First of all, I apologize if all of you know this. You guys have
vastly more experience and knowledge than me on all of this stuff.
I think the recording industry is usually referring to when one is very
close to those low frequency waves. From my understanding, trying to
localize low frequency is hard when one is a) only a low freq
wavelength or two away from the source (typical for a sub in a home
stereo system) or b) the sound making device does not have enough
surface area for said low freq wavelength. I think to get directional
bass out of a stereo system, a linear array of speakers like the ones
the greatful dead used on one (or many?) of their tours is necessary.
I'm a little unsure on the b) part.
In practice, something like thunder is certainly far enough away to
localize. Another way to think about it is to look at polar plots of
very nice omni mics (senn, schoeps, dpa). Notice how they get more
directional at higher frequencies. Now, take all this with a grain of
salt, since I am no professional, but my encounters with the "recording
industry" and their opinions on the directionality of low end mostly
have to do with the placement of a sub in a stereo or surround system.
I think the usual comment is how its not the end of the world to
separate the low bass from the main speakers since low freqs are less
directional. Further more, if the wife doesn't want the large black
sub box in plain view, its ok to hide it off to the side, since again,
it is less directional. Sure, it would sound better if we had sub
capabilities in the main stereo pair (or the surrounds for that
matter), but let's face it. Compare hiding a sub behind your chair as
opposed to the left channel main speaker. Again, I think this applies
when you are around 1 wavelength away from the source, keeping in mind
40 hz has a wavelength of 28 feet.
Tim
On Jun 19, 2004, at 11:14 AM, Lang Elliott wrote:
> I think a human's ability to determine the direction of low frequency
> sounds
> is much better than the recording industry leads one to believe. For
> instance, I've never had any trouble locating a drumming Ruffed Grouse
> at 60
> Hz or thereabouts, nor do I have trouble determining the direction of
> distant thunder, much of which is below 60 Hz.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|