Performance-space reverberant fields distort recordings with uneven frequency response

Evidence

In many performance spaces the reverberant field does not have a flat frequency response, as discussed in Section 6.1.7, and therefore subjectively colors the perceived sound if distant miking is used. Typically the bass response of the reverberant field rises more than is ideal, resulting in a bass heavy recording. Again the use of some bass-cut can help to reduce this effect. However, if the reverberation is longer at other frequencies, for example in the midrange, then the reduction should be applied in a way that complements the increase in sound level this causes. As in these cases the bandwidth of the level rise may vary, this must also be compensated for—usually by adjusting the bandwidth, or “Q,” of the equalizer. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 2416

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines Q as the bandwidth adjustment parameter of an equalizer.