Gimmie a description

[PhilGood]

I am just curious. I have a particular definition in my own head, but wanted to hear other people's definition of these words. Please describe them to the best of your abilities.

"Air" and "open".


In reference to "air", would this be higher than the frequency range for sibilance? Is "open" the opposite of choked?

It would be nice to be on the same page when referring to these terms and maybe others if you have them.

"Tight" and "Muddy" might be some others...

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Air to me is usually around the upper end of what the average human ear can hear so that's around 16-18khz.

Open to me is more dependent on the source. An 'open' sounding bass will be different frequency wise to an 'open' sounding flute because the frequencies that carry the detail of those sources are different.

To be honest I think there are so many of these terms and many of them are so subjective that it might be a bit difficult to get a consensus on all of them.

A few though I do relate to specific frequencies, air is one example, 'presence' is another (4-6khz). It's probably because that's how they're referred to in the books I've read.

 

[crazydoc]

Here's a thread I posted a couple of years back, that obviously no one was interested in, trying to clarify some similar terms:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=141200

Frankly, I think they are just so much bullshit and can't be quantified or agreed on. I think a double blind A/B study, if ever performed, would corroborate this.

I posted the same question on recording.org and got zero response, making me think no one really has a clue in even a qualitative, much less a quantitative way, what these are about.

 

[dgatwood]

I think of "open" and "airy" as pretty similar, with airy being a little exaggerated, but high enough up in frequency that it doesn't make things sound unnatural, but instead appears to add crispness.


Dave-o-nitions:

Open means the high frequencies are neither rolled off nor exaggerated signficantly.

Dull is with the highs rolled off (which could start anywhere from 12k+).

Hyped or bright is with the highs boosted in a range that makes it sound harsh (maybe 12k+/-4k).

Airy is with the highs boosted slightly at a higher frequency (say 16k+) where it doesn't make things sound harsh, but just adds to the extreme overtones, sibilance, and consonant crispness.

Muddy is what I would use to describe too much lower mids... say within a half octave or so of the C below middle C.

Boomy is too much lows (below muddy).

 

[PhilGood]

Muddy to me is when the low end seems to get mushy or bleeds together. There is no solid, defined, tight resonance. It should be punchy!