John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part III

Status
Not open for further replies.
So, even in the Christmas days, the hate in this thread flowers.

Music is an art. Not rocket science.
It is so strange that people that seems to be deprived of any artistic sensibility are so aggressive towards those who, like all artists, try to find a fair balance between technical rigor and sensitivity.

I could invite these people to listen only to what comes out of their frequency generators, because, horror, the discs that we listen to are the product of a tender cooperation between musicians and sound engineers, "sensitive" to same emotions and sharing the same hearing experiences.

The first ones spend years to learn the laws of harmony and to master their instruments, the second to master the technical aspect of recording and reproducing instruments. Both trying to be creative that is the only interesting aspect of their work.
Not to forget that, on my personal statistics, may-be 4/5 musicians in studios do not read fluently partitions. Can-you believe that even the beatles were not able to read music ?
Would it be acceptable to see a pack of robots coming out of the classical music academy attacking musicians like John Coltrane or Django Reinhardt. Or guitarists like Joe Pass or BB king ?

Is it not possible to speak among ourselves with a minimum of mutual respect and curiosity and to enrich ourselves with these exchanges?
 
Last edited:
Exactly, put a frame around it, hang it on the wall, there you go. The rest is 100% subjective.
+1
More than this, is not everything subjective, in human brain ?
Cf the literary efforts Einstein took to explain his relativity theory* (feelings, intuition, call-it) to our understandings ?
Even in advanced science it is talked about "Observer effect".
AFTER that, measurements and numbers validate, or not, the validity of the theory.

* That is a little less intuitive, dear SYN08, than to understand why an apple doesn't fall far from its tree, or why your fart in your bathtub can quickly changes (or not) the fragrant atmosphere of your bathroom ;-)
 
Last edited:
As usual. Limited capacity of demonstration, that your exceptional capacity to unsupported utter insults , that are just as ill-founded, does not fill.

Sometimes I think you are really trying to provoke some real insults - how convenient it would be, somebody to bite your bait.

As a rule, I'm not necessary addressing you or Richard, or anybody else for that matter, unless I specifically indicate so. Me raising BS flags around your posts is just a matter of attempting to clean up the place of nonsense, kind of a sanitary job. Hopeless, I know, but at least worth a try, as long as it is fun. Also, rest assured, you and Richard are not the first or the last of the "victims", over the years I got dozens of such "personalities", starting with more or less famous designers and ending with audio salesmen and cheeky amateurs. It's only happens that yourself and Richard are the current masters of spreading manure all over the place, and this on a daily basis.

Christmas is over, BTW.
 
Try to find a library. It is a shop with lot of books inside and ask (politely) the guy or the women behind the desk.

Me raising BS flags around your posts is just a matter of attempting to clean up the place of nonsense, kind of a sanitary job. Hopeless, I know, but at least worth a try, as long as it is fun. Also, rest assured, you and Richard are not the first or the last of the "victims", over the years I got dozens of such "personalities", starting with more or less famous designers and ending with audio salesmen and cheeky amateurs.
Oh, I see, a mission.
Do not worry, the gentleman in a white coat will not hurt you.

Christmas is over, BTW.
What is not is your conviction that your believes (or phantasms) carry absolute truth on any subject.
What is always characteristic of a great intelligence and subtlety of mind.
Well, I find you funny like a cartoon character, no need to continue on this ground.
 
Last edited:
+1
More than this, is not everything subjective, in human brain ?
Cf the literary efforts Einstein took to explain his relativity theory* (feelings, intuition, call-it) to our understandings ?
Even in advanced science it is talked about "Observer effect".
AFTER that, measurements and numbers validate, or not, the validity of the theory.

* That is a little less intuitive, dear SYN08, than to understand why an apple doesn't fall far from its tree, or why your fart in your bathtub can quickly changes (or not) the fragrant atmosphere of your bathroom ;-)
"Observer effect" really means that the process of observing (measuring) effects or changes what is being observed. I.E. volt meter on high impedance source loads and lowers the voltage. More meaningful in subatomic particles. . .
 
