So interest question I found myself asking today is if there is a fundamental breakdown the way audio enthusiast listen at home and the sound in the studio with the mix engineer. My inclination for years was to say no, but I find myself asking this question none the less. I should start that my goal from the start of this hobby was to get a system that is as close as possible to a mastering studio or a control room in the studio and I like to think I have come closer than I have ever been with that endeavor.
So here is the question/thought. In a studio, engineers need to make detailed decisions on the music and specific effects that to be honest are not very audible when listening on any normal system (i.e. ones costing no more than a few 100 which is what most people are listening on outside of the audiophile world), where we as listeners are looking to enjoy the music. I'm wondering if there is a disconnect between those two?
What I mean by this is hearing the slight reverb on voice or various spatial effects on the mix that are very important in the mix process as together they can add a lot of value and art, but also when you hear something that is clearly an un-natural reverb you know you are listening to a recording. Put another way I feel the close you get to a master studio the more you know you are listening to a recording. Big question is, is this the way we should be trying to get to? Trying to uncover all the details and layers in the mix?
Don't get me wrong I personally enjoy hearing all these details as I enjoying looking into the art of the process and the efforts that went into it, but at the same time you also can spot a mediocre or poor recording a mile way. There are also a few that are just stunning in every genre or type of music you listen to. For instance, I can put on one of Chris Jones early albums and the sound stage sounds like its 3 feet lacks depth and dynamics, but put on his new album and it literally expands to beyond the speakers and is extremely dynamic.
Interestingly, a different setup of the speaker in room can yield a completely different system, essentially one that can hid these small effect and make the older album sound decent but the newer album doesn't shine in all its glory.
Interested to get peoples thoughts and experiences with the above and see if we are really facing a tradeoff.
So interest question I found myself asking today is if there is a fundamental breakdown the way audio enthusiast listen at home and the sound in the studio with the mix engineer. My inclination for years was to say no, but I find myself asking this question none the less. I should start that my goal from the start of this hobby was to get a system that is as close as possible to a mastering studio or a control room in the studio and I like to think I have come closer than I have ever been with that endeavor.
So here is the question/thought. In a studio, engineers need to make detailed decisions on the music and specific effects that to be honest are not very audible when listening on any normal system (i.e. ones costing no more than a few 100 which is what most people are listening on outside of the audiophile world), where we as listeners are looking to enjoy the music. I'm wondering if there is a disconnect between those two?
What I mean by this is hearing the slight reverb on voice or various spatial effects on the mix that are very important in the mix process as together they can add a lot of value and art, but also when you hear something that is clearly an un-natural reverb you know you are listening to a recording. Put another way I feel the close you get to a master studio the more you know you are listening to a recording. Big question is, is this the way we should be trying to get to? Trying to uncover all the details and layers in the mix?
Don't get me wrong I personally enjoy hearing all these details as I enjoying looking into the art of the process and the efforts that went into it, but at the same time you also can spot a mediocre or poor recording a mile way. There are also a few that are just stunning in every genre or type of music you listen to. For instance, I can put on one of Chris Jones early albums and the sound stage sounds like its 3 feet lacks depth and dynamics, but put on his new album and it literally expands to beyond the speakers and is extremely dynamic.
Interestingly, a different setup of the speaker in room can yield a completely different system, essentially one that can hid these small effect and make the older album sound decent but the newer album doesn't shine in all its glory.
Interested to get peoples thoughts and experiences with the above and see if we are really facing a tradeoff.