Thoughts And Questions On Accuracy

  • Thread starter Thread starter smellyfuzz
  • Start date Start date
Good link RE.

You know I was thinking, and this might not quite apply... I really like black & white photography quite a bit. Now it's not an "accurate representation" of the scene by any means, other than the fact that you can usually tell what the scene is.

Just because an "inaccurate" photograph can look great doesn't mean that you can go out snapping pictures randomly with a $10 disposable camera and expect beautiful results.

I think the recording process is very similar. Creating a piece of art doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to capture a perfect photocopy of your inspiration.

It's also interesting to note that a picture is nothing but an illusion. A recording is also an illusion in much the same way.

That's how I see it anyhow. I think it's more important to concentrate on taking beautiful pictures and not so much time trying to take accurate pictures....maybe not in every case, but in many cases. And if you can't take a nice picture, then at least make sure that what you're taking a picture of is at least half ways interesting to begin with.

But that's all bullshit, I'm neither a photographer nor an engineer and I'm barely a musician.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Way cool questions;

>1) When going to a recording school is accuracy ever discussed or better yet taught ?<

Yes, I was taught that if the listener is ever aware of any choices made by the engineer, that engineer had failed miserably.

>2) Since all links in a chain starting with the microphone color the sound,
is it ever practice to attempt to Eq the sound back to sound of the
original instrument's characteristics ?<

Sometimes. You have to remember that as engineers we are not just reproducing an existing sound. We are also reproducing an emotional response. The sound that a dimed Marshall 4x12 makes in a 10x10 room is more about emotion that accurate representation. Sometimes you have to exaggerate to get the point across. think hyper-real or trans-real.

>3) Are their known microphones & components that are known for
their accuracy?<

Yes, and most of those are as boring to me as cauliflower.

>4) I'm reasonably sure that, in the pro world, when one records an
orchestra or a small quartet in a hall or church, they shoot for
accuracy, has any one here ever had experience in this & have
they used similar methods in the studio?<

Recording an orchestra or quartet bears no resemblance to recording a rock band, except that the same gear may be used at either session.

>5) Even though it is not reasonable to think that Home recording
equipment can reproduce accurately, is there a way to at least
come close or a way of practicing the method?<

A little from column A and a little from column B.

We aren't just trying to capture a musical performance (how boring), we are also trying to communicate to the listener all the thrill and emotional impact that the band can muster. Rock-n-Roll is not still life painting, it is putting your head into the jaws of the beast.


Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"Jazz, pfffft...They just make it up as they go along."
-Homer Simpson-
 
Audio Producing "style" is really no different than Film Directing style. Some subjects are better served with a more realistic treatment, others not.

I would say in general that the better the source sound and performance the less you want to mess with it. It's the crap that you need to process so that the processed part becomes more enjoyable than the actual source.

You wouldnt ask BB King to come over and record then cut and paste and add flanger all over the place.

But when some 15yr old moron wants to record the next great pop song you better get the scissors and FX ready.
 
HAHA!!!

"Yes, and most of those are as boring to me as cauliflower."


HAHA!!! That reminds me of a conversation I had with Stephen and how he finds Brüel & Kjaer mics boring; I completely agree!

But wait a minute, I like cauliflower!!! :mad: Only raw with lots of Ranch! Then again, I guess the Ranch gives it quite a bit of flavor! :p :D
 
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