PRaT trumps all

[r100]

I dislike acronyms. They are created by people who think they are being smart. The military and police (especially US) like them a lot!

the French government has an acronym for everything you would need a acronym dictionary to decipher them all

[paulf-2007]

What's all this foot tapping all about, is it for non musicians who find they can tap their foot in time to the music, great. As a musician of many decades, I never feel the need to tap my foot no matter what is playing, I can keep good time thank you very much. When people talk about getting their foot tapping I get a vision of a room full of over weight balding men tapping their feet in unison.

[struth]

What's all this foot tapping all about, is it for non musicians who find they can tap their foot in time to the music, great. As a musician of many decades, I never feel the need to tap my foot no matter what is playing, I can keep good time thank you very much. When people talk about getting their foot tapping I get a vision of a room full of over weight balding men tapping their feet in unison.

Ive got all my hair well on my head anyway hell, even my old mum foot tapped

[Firebottle]

... I get a vision of a room full of over weight balding men tapping their feet in unison.

It happens, I've seen it.
Admittedly not everyone but certainly some. I'm neither over weight or bald but it gets my foot tapping if the music is right.

[Macca]

the ultimate PRAT system was always Linn Sondek LP12 into Naim Nait into Linn Kan Mark one.

I reckon that this is all about leading edges, the whack of the drumstick, the bite of the strings on guitars. The more a system emphasises that, the more PRAT it will have. Cutting out the deeper bass octaves by using small speakers will add to the impression too.

Obviously there is a level of leading edge impact that is correct, and since it will vary depending on the recording it can start dictating your music choice if taken too far. I think the system above over-does it a bit, so recordings with some 'bite' may be a bit too forward and aggressive. Go too far the other way, though, and everything starts sounding a little too soft and mellow, snare drums sound like cardboard boxes being hit, bass gets woolly, and so forth.

This is all a function of distortion, and nothing to do with any magical 'timing' properties that are claimed for certain equipment.

[narabdela]

the ultimate PRAT system was always Linn Sondek LP12 into Naim Nait into Linn Kan Mark one.

Definitely PRAT, if that's what floats your boat; but try playing a solo grand piano through that system and things start to sound rather nasty.

Not something I could live with for any length of time.

This is all a function of distortion, and nothing to do with any magical 'timing' properties that are claimed for certain equipment.

Very true. 'Timing' is one of the great hi-fi myths. (imho of course).

[paulf-2007]

I dont need to tell you, drums are tuneable and many drummers have their own sound. On top of the that different set ups will change the sound of drums and other instruments. Its a minefield.
What is a leading edge?

[Macca]

What is a leading edge?

I did try to explain that in my post. With most instruments you have attack, sustain and decay of the sound it produces. Leading edge is the 'attack' part. Most noticeable on drums and guitars. If that is too soft, you have no PRAT. If that is overdone, you have a system that sounds great with bland, over-produced music and harsh and hard with less polished productions.

[Jazid]

I'd say many instruments have this characteristic, but we don't all have equal exposure or auditory memory of them. Piano and xylophone are particularly percussive instruments. Curiously whilst piano seems difficult to reproduce properly (to my ears) xylophone seems easier, though I have much less exposure to that instrument live so may be mistaken. Frankly, and comparatively, guitar seems a doddle to reproduce.

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[paulf-2007]

I did try to explain that in my post. With most instruments you have attack, sustain and decay of the sound it produces. Leading edge is the 'attack' part. Most noticeable on drums and guitars. If that is too soft, you have no PRAT. If that is overdone, you have a system that sounds great with bland, over-produced music and harsh and hard with less polished productions.

That's down to the recording engineer, like the balance needed on vocals to be close to but not have sibilance