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They did that 'cus the other options (e.g. Kingston) were too close to the American border. After the Canadians burned the White House it was decided that having the capital close to the border was inviting trouble.
In my area we seek out the shops that import Cadbury chocolate from the UK. The local stuff is pure crap, really awful, almost as bad as Hershy chocolate if that were even remotely possible.
When I go to a movie and hear sounds from the side and back, it doesn't sound worth the trouble. It seems like an attempt at creating some illusion that fails. It does come from different directions, but the experience of hearing it is no better, or maybe worse, to me at least than simple stereo would be.
Also, to do surround in a very Hi-Fi way would double or triple the cost of a playback system. For the effect I hear in a movie theater? No way.
The attempts must be ridden by the same flaws as the original then?
It fails on something as basic as forming a wave coming from a sound source between the loudspeakers. Stereo is only correct in 2 directions.
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It fails on something as basic as forming a wave coming from a sound source between the loudspeakers. Stereo is only correct in 2 directions.
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This is known as the "exit sign" effect. If you actually hear and turn around to look at the source of a sound and see the exit sign, the mix engineer did a poor job. The side and rear sound fields should be diffuse and complementary of the front LCR. Never should the distract you from looking at the screen. That is where the picture is after all.
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You make a good point, but movies are about effects. I also think the average theatre is poorly calibrated.
But all reports on ambisonics suggest it DOES work and creates a realistic soundfield with at least 4 channels.
There is a story going around I keep trying to get a cite on that star wars episode IV was the first movie to be shown in surround sound in UK. At the premiere the story goes that audience members were ducking as the imperial starcruiser came from behind them. I hope this is true but suspect its like most good stories.
But all reports on ambisonics suggest it DOES work and creates a realistic soundfield with at least 4 channels.
There is a story going around I keep trying to get a cite on that star wars episode IV was the first movie to be shown in surround sound in UK. At the premiere the story goes that audience members were ducking as the imperial starcruiser came from behind them. I hope this is true but suspect its like most good stories.
HumbleDeer has earned a week in the Sin Bin for disrespectful behaviour, and as the thread has devolved it has been moved to the lounge. 
I may have looked once out of professional curiosity, being a sound man type from the old days.
But, that wasn't the issue. Looking at the screen, the action is on the screen, and some of the sound is coming from the back or the sides. It sounds artificial, as the sound is coming from somewhere not correlated with the location of the picture.
Also, it just doesn't seem like that immersive of an experience. I didn't enjoy it more than I would have enjoyed stereo. It mostly seemed gimmicky. And the added expense required to produce the effect seems way out of proportion to whatever value it might add. Just my opinion.
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In a $20m blockbuster I'm sure its lost in the noise.
Willing suspension of disbelief is an odd trait of our species and some are more willing to suspend than others! But like pop music for a movie to sell it has to have effects, visual and audio.
Willing suspension of disbelief is an odd trait of our species and some are more willing to suspend than others! But like pop music for a movie to sell it has to have effects, visual and audio.
I wouldn't go quite as far.
I put Belgium at No3 when it comes to brewing beer and Germany at No2 but the undisputed champion of the Beer world is the Czech Republic.
I read that most movies are recorded for the centre channel, voices, etc, most don't bother with the surround. Funnily enough, I don't remember a 3D movie in 3D. I remember the audio track in 3D however, mostly explosions.
One method of evluating Hi Fi is to just listen to the music - they suggest listening to the tune
https://www.linn.co.uk/tunedem
Has anyone tried comparing the waveforms of the original signal - say CD output , to the output at the speakers? It's all a waveform right? So the closer the output waveform matches the input waveform the closer to Hi Fi - at least for one channel. Could not find any such thing on the web.
https://www.linn.co.uk/tunedem
Has anyone tried comparing the waveforms of the original signal - say CD output , to the output at the speakers? It's all a waveform right? So the closer the output waveform matches the input waveform the closer to Hi Fi - at least for one channel. Could not find any such thing on the web.
Very few people have a low distortion mic and electronics accurate enough to take a good measurement relative to the quality of the reproduction system. Also, it would need to be done in such as way as to avoid the effects of room acoustics, if someone were only interested in measuring the reproduction system and not the room.
But, suppose someone did that. Probably most of the distortion would be in the speakers. No surprise there. Once that was confirmed, then what?
I would like to submit that the room acoustics should be considered as part of the playback *system*
This is part of what calibration is all about. Ensuring faithful reproduction from source to ear
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This is part of what calibration is all about. Ensuring faithful reproduction from source to ear
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Okay, among other things, rooms have frequency responses, and frequency dependent reverberation times.
One can adjust playback system frequency response in an effort to help correct for room frequency response, but it doesn't correct room reverb time issues.
Usually, the it's best to address room problems with acoustical treatments such as bass traps, sound absorbing panels, diffusion panels, and so forth.
One could also consider questions of optimal speaker placement in the room and optimal listening position.
At that point, speakers themselves may be the next weak link to attack, or probably better, room and speakers should be considered simultaneously.
I guess before we go too much further, you didn't say how much money you have. (There is an old joke amongst people who like to race motorcycles or cars: Someone new asks how much does it cost to get into racing? A: However much you have!)
Also, it's interesting that many people are willing to spend money on reproduction systems, but few are willing to invest in room treatments. Its often kind of an irrational thing to have that particular bias, but that's people for you.
Shall we proceed with an assumption that room treatments are to be included in the project, or would it be preferred to exclude that option?
One can adjust playback system frequency response in an effort to help correct for room frequency response, but it doesn't correct room reverb time issues.
Usually, the it's best to address room problems with acoustical treatments such as bass traps, sound absorbing panels, diffusion panels, and so forth.
One could also consider questions of optimal speaker placement in the room and optimal listening position.
At that point, speakers themselves may be the next weak link to attack, or probably better, room and speakers should be considered simultaneously.
I guess before we go too much further, you didn't say how much money you have. (There is an old joke amongst people who like to race motorcycles or cars: Someone new asks how much does it cost to get into racing? A: However much you have!)
Also, it's interesting that many people are willing to spend money on reproduction systems, but few are willing to invest in room treatments. Its often kind of an irrational thing to have that particular bias, but that's people for you.
Shall we proceed with an assumption that room treatments are to be included in the project, or would it be preferred to exclude that option?
I suppose being from the live sound reinforcement and recording studio worlds, I just assumed some room treatment was already being considered in the discussion. If someone is plunking down the kind of money that is involved in a true hifi system, they've either had a listening room custom built or at least adequately treated the most offending nodes and modes.
Mark, you have hit the nail on the head a number of times in this thread and your most recent post is no exception to your accuracy in observation.
sent from my mobile look-at device
Mark, you have hit the nail on the head a number of times in this thread and your most recent post is no exception to your accuracy in observation.
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Fair enough. And I rather like Belgium, especially all the small-holdings that have a Shetland pony and a goat! But it's the beer I really go for.
Yes, the beer is rather excellent.. 🙂
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