Date:         Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:12:30 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         steven c <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Not using headphones
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Cox" <[log in to unmask]>
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> The basic aim of the current style is intimacy. 
> Microphones have made this possible. Before mics, a singer had to be
> audible at the back of the theatre.
> > 
> > There was one young band that played what they called "old-timey"
> > music and tried the "old-timey" approach of having just one microphone
> > on a [small] stage, which I was looking forward to. It was a disaster:
> > their singing could not be heard above their instruments, and they
> > said they could not hear themselves. Microphone or not, their balance
> > was *acoustically* way off.
> 
> Maybe some singing lessons would help.
> 
Of course, TWO things have changed! Pre-electronica, a vocalist had
to be able to project his/her/its voice to every seat in the arena...
but those arenas also had (in spite of a lack of "experts") VERY
good acoustics!

I recall hearing Vladimir Horowitz playing a piano concert in
Massey Hall (Toronto)...even though I was nowhere close to the
stage, I heard every note he played...clearly! "Experts" are
still trying to create the same acoustics in the modern home
of the Toronto Symphony...and, as I understand it, failing...
at least so far!

Steven C. Barr