Re: Ultra LF content on LPs. It may be an urban myth but many moons ago I heard that some LPs recorded in the LA area contained traces of minor earthquakes/tremors...
Anyone got any hard data or experience with that suggestion?
Seasons greeting to all....Jonathan

Yes, on a system with extremely low intrinsic LF noise we could hear the London subway rumble on some old RCA LP's.
 
For you, to get an idea of the bits influences on what's on the tape, using ears rather than a calculator or book's informations, this little file I made for you.
First is a 16 bit CD, level reduced of ~70dB and re amplified to -12dB peak for easy listening.
Second, the same, at ~-50 (16->24 bits add some 48dB), re amplified to (very) approximative same listening level on the voice. Third, the same, original, reduced to the same -12dB peak of the first sample.
Quick'n dirty with audacity.
Calculators say nothing of the reduction of presence/definition/trebles and the plastic sound. Since the beginning of 16 bits, noise level was not so much the concern.
 

Attachments

  • bits.mp4
    2.5 MB
Last edited:
Well all this talk of recordings from the good old days has had me pulling out old monos from the skip find shelf and cleaning them ready for a listening session tomorrow. Vinyl isn't about the destination, its the journey. And some of the records were made when my Grandad was still a guard on steam trains.
 
For you, to get an idea of the bits influences on what's on the tape, using ears rather than a calculator or book's informations, this little file I made for you.
First is a 16 bit CD, level reduced of ~70dB and re amplified to -12dB peak for easy listening.
Second, the same, at ~-50 (16->24 bits add some 48dB), re amplified to (very) approximative same listening level on the voice. Third, the same, original, reduced to the same -12dB peak of the first sample.
Quick'n dirty with audacity.
Calculators say nothing of the reduction of presence/definition/trebles and the plastic sound. Since the beginning of 16 bits, noise level was not so much the concern.

Try that with vinyl or tape. And a calculator will tell you youve reduced the original to a 5 bit recording and the effects of that.
 
Re: Ultra LF content on LPs. It may be an urban myth but many moons ago I heard that some LPs recorded in the LA area contained traces of minor earthquakes/tremors...
Anyone got any hard data or experience with that suggestion?
Seasons greeting to all....Jonathan

What are "traces"? Traces would get lost in the vinyl rumble. And Any good mastering engineer would filter that out, inaudable low f that could make the cutting head cut between tracks.
 
Try that with vinyl or tape. And a calculator will tell you youve reduced the original to a 5 bit recording and the effects of that.
If i have time and courage, I will do the same (at adjusted levels difference to match the signal noise ratios), with my tape recorder and you will see it is untrue.Even, it is some kind of the contrary, reducing the treble and increasing distortion during high peaks.

But it is true that presence is lost with multi passes on the tape player heads (even demagnetized) and time.

Calculators never talk to me about the way we can feel the effects.

Noise is more the concern than reduction of the definition at low levels on an analog tape.
Thinking to this, I will not. Back to analog tape is not something that interest-me. I would not exchange the recorder of my smartphone for my ex- ATR100 Ampex which, moreover, tends to distort the pockets.
Vinyls had always been a nightmare for me, talking about hifi, apart to play some Platers tunes during surprise parties or listening to the last US imports during the 70th. Even printed on toilet paper, a good novel remains a good novel.
 
Last edited:
I hope so, as it was part of my professional job.
Again, I don't make my mind reading books, I'm not a believer to any religion. "Ahem".
Most of what i tend to share is based on personal experience.

It is obvious that in the studio we have tools that you do not have in your hands. One of them is a simple button, with the word "SOLO" engraved on it which allows us to listen to an instrument alone at the level where it is in a mix. Even on what's out of reverb gears. 16 bits ? Not totally enough.

What? You record to the multitrack at the mix level? Great way to get a noisey mix. Digital or analoge recorder. You need to max out the signal on each track so when you mix you bring down the multitrack noise. Gain staging 101. At these levels 16 bits is enough.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.