Mapping the sound stage

[treitz3]

Good afternoon, gentlemen. I have heard reference to mapping of the sound stage by some here. I personally feel that the mapping can prove beneficial to many aspects of many conversations we have here on WBF. Does anybody know of a website that can offer audiophiles the mapping of their systems to assist in what it is they are tying to describe with the sound stage?

I feel that this will benefit many a discussion. Below is an example of a typical sound stage borrowed from a friend of mine that offered both before and after of an aftermarket audio fuse being installed and the changes within the sound stage observed....

I do not know how easy it would be but what I am envisioning is a website or link that offers a general and basic location of the loudspeakers, their respective size and the sound stage [as perceived from the listener] from not only an overhead