Sacriledge, possibly.

Posted by: Mr_Sukebe on 05 August 2002

Guys,

Here's a thought for you.
Consider how different types of music is played to you when live. Now exclude Orchestras and acoustic equipment and think about what is left.

Generally most live music we listen to plays through PA systems of various types.

Wouldn't it therefore make sense to suggest that the "optimum" live music reproduction system would be something like a CDS2 as a front end to a big set of marshalls? I know that this would be even less acceptable to the mrs than my existing setup, but I was curious about other peoples thoughts and to see whether anyone has actually tried a comparison?

Note, I happily accept that using a set of Marshall amps to replay a string quartet is not exactly likely to be a particularly great option.
Posted on: 05 August 2002 by NaimDropper
Sure, use PA speakers for "live" music.
And then "chamber" speakers for chamber music.
And then check the label to see if the guitar player used Marshall or Mesa Boogie or...
And then...
Here's another thought: Why not use the MONITORS that the mixing and mastering folks use? That's what the artists listened to and APPROVED as their idea of how it should sound...
And I'd rather drive hot nails into my ears with a hammer than listen to a set of Yamaha NS-10 (the white cones)!
This topic is an interesting one.
I have a bit of experience recording, mixing and mastering in my home studio and I use cheap Alesis Monitor Ones (driven by my 42/110 of course!) for my mixing and mastering. (Yes, they're toe'd in but there's a reason for that!) I tried mixing on my 'Briks (not toe'd in!!!) and it sounded pretty good when I was done, but like crap on any other system.
There's the rub.
The mixing and mastering process must take into account where the music will be played, so good sound engineers (not me!) will "calibrate" their ears to predict how their mix will sound on a variety of systems. In other words, the lowest common denominator, especially with pop music. (Must sound good on AM, FM, car, cheap stereo, etc.) I regularly play it on my hi fi, in my truck, on a "boom box" etc. before I have a client listen.
There's a lot of Round Earth going on in the mixing and mastering world, otherwise you wouldn't be able to reproduce the "air" around the cymbals, etc... (This in itself is an interesting topic to debate!)
Ultimately, if you are of the Flat Earth, you'll end up with what sounds the most like whole music, which is not PA speakers, Marshall stacks, etc. All these are elements to make live music, not the whole of live or studio music.
David