Flawed studio monitors bake their own coloration into recordings

Evidence

Long ago, respected audio engineer John Eargle (1973) recognized the consequences of mismatches between monitoring and home systems in what is done during the recording process. Børja (1977) noted “dramatic and easily audible” differences in recorded sound quality caused by recording engineers compensating for spectral defects in control room monitor loudspeakers. He found that the inverse of the frequency response of the monitor loudspeakers could be seen in the spectra of the recordings. If the monitor loudspeaker had a response peak, the recording exhibited a spectrum dip—the engineer simply did what was necessary to make it sound right in the control room. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 105

Categorization

• SEED: Could be the spine of an essay: ‘the feedback loop of flawed instruments’ — how a single defective tool’s signature becomes the industry norm that everyone else compensates for.
• XREF: connects to: A spectral flaw echoed across many speakers gets misattributed to the recording.; Engineers’ colored monitors embed personal EQ into the recording itself; Professional monitor loudspeakers were not reliably neutral or accurate references of sound quality (+4 more)

Related

• Engineers’ colored monitors embed personal EQ into the recording itself (similarity 0.94)
• A spectral flaw echoed across many speakers gets misattributed to the recording. (similarity 0.92)
• Selecting flattering monitors perpetuates the flaws of earlier generations. (similarity 0.89)
• Professional monitor loudspeakers were not reliably neutral or accurate references of sound quality (similarity 0.89)
• Even professional monitor loudspeakers showed measurable defects in early tests (similarity 0.82)
• Mastering engineers must undo sonic artifacts introduced by flawed mixing monitors. (similarity 0.82)
• Some professional monitors have resonance and directivity flaws no equalization can fix (similarity 0.81)
• Monitoring through a colored loudspeaker embeds its signature into the recording (similarity 0.81)
• Recording monitors with deliberate response errors perpetuate the circle of confusion (similarity 0.80)
• Recording engineers preferred direct-sound fields partly to mask poor monitor loudspeakers. (similarity 0.80)
• The UREI 811B, a popular studio monitor, scored lowest in double-blind listening tests (similarity 0.79)
• Neutral monitors are clear windows separating artist from mix. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Neutral monitors are clear windows separating artist from mix. #contradicts (0.85) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 619
• Even professional monitor loudspeakers showed measurable defects in early tests #corroborates (0.80) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 303