Stretched engineering octaves for correct music octaves.
We know by listening that our brain needs more than times two (2x) in frequency or more than 2f for a satisfactory octave.
But how much more may depend on sound intensity as pitch depends on sound intensity. For example the same tone (in frequency) will sound flatter when played louder [Stevens]. Does pitch depend on intensity or loudness?
Anyway. This simple listening experiment was tried on Yamaha PSS-480.
An organ voice was used, number 001.
Note A3 was played, released and then note A5 played. It sounded a bad octave. By reaching the tuning facility when playing A5 the global tuning had to be increased 3 steps so that the double octave sounds correct.
Then the volume control was decreased to a very faint loudness level.
Experiment was repeated.
A3 was played and released. Then A5 was played and while playing with the global tuning, the best double octave was found at just one step positive.
Then the song 7 Seconds Away had been playing from a room far away. When the singer sings 'million voices' a high note was found on the keyboard that fits with the key of C sharp minor. When the note was played softly, tuning had to be somewhat one step above 440Hz. When the high note had been played loudly master tuning had to be increased 7 more steps upwards as too loud made it sound to flat.
Is a very good mixer or remixer someone who listens to intonation too while moving the faders?
Is a very good producer one who adjusts the headphone mix or total loudness for singer while a rough pass is on the way? Tuning the voice of the singer by the headphone volume control? it is mentioned in the book of Phil Ramone that when they had a tuning problem with a singer the first thing they concentrated on to remedy was the headphone sound. [Ramone]
References:
Sound and Hearing - S. S. Stevens, Fred Warshofsky - Life Science Series - The Mind's Influence, chapter 4, page 77
Making Records - Phil Ramone
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