Re: [ARSCLIST] Absolute Polarity

[Clark Johnsen <clarkjohnsen@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 6:17 PM, Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> This backs up my unscientific observation of what "sounds right" having now
> transferred over 1000 hours of spoken-word recordings. A surprising number
> of old LPs have one side "top heavy" waveforms and one side "bottom heavy."
> Reversing the polarity of the "bottom heavy" nearly always improves voice
> clarity and make the voice stand out more against the surface noise.


You have that EXACTLY RIGHT!

Now whatcha gonna do to ensure that others hear it the same right way?  ;-)

clark

>
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard L. Hess" <
> arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:14 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Absolute Polarity
>
>
>  Hello, Goran,
>
> Thank you! A most interesting paper. It seems
> that the majority -- but not all -- of the voice
> asymmetry is higher in the positive direction.
>
> I wonder if brass or percussion is more consistent.
>
> Thanks for checking--fascinating.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
> At 06:16 AM 2008-10-22, you wrote:
>
>> Richard Hess:
>>
>> > What oddities have you found in this?
>>
>> AES preprint No 1193 (D-3)
>>
>> W.L. Hetrich
>> National Public Radio¨
>> Washington, D.C.
>>
>> Real-World Audio Waveform Assymmetries And the Effect on The Audio
>> Chain.
>>
>> http://www.aes.org/publications/preprints/preprints_search.cfm:
>>
>> --------------------
>>
>>
>> Real-World Audio Wave Form Asymmetries and the Effect on the Audio Chain
>>
>> It is generally accepted in the audio world that it is quite possible
>> for two amplifiers to produce steady state measurements which are very
>> nearly alike in all respects; yet the two units in question produce
>> subjectively obvious differences in reproduced sound when fed with
>> dynamic program material.
>>
>> This condition would lead us to the conclusion that there are gaps in
>> our measurements and techniques which need further study and exploration
>> in order that the relationships between our objective measurements and
>> what we actually hear subjectively may be more clearly delineated.
>>
>> This examines some of the anomalies in actual program material which are
>> due to asymmetries; (Unequal excursions of the audio waveforms above and
>> below the zero base line.) The effect on the audio chain is also
>> documented photographically.
>>
>> Paper Number:   1193    Convention:   55 (October 1976)
>>
>> Author:   Hetrich, Wayne L.
>>
>> Affiliation:   National Public Radio, Washington, DC
>>
>>         downloadable electronic version PDF (4.2 MB)       $5.00 AES
>> Member   |   $20.00 Non-Member
>>         printed copy       $5.00 AES Member   |   $20.00 Non-Member
>> E-Library Location: (CD aes9)   /pp7680/pp7610/1295.pdf     Permalink
>>
>> ----------------------------
>>
>> > Thanks--that would be helpful in re-setting the absolute polarity in
>> > transfers of tapes that did not pay any attention to this.
>>
>> No conlusions of any sort can be drawn in my opinon as to what is right
>> or wrong.
>>
>> And in most cases there are so few who can consistently hear the
>> difference as makes no difference in practice.
>>
>> BTW, ALL radio transmissions have already gone through the phase
>> scrambler to symmetry the incoming audio to lessen the audibility of all
>> the heavy on air processing going on and to maximize the subjective
>> loudness.
>>
>> All in the god of loudness and screw any quality real or imagined that
>> might lurk in the source material.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Best,
>>
>> Goran Finnberg
>> The Mastering Room AB
>> Goteborg
>> Sweden
>>
>> E-mail: mastering@xxxxxxxxx
>>
>> Learn from the mistakes of others, you can never live long enough to
>> make them all yourself.    -   John Luther
>>
>
> Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
> Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>