P3D Re: Welcome Dr T

["Greg Wageman" <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Dottle <markaren@xxxxxxxxx>


>Headphones often "color" the sound and influence direction

As opposed to what?  There is no such thing as a "perfect" transducer,
and even if there were, it would only remain "perfect" in an anechoic
chamber where it would be uninfluenced by the acoustics of the room.
The fact is that *any* listening situation in the real world is a series
of compromises and tradeoffs.  While many of the things you say about
headphones are true (e.g. listener fatigue), they can also apply to
speakers (try mixing shred metal played through a pair of NS-10Ms for 12
hours).

Headphones give one a portable listening environment that sounds the
same everywhere.  One can learn the response idiosyncracies of 'phones
just like with speakers.  Many home recordists rely on them exclusively
for tracking, mixing and mastering out of necessity.  No sane person
would argue that NS-10Ms are flat in their response, yet you will find a
pair on just about every professional mixing desk.  Not because they are
'good' but because they are a reference standard.

As much as I'd love to continue this debate, it, sadly, is wildly
off-topic for this list.  Maybe we could continue it on
rec.arts.audio.my-speakers-are-better-than-your-speakers. :-)

>Think of how much you have learned over the years about stereo
>photography........you must pay the same dues to understand audio with
>as much competence. Jon Golden? Other audio buffs who have the same
>experiences, would you agree?

Audio production is practically black magic compared to stereo
photography.  If anything, the learning curve is steeper and many
aspects of it are non-intuitive (e.g. proper use of a compressor).
Audio being a dynamic phenomenon, there's really no comparison with our
stereo still photography.

     -Greg W. (gjw@xxxxxxxxxx)