How much does speaker polarity matter?

Indeed; don't you think your sentiment is akin to what I posted early in this thread? (requoted here -- got no replies...):

Regards,

Michael

That's why I like to listen to WSM online. A vast library of live recorcings from the early days pf radio, and a lot that were recoded live, at the famous Ryman Auditorium, which was the long time home of the 'Grand Ole Opry'.

Thanks for the link; I did a little snooping in the page source and found a link that permits listening directly from Windows Media Player (or any player that does Windows Media Streaming):

This can be more convenient than using the embedded player in WSM's web page.

I also recommend KCEA for jazz and swing (20's -> 40's), Shoutcast stream (use Winamp, VLC, etc.) at:

http://69.12.217.101:8000/

Regards,

Michael

Basically a roller coaster.

I started in this 'game' while still at school in the '60s. Working part time at the local dance hall as a spot boy. Which had its own in house big band. And a rudimentary PA system - Reslo ribbon mics, all three of them, one vocal, one used by the lead sax on a solo and one on the piano. A 50 watt GEC valve 100 volt line mixer/amp driving a couple of line source columns either side of the stage. The string bass had his own amp and speaker.

Now this was Scotland and no dancing allowed on Sunday as it was the devil's work ;-) so they had a 'concert' instead. Near always with a visiting band, group or solo artist on tour doing a set as well as the house band. I well remember The Beatles before they had a hit record.

And most of these bands on tour just used the house PA - they didn't bring their own. One I remember which did and stood out for a great sound in the hall was Emile Ford and the Checkmates.

But most pop vocalists rely on being able to hear both themselves and the band for pitch and timing. Anyone who has ever 'done' Karaoke knows this only too well. ;-) True musicians may be able to work around this but the scene was moving away from those.

So we add rhythm foldback to keep them in time. Then they can't hear the hall PA. So we add in vocal foldback. And it's all got louder. Kilowatts of PA rather than 10s. Now the drummer can't hear himself...

Yes, agreed. I can't speak for jazz or big band, as I've never listened to these live, but it is certainly the case for contemporary music. Gone are the days (at least for the most part) when you could listen to a band live, and then buy their album, and they sounded just the same. So many bands now are just slaves to the recording process and the whims of the producer and desk engineer. It was interesting here recently when Geldof I think it was, collected together a bunch of modern bands, and had them re-record Sergeant Pepper using the original 4 track Abbey Road equipment which he had managed to acquire. It was done for the BBC to mark the album's 40th birthday. Several of the bands commented that they found it virtually impossible to obtain the same standard of recording as Lennon and George Martin did, just using 4 tracks. Just goes to show how reliant they have become on technology and other people, which is why I wonder about the validity of, or need for, all of this on-stage mic'ing, and the spin-off problems it seems to cause ...

Arfa

Sergeant Pepper didn't use just 4 tracks. Lots and lots of track bouncing. Two machines running together. Over 700 hours studio time. Not that I'm missing out the talent involved in all that.

I guess we were ;)

Ron

I didn't play bigger gigs long enough to have to get used to it fortunately. I notice many bass players usually try to stand as close to their amps as possible.

I guess it takes absolute dedication to your art. Especially those that play an hour and a half on stage then go find a private club in town and jam with the locals until 4:am :)

on.

yeah, i guess that makes sense. i was trying to say that the waveform from the drum when hit will consist of a big coherent high pressure wave followed by a lot of other stuff, but now i wonder if even that's not exactly true?

I don't think that coherent is the correct phrase. it`s a very complex waveform.

Ron(UK)

That`s cos they like to feel their trouser legs flapping :)

Ron(UK)