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Why should we think of "what microphones heard " as a standard

when they are incapable of hearing everything there is to hear ?
Even some Audiogon yellow badges members can possibly hear better.
inna
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,898 posts
 
Unless you know a way, then, of using a pair of "golden ears" in place of microphones, all the sound in any given recording is that captured by the mics, at least that of acoustic, non-purely electronic sources (keyboards primarily, though some guitarists and bassists plug straight into the board). How can it possibly be otherwise?! The best mics DO capture close to everything they "hear"; it is how they are employed in the attempt to capture the "space" the recording is made in that remains the most elusive. J. Gordon Holt considered THAT to be the major remaining failing of our recording and reproduction technique, the remaining obstacle to achieving the life-like reproduction of recorded music.
inna OP
7,317 posts
 
No need for golden ears, just good enough ears.
He is right, I think, but this is not the only failing. Close to everything means far from reality. Can't they make better microphones and other elements in the recording chain ? What keeps them ?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,898 posts
 

There have been great microphones for many, many years. The Telefunken U-47 from the 1950’s ( a large diaphragm condenser tube mic) commands massive amounts of money on the used market (it is still considered the best mic of all time for vocals), and the Sony C-37A is considered it’s equal by some. Mark Levinson used B & K mics in his fabulous recordings during the 1970’s and 80’s

The electronics in the best studios (Pink Floyd’s in London, designed and built by EAR-Yoshino’s Tim de Paravicini) are at least as good as any consumer gear, and there are quite a few companies making new tube mic pre-amps (including Manley), limiters, etc.

Tape recorders themselves remain a weak link, as a listen to any direct-to-disk LP makes obvious. There are a few exceptions, the custom made recorder used by Kav Alexander of Water Lily Records being a notable one. With advances in digital standards, that may eventually be a thing of the past.

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