From mlongo@highmarkdesign.com Mon Dec 17 14:53:34 2001
Subject:Re: Noisy Barbetta

--- In CloneWheel@y..., Mark Z wrote:

> Nice setup, but it ain't stereo

True. And the stereo issue is an interesting one.

I've chosen not to go for stereo imaging on stage in an attempt
to keep my rig more portable and easier to setup. There are
advantages to hearing your sound in stereo, especially if you use
stereo acoustic piano samples and maybe pads and EP's that use a lot
of panning. I use a Leslie live but I can see that it you use
electronic Leslie simulation that stereo could give you a sweeter
sound on stage. Your audience won't really hear the stereo image,
but you will, and that could be more important to you anyway.

Most all the non-acoustic instrument samples in commercial
keyboards are really mono samples, usually run through the keyboard's
effects processor generator to create a stereo image in the reverb.
This can be effective, especially when you listen in headphones.
And, sometimes piano programs map the key's MIDI number to panning so
that the piano program gradually pans from left to right as you play
across the keyboard. I think there's limited use in that personally,
but some people like it, especially in headphones.

In a live situation performing with a bar band, the subtly of
these stereo effects in the keyboard are quickly lost in the wash of
sound on stage and in the crowd noise of the bar. You can separate
the cabinets by a few feet behind you if you have the room onstage,
and that will help you hear some of the stereo imaging as a player,
which is cool.

In house systems, stereo can be more effective. You generally
have good separation between the PA speakers that straddle the stage,
and so the ambient space created by stereo reverbs can help the band
sound a little bit bigger and spacious. Noticable stereo separation
of individual instruments or voices in a stereo PA mix is not usually
done. You can get sonic advantage by minimal panning though, like
panning the base drum slightly left of center and the bass guitar
slightly right to yeild a little better definition between the two,
for example. Yet it turns out that the vast majority of house
systems I've come into contact with are set up in mono, even if they
are stereo capable. Most sound people don't seem to want to mess
with stereo and the payback of going stereo in the PA can be minimal.

So anyway, my rig is a mono rig. For me, the advantage of seting
up for stereo on stage is minimal, and the time, effort, and expense
involved in having a stereo performance rig aren't worth it for me.
Your mileage will vary, of course...

Mark Longo