of "music"? Is it because at a very early age, I was introduced to big band music and eclectic performances by so many, via my dad (he would have been 100 today; happy birthday dad). Yes, I consider myself an audiophile, because I spend money on gear and am careful with my dedicated room....my system allows me to hear more of the performance. But, it is the "music", the "performance", that matters most to me. I suppose I am feeling a bit nostalgic today, because of my pops. I am bringing this up again, because I do not understand the mentality of folks who listen differently than I. I know this subject might be ad nauseum to many, but some of the folks I used to design systems for, became less interested in the music, and more about the sound, placing the music and performance secondary, or not at all. I am just venting. If you would like to add to this post, I welcome all thoughts. No judgement from me. I wish everyone well. Enjoy! MrD.

mrdecibel

Showing 4 responses by inagroove

inagroove
178 posts
 

@ mrdecibel, you stated "How is it that anyone can put tone, sound staging, or anything else with the "sound" before the performance."

I understand your position, but I think your premise is flawed. 

The issue is not performance/composition VERSUS sonic reproduction .  The issue at hand is - what is the result of the performance/composition AND sound (sonic character of the recording/playback processes).  These elements are synergistic (or at least additive).

Viewed another way, better performances/compositions are necessary, but not sufficient... AND  better sounding recordings/gear improve the experience of ALL recordings. You need BOTH.

IMO - You can not truly appreciate musicianship and composition when listening to poorly engineered recordings (I just gave away ~600 LPs of this type).  Conversely, great recordings of mediocre performances are equally unsatisfying (I also gave away ~100 LPs of this type).

Give it some thought... I hope you find your answers satisfying.

 

 

 

inagroove
178 posts
 

@ mfili35

Mr. Parson was correct, and perhaps not for the reason some folks think.

You stated: "Alan Parsons puts a lot of time into their mixes and mastering once said people don't buy equipment to listen to our music they buy our music to listen to their equipment"

As soon as we turn on our equipment, we are NOT listening to music - we are listening to reproductions of music on our equipment.

This is a FULL STOP moment.  None of us are listening to music on our systems, which truly invalidates the performance vs. sound conundrum that is discussed above!

To give this idea some perspective, I was recently listening to several recordings from the true Analog Days - 1910 to 1915 to be exact...

Back then, the compression waves produced by voices and instruments were directed into a large horn that had a diaphragm at the horn's apex.  This diaphragm was connected to a stylus (think cutter-head) that carved lines into wax that was adhered to a spinning cylinder.  This process created an ANALOG of the music...

To listen to MUSIC, go to a concert (or play some yourself).

 

 

 

inagroove
178 posts
 

@ jastralfu

My statement clarifies that recordings are sonic derivatives of music, and NOT music.   The key is that recordings are influenced by the recording/playback process.  Real (i.e. live) music does not suffer from these issues. Consequently, ALL of us care about the efficacy of our systems, not just the "musicianship and the composition" that the OP favors.

I was not not implying that recordings are unemotional, those are your thoughts alone... 

inagroove
178 posts
 

@ toddalin

Your comments are missing the point. 

Once music is recorded/reproduced you leave the world of music and enter the world of music reproduction, which is why we gather in this forum to discuss gear, not performers/performances (unless it is to clarify a point regarding gear).

 

If you are still scratching your head, perhaps an explicit analogy will help - 

Claiming a recording IS real music is analogous to saying a photograph of my dog IS my dog (without the fur :-).   Really not the same thing at all.

Once this is concept is clear, 'music vs gear' comments (which started this thread) in this forum are inappropriate.  There are more appropriate forums in which to discuss music.

And yes, Loops are processed, not live music.  I thought that was obvious.

No further comments needed.

 

More to discover