[Gary Eickmeier]

"Andrew Haley" wrote in message
...
Audio Empire wrote:

But the dynamic range of an actual musical performance can exceed
even the the range of DSD or 24 or 32-bit PCM.

Bluff. 32-bit PCM has a (theoretical) dynamic range of ~ 190
decibels, the ratio of the quietest sound anyone can hear to the blast
of a pound of TNT ten feet away, which would certainly deafen you. As
far as I'm aware it's not possible to make an analogue to digital
converter with such a range anyway: it'd need self noise of 0.25
microvolts and 1 kV full scale!

I wonder what the greatest dynamic range in the musical repertoire is.
The greatest range I've personally experienced in an audience is a
performance of _Monochrome_ by Maki Ishii, which exceeds 60dB from the
quietest drumming at the start to the crescendo. This can lead to
some practical problems with audibility in a concert hall because it
is hard to hear over people breathing and occasionally coughing.

Two things Andrew: One, I would think the 32 bit PCM would be a recording
medium only. Then you have to squeeze that into a 16 bit CD for mastering.
Two, the dynamic range problem is greater for the recording engineer than
for the audience. Mikes are usually placed much closer to the orchestra than
a good seat back in the audience. Back there, everything has mellowed out a
bit (so to speak), and the perceived dynamic range is not so bad. But up
where the mikes are, the range can be formidable. Experienced recordists
please correct me if I am wrong, but that is my impression and experience.

Gary Eickmeier