From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Fri Jun 04 07:39:14 2004
Subject:More on the Clone Comparisons

Hello All,

I've been reading though many of the comments, and I've found that the "favorites" don't line up well -- in fact, some of my bests could be someone else's worsts, and vice versa. How could this happen? Aside from personal tastes -- which certainly will vary -- could it also be related to the playback gear?

I would imagine that most list members end up playing back the MP3s on their computer, since it's the easiest way to get at the files. The next most popular method is probably listening to them through headphones on a portable MP3 player or jukebox. I would argue that neither of these is optimal, unless the computer/MP3 player is connected to an amp and speakers of the same timbre and quality as the listener's clone system. Put another way, the best imitation through headphones or PC speakers is immaterial, unless that's also the way one practices and performs. None of the Leslie simulators is a perfect copy of all the artifacts of a mic'ed Leslie, and all of them are relying on psychoacoustic tricks to make their simulations work. These tricks sound different through various sound systems, and they will certainly sound different through headphones. I do a lot of synth/ROMpler programming -- much of it at night, when I can't turn up the volume -- and so I use headphones. I'
m always surprised at how much I have to change vibrato, reverb, and echo levels between the "perfect" balance through headphones, and the "perfect" balance through a PA or keyboard system. Vibrato is especially aggravating, because if it sounds great through speakers, it has an over-the-top warble through headphones, while perfect headphone settings sound almost hidden through speakers. Leslie-simulated MP3s will have the same issues, compared to the reference Hammond.

I auditioned the MP3s on my PC because I have a studio-monitor quality sound system connected to my PC, which I use for mixdown; I use a similar-sounding PA system when playing. Most PC sound systems, though, even the kind made for PCs by Logitech/Altec-Lansing/Cambridge Soundworks/etc., are tailored towards the needs of game players, and tend to be bass-heavy and midrange-deficient. Rather then listening through such a system, it might be better to drag your keyboard amp or powered speakers into the room and listen to the MP3 played through that sound system.

Regards,

-BW
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Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com