Popular Post Blake Posted September 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 15, 2021 1 hour ago, bluesman said: To a musician, a recording engineer, a producer etc, effects are either devices or software that intentionally and controllably alters (i.e. distorts in some way) the sound of the instrment or voice in question. Musicians use effects pedals that add EQ, distortion, reverb, delay, shifting of phase or pitch, etc. I've wondered in the past about the term "distortion" when used by audiophiles as opposed to recording industry professionals. I think I know what you mean above when you mention 'distortion', being an intentionally fuzzy sound added to a guitar for example. The audiophile discussion context is typically something like "hey, enjoy your tube amp... some people just like the distortion introduced by tubes", or "you might like the sound of your system with a preamp inserted (as opposed to using software VC, DAC direct to amp), but all you are hearing is distortions introduced by your preamp which, for whatever reason, you find pleasing". In other words, if you like tubes and/or preamps in your system you are just veering away from the pursuit of high fidelity. In my mind "distortion" has a negative connotation, in that the signal has some noise of some kind (fuzzy or static like sounds that might be very subtle but still audible at some level). The term "distortion" being distinguished from "alteration" or "altering" the sound, which I view as emphasizing, de-emphasizing or adding some previously missing sonic aspect. Rightly or wrongly, I don't view tubes or preamps as introducing distortion, but rather they emphasize certain sonic aspects. For example, I find many tubes/preamps add body and improved sound staging, which sound more realistic, and therefore higher in fidelity to me (I am intentionally not using the term accuracy, as I view high fidelity to mean that the sound is more like what I subjectively perceive to sound more like the real thing). I hope I'm not being pedantic, but it seems that distinguishing the term 'distortion' from 'alteration' is important because of the negative implications of the term 'distortion' which can often start online fights. As a professional in the industry, I'd be curious if you if you have any thoughts on 'distortion' versus 'alterations' when you are engineering or producing and whether you find tubes to be introducing distortion, or alterations of the sound signal? EDITED for clarity. bluesman, The Computer Audiophile and Confused 2 1 Speaker Room: Lumin U1X | Lampizator Pacific 2 | Viva Linea | Constellation Inspiration Stereo 1.0 | FinkTeam Kim | Revel subs Office Headphone System: Lumin U1X | Lampizator Golden Gate 3 | Viva Egoista | Abyss AB1266 Phi TC Link to comment
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