Sounds more analog

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by djwhog

Guess I left out the most difficult part seldom talked about Timbre. I think that to me is what sounds more analog.

This is a clip from a book of all about human audio processing.

Can you provide a reference to the book?

Timbre is more complicated, being determined by the harmonic content of the signal. The difference between the two waveforms is that the one shown in (b) has the higher frequency inverted before the addition. Put another way, the third harmonic (3 kHz) is phase shifted by 180 degrees compared to the first harmonic (1 kHz). In spite of the very different time domain waveforms, these two signals sound identical.

This is not comprehensible without context and figures.

This is because hearing is based on the amplitude of the frequencies, and is very insensitive to their phase. The shape of the time domain waveform is only indirectly related to hearing, and usually not considered in audio systems.

Phase is essential for localization at low frequencies.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Dave you forgot one...

Wife = Digital w/ lots of distortion.

Ivan.......You know that's right.!

[crwilli]

IMG_2297.JPG

[GaryProtein]

Originally Posted by djwhog

. . . .OK my comparison is as follows
[/U]Human Ears = analog
Human Brain = analog
Birds Chirping = analog
Cars, outside noise = analog
Rain, streams, wind = analog

OK back to audio systems
Speakers, wiring = analog
Turntable and related gear = analog
Even AC current is = analog

. . . .

Kal might disagree with me, but I'm going out on a limb to say the brain is DIGITAL and that each packet or molecule of neurotransmitter connecting to a neuroreceptor can be considered ONE BIT of information.

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

Kal might disagree with me, but I'm going out on a limb to say the brain is DIGITAL and that each packet or molecule of neurotransmitter connecting to a neuroreceptor can be considered ONE BIT of information.

From the MIT Technology Review, Physicists have developed a technique that can tell which parts of the brain rely on analog signals and which rely on digital signals:

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/5...tal-or-analog/

[jdandy]

Buck.......That is an interesting article.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

Kal might disagree with me, but I'm going out on a limb to say the brain is DIGITAL and that each packet or molecule of neurotransmitter connecting to a neuroreceptor can be considered ONE BIT of information.

True and one might consider each synapse as digital filter leading to the generation of an action potential (all or none).

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

From the MIT Technology Review, Physicists have developed a technique that can tell which parts of the brain rely on analog signals and which rely on digital signals:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/5...tal-or-analog/

Nice discussion.

[2fastdriving]

To me, digital can sound clinical, sterile, devoid of feeling. Not usually the case with well recorded music flowing through my k03. However my vinyl rig is on another level of feeling. It makes me feel different. It's the emotional connection, as others have stated.

[jdandy]

What emotional connection is made with digitally recorded and mastered performances that are then pressed to vinyl? Is the analog playback of a digital file reaching your brain in some different manner than the digital version? Is the vinyl pressing suddenly more analog sounding simply because of the analog playback system?

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by jdandy

What emotional connection is made with digitally recorded and mastered performances that are then pressed to vinyl? Is the analog playback of a digital file reaching your brain in some different manner than the digital version? Is the vinyl pressing suddenly more analog sounding simply because of the analog playback system?

My favorite vinyl is all analog, but there are some, like from Beck, which are digital transfers and shouldn't sound any different. Yet I love them. It's possible that our brains (some of us anyway) romanticize vinyl and it makes us feel differently. I believe break-in is a similar phenomenon. Our brains play powerful tricks on us.

It's all very interesting, I agree.