Weekly Q&A: Answers | Week of January 15, 2023

"Coloration" vs. the "musical event"...

Q: If I go to a live concert and I’m hearing JBL array used as sound system will my home speaker reproduce the coloration of the JBL system if there is a “live” recording made?

-Robert

A: It depends on how the live recording is made. If the mic and instrument feeds are intercepted and sent both to the recording system and separately to the board used for the concert sound reinforcement system (JBL etc.), then your home stereo will mostly not be affected by the JBL equipment. But if (unlikely) the sound reinforcement system is in the sound field that is being recorded, then, yes, you would hear the JBL system.

Since the sound reinforcement system could be considered part of the live sound, you also have the philosophical question of whether this system adds a ‘coloration’ or is ‘part of the musical event’. The same logical considerations might apply to a Marshall stack or a Fender Twin Reverb or a Dumble Overdrive Special used for electric guitars and other instruments. These amps/speake…