[Davey]

Yeah, that's why I mentioned "proper" headphones.  I didn't make that clear, sorry.

Of course, even headphones with symmetrical transducers would/might be a problem when worn because of the "loading" your noggin provides. 

Absolute polarity really is a can of worms, isn't it?

Cheers,

Dave.

[josh358]

It bugs me that we don't get this right. I mean, it isn't even always consistent within a CD. But how much work would it take to make sure that the polarity is correct? Sure, we don't know if it really matters, but since correcting polarity costs nothing it seems like a reasonable thing to do, in case it turns out that it does make a difference.

[kevin360]

Some cans are better left closed. This hobby is loaded with cans full of very active worms. The audio part is fun, but what I love seriously is the music. I don't play it anymore; I'm just a listener. I really, really like to listen - and I've lately become enamored with listening to Maggies up close and personal.

I agree with you Josh, but the industry professionals don't think it's important. Hell, it's worse than just inconsistent from album to album, even worse than being inconsistent from track to track; in multi-mic recordings, some may be one way while the others are inverted. What it would take is a standard - how hard could that be to establish? Once established, it would only be a matter of attending to the subject in accordance. It sure sounds simple enough. 

[josh358]

I'm not even sure there isn't a standard, it's been years since I looked at redbook but it's probably spelled out or at least implicit.

Randomized polarity can make a mess of a multimiked recording of a live session, but I can see that it could happen where tracks are laid down individually. And then, of course, you're stuck forever with whatever they've done. I do sometimes wonder whether you couldn't use a computer to fix bad recordings to some extent. If polarity is consistent, you could fix that. Also frequency response, again, if consistent, and dynamics, depending on how they've done the compression, limiting, and gain riding.

[Davey]

Josh,

It might not even be possible to "get it right."  The recording chain is complicated......we have many recordings that are studio-made, multi-miked, processed, etc, etc.....there might be an abundance of coupling capacitors in the chain.  A variety of other possible reasons.
It would be a nightmare to try and address this "issue" for most situations.

However, there are certainly some situations where it might make more sense to try.  A live recording venue where minimal mikes are used maybe.

edit:  Josh, you posted while I was typing and stole much of my point. 

Cheers,

Dave.

[josh358]

Hate when that happens!

[Davey]

I don't mind.....because someone else usually makes the point better than I can. 

Dave.

[medium jim]

Some cans are better left closed. This hobby is loaded with cans full of very active worms. The audio part is fun, but what I love seriously is the music. I don't play it anymore; I'm just a listener. I really, really like to listen - and I've lately become enamored with listening to Maggies up close and personal.

I agree with you Josh, but the industry professionals don't think it's important. Hell, it's worse than just inconsistent from album to album, even worse than being inconsistent from track to track; in multi-mic recordings, some may be one way while the others are inverted. What it would take is a standard - how hard could that be to establish? Once established, it would only be a matter of attending to the subject in accordance. It sure sounds simple enough. 

Kevin, I cannot agree more...however, there are the likes of Eric Johnson who is anal to the imph degree in the recording studio....he can tell when something isn't right and will actually stop until it is fleshed out. 

Recording was much more critical in the analog days as now there is so much that can be corrected via the digital world that if a mic, cable or what have you is not in the proper polarity it can be digitally corrected.

Jim

[rw@cn]

Too bad so many don't take the time to get it right. Then again, it may only be noticeable when listening using a good rig.

[SteveFord]

Audio Nervosa only lies dormant, I'm afraid.
An ELP album was bugging me on the 3.7s so I replaced the copper interconnects on the turntable with some silver/copper ones.
Better but not wonderful so I made up a pair of braided silver ones.
The ELP album still bugged me so I stuck on some Zappa and halfway through the album the sound really changed for the better.
It was like moving up 15 rows at a concert - it's either cables really do break in or the cartridge is breaking in (it's pretty new).
Either way, it was a good evening.
It's always nice when things work out well.

[josh358]

Too bad so many don't take the time to get it right. Then again, it may only be noticeable when listening using a good rig.

I think the producers are more interested in getting it to sound louder than competing tracks on a kid's iPod.