Talk:Fletcher–Munson curves

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What is the reason for the difference between the red and blue curves?--Light current 23:38, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Basically, experimental error. This is a dificult thing to measure. I give my own suggested reasons for the difference at Robinson-Dadson curves and Equal-Loudness curves, but I have found no official speculation on the reasons. I have now copied accross the reason from R-D curves.

--Lindosland 13:23, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

I am not happy with the section that was added on recording techniques, firstly because it does not belong here, on a page specifically about the F M curves, and secondly because it is wrong. The aim of the sound recording is primarily to recreate the original sound, and that means at the original level. While it has in the past been dificult or impractical to reproduce music at original levels, this is no longer the case, and if recordings were made with the intention that they were to be played back at low levels only, then they would sound harsh and bass-heavy when played in disco's or on top-quality audio installations, or even on iPods which tend to be used at high level. It is true that some engineers like to listen on monitor speakers that emulate typical low-end home systems, but they tend to do this as a secondary check that their balance sounds acceptable on such systems. The use of heavy compression also forms part of the commercial battle to get a 'punchy' sound, but many engineers condemn this trend, and aim to produce a recording that is as far as possible an unprocessed version of the original. In any case, this is about poor speakers, not low listening levels. Some domestic hi-fi systems, and car players have long incorporated a 'loudness' control, or option, which boosts bass and treble when the volume is turned down, and this it obviously the way to compensate without ruining the actual recording. The use of cardiod mics close up is also a technique to be condemned, as most cardiod mics have poor bass response and using them close up only produces an unquantifiable response which is likely to have 'boom' but still lack true low frequencies. The use of an omni with a flat response to 20Hz gives far better results, and tiny electret mics are ideal for use on bass-drums. --Lindosland 13:03, 15 September 2007 (UTC)