What exactly is PRaT???


Ok, it’s like this thing and is associated with “toe tapping” and such.  I confess, I don’t get it.  Apparently companies like Linn and Naim get it, and I don’t and find it a bit frustrating.  What am I missing?  I’m a drummer and am as sensitive as anyone to timing and beats, so why don’t I perceive this PRaT thing that many of you obviously do and prize as it occurs in stereo systems?  When I read many Brit reviews a lot of attention goes to “rhythm” and “timing” and it’s useless to me and I just don’t get it.  If someone can give me a concrete example of what the hell I’m not getting I’d sincerely be most appreciative.  To be clear, enough people I greatly respect consider it a thing so objectively speaking it’s either something I can’t hear or maybe just don’t care about — or both.  Can someone finally define this “thing” for me cause I seriously wanna learn something I clearly don’t know or understand.  

soix

HSBF - Hip Shakin' Boogie Factor - can typically be found in the music of James Brown.

@jastralfu *sigh* +1....that does sum it up, but we "still look to find a reason to believe.." .. ;)

I would avoid the boogie factor because, being a drummer, you probably have a name for that - triplet feel or whatever. I think the cleanest example would be to take two examples of the same song. One was mastered in the 80s as a bargain basement tape. The other was original - or a strong remaster later. The difference in how they make you feel - despite being the same exact music - is the PRaT. The haze or opaque blocking is removed. I generally put the effect in two groups - transients and bloom. How much definition is there between notes and how much strength is each note afforded. There’s a balance needed - and it changes for each recording. 

Thanks @soix , this is a bit of a mystery to me too, though I don’t doubt that it exists. Maybe it goes by other names, or feelings, when everything has that just right feeling.