Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - bdiament

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Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy

Posted by bdiament (A) on October 29, 2004 at 06:03:41

In Reply to: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy posted by Soundmind on October 24, 2004 at 10:48:05:

Hi soundmind,

I believe you've raised a very interesting issue.

Back in the '50s (if I'm not mistaken), Peter Walker, of Quad fame, said there is a "correct" playback volume for every recording, at which it would sound its best. My own listening bears this out, for me at least.

A recent experience however, sheds some light on this:

Several weeks ago, I made a "purist" recording of a rock band. The location was a wonderful sounding church in upstate New York. The performance was captured with a stereo array of two microphones. No console or any type of processing was used.

With the subject of playback volume in mind, I'd set up a sound level meter at the "listening" position about 6 or 7 feet behind where the mics were. Before we got started, I had the drummer do a few hits on his bass drum.. With each hit, I'd announce the reading on the meter, so the recording contained a sound, an announced level, a second sound, a second announcement, etc.

From the meter's position (perhaps 14 feet from the drums) I was getting readings in the range of 85-86 db SPL. I also took readings during the performance and these, when the band was going full-tilt, peaked between 105 and 109 db SPL.

Back in the studio/listening room, with the sound level meter set up at the listening position, I cannot get close to those levels on playback. Perhaps this is unique to the recording, which contains huge peaks, but with my volume control advanced well past "comfortable" (and quite loud), the bass drum hits play back in the high 70s. The full band peaks in the mid 90s. Keep in mind, in my room with my system, this is really loud and "rocking".

The ultimate playback level I chose to listen to this recording is several db lower than this. Now this could well be a function of the amount of amplifier power I have, the capabilities of the speakers, the point at which the room itself "fills up", etc.

So, I believe there is a best playback level (or perhaps a narrow range of levels that could be called "best") but this isn't necessarily (as I thought it would be) the same level as one would hear at the performance. What I just said isn't a "conclusion" on my part, it is simply a recent experience that has provided food for further thought.

Happy Listening!
Barry

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - Soundmind 10:48:05 10/24/04 (11)

Absolutely... - Commuteman 07:39:01 10/31/04 (0)

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - bdiament 06:03:41 10/29/04 (0)

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - gymwear5@hotmail.com 14:08:52 10/27/04 (1)

This is just what the THX spec does - Commuteman 07:43:39 10/31/04 (0)

I hardly think that "correct" is a viable objective, when "accuracy", - Gregm 06:03:50 10/25/04 (0)

How do you know what that was?? - Robert Hamel 12:47:24 10/24/04 (5)

Re: How do you know what that was?? - Soundmind 13:42:32 10/24/04 (4)

Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - Robert Hamel 14:09:45 10/24/04 (3)

Re: Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - oddmanout 04:46:03 10/25/04 (1)

Re: Doesn't the proximity of the microphones corrupt the chain?? - gymwear5@hotmail.com 08:32:32 11/03/04 (0)

Not really - Soundmind 17:08:26 10/24/04 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Playing music at the correct volume and accuracy - bdiament 06:03:41 10/29/04 (0)

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