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Is imaging reality?

I’m thrilled that I finally reached the point in my quest where instruments are spread across my listening field like a virtual “thousand points of light.”  I would never want to go back to the dark ages of mediocre imaging, But as a former classical musician, the thought occurs to me, is this what I hear at a concert, even sitting in the first row?  What we’re hearing is the perspective of where the microphones are placed, generally right on top of the musicians.  So close that directionality is very perceptible, unlike what we hear in the hall. The quality of our systems accurately reproduces this perspective wonderfully. 
But is it this as it is in the real world?
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edcyn
1,876 posts
 
I enjoy artificial, "made up" soundstaging and stereo effects almost if not equally as much as the real thing.  Out-of-phase insanities, echo chamber overkill, multi-tracked vocalists, horse race pan-potting, etc., etc., are tons of fun.  Sure, sometimes it can be overdone more than a tad, but if it is done with panache it's a pleasure-and-a-half.
rwisem
21 posts
 
Interesting topic.  I have had season tickets to our symphony orchestra for over 10 years.  At times I have closed my eyes and imagined I was listening to a HiFi system playing.  Of course, it sounds like a very good system, but the imaging didn't really stand out for me.

headphonedreams
527 posts
 
You can read some reviews by John Atkinson at Stereophile. He has made a lot of recordings and usually rembers a lot of how the mics were placed and some of how it sounded and comments on differences or similarities.

Mics are often placed a bit to the front of an orchestra but it differs. I also think that some imaging exists when you listen live also but it may be less clear since you often have larger distances or some suboptimal placing.
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@mazian

For example I recently played a bassoon concerto and could hear the intake of breathe from the soloist before he/she began the solo, the click of the keys ( I call them keys but I am sure there is an official term that I can’t remember) and the shuffling of the players feet, all sounds you would be unlikely to hear at a live venue unless, perhaps you sat in the front row

I love that kind of stuff in a recording. Heck, in most cases you would have to be an orchestra member yourself to hear those things. But I like the immersive quality that type of thing brings, regardless if it is realistic, particularly for an orchestra performance. I have a couple of the Royal Concertgebouw Live box sets, and really like the various ambient sound captured. It provides a feeling/sense of ’being there’.
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
bkeske, I agree with your comments on Severance Hall.   Not a bad seat in the house in my experience, and the most beautiful venue I've seen by no small margin.  It's been a while, but as I recall there is a fair distance between the front row and stage.  If I am remembering correctly, that could account for a more even distribution throughout the hall.  
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