Amp biasing or recording/source?

Simple_Jack
Simple_Jack Posts: 25
in 2 Channel Audio
Does anyone else get different imaging from singer from say track to track or artists/recordings? Yes that was a very loaded question. I’m just just trying to figure out if it’s recording or amp biasing. Not that the difference is way off when I notice it, but sometimes it’s more pinpoint center. Other times it’s a more rounded out area center.

Separation seems good but sometimes singer seems slightly left stage at times…thank you for any feedback…
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  • Simple_Jack
    Simple_Jack Posts: 25
    edited July 2021
    This is another reason for wanting a more reference speaker (in my price range) like the reserve 600’s instead of the Rtia7’s. No, I can’t swing $2k for the r700’s…
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    Yes, the position of the singer and/or instruments can and will change from song to song and/or recording. It's got nothing to do with the amp or speakers.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Simple_Jack
    Simple_Jack Posts: 25
    Thank u F1
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,909
    edited July 2021
    Also, bear in mind that most recordings -- especially in the case of "popular" music -- are not stereo in any real sense of the word but are multiple track mono. Instruments and vocals are recorded separately, and all of those tracks are mixed to produce the final "master" two-track (or however many track) recording that you listen to. There's no "reality" in that mix -- again, in most recordings.

    Of course, that final two (or whatever) channel mix has "imaging" -- but 1) it is artificial and 2) it can sure as heck vary from track to track, pretty much at the whim of the artist(s), producer, and engineer(s).

    This is even true in recent years of many "classical" recordings :/

    There are, of course, exceptions -- live recordings produced with two, or a few, microphones, recorded direct to two track (analog or digital). There are also special microphone arrays designed to produce natural soundspace recordings.

    One well-known example is -- ahem -- reputed to be ;) the Cowboy Junkies' great album The Trinity Sessions, osetensibly recorded live in a cathedral in Toronto using the Ambisonics Calrec Soundfield stereo microphone. BUT, as it turns out, it's not quite as it is reputed to be. Margo Timmins was not in the same space as the other musicians. They were playing along to Margo singing live but -- zounds! -- reproduced on a Klipsch Heresy loudspeaker* !

    https://www.soundonsound.com/people/cowboy-junkies-sweet-jane

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    As a sad irony, the Junkies' album Trinity Revisited was recorded like most pop albums (close mic'd and multi-track). It sounds great, but it just ain't the same. ;)
    _________________
    * Actually it's the commercial variant -- KP301 or whatever it was called... but, oh, the pain! The pain! ;)





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  • delkal
    delkal Posts: 764
    edited July 2021
    Depending on how it is recorded the position of the singer and/or instruments can change on how it is mixed from track to track. Very few modern recording are made with everyone playing live and 2 microphones to get true imaging an the resulting room harmonics. The mixers will take a mono track (sometimes even recorded separately) then splice them together with the other tracks. You want the guitar in the middle? Take the guitar track recorded direct to the box and put it 50:50 R:L. Then its in the center.


    I believe there are a lot of subtleties lost when doing that but it has a lot of people (even audiophiles) fooled.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,909
    edited July 2021
    Listen to the recordings of Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Paul Simon's Graceland. They were recorded in EMI's Abbey Road Studios and they sound amazing.

    For example, take the moment to revel in the a cappella opening of Diamonds in Her Shoes. :)
    Then listen to everything about the song change -- and, I'd suggest, not for the better. ;)

    https://youtu.be/FAb2Mu0CRk4

    EDIT: Here is another well and carefully recorded song that the OP, @Simple_Jack might want to use as a reference point for what his/her/their hifi can do in terms of reproduction.

    https://youtu.be/_w2LNOL4rmk

    Obviously, for both of the above recordings, seek-out full-resolution audio as opposed to these cheap & cheerful YT versions! :)


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  • Simple_Jack
    Simple_Jack Posts: 25
    Damn, that was some incredible insight on recordings guys! I’ve never really thought about any of that but it’s so true, compared to live recordings. I guess I get too caught up w/where everyone in the band are supposed to be w/o thinking duhhh, they’re in a damn studio then mixed. Lol

    Thanks for the feedback folks!
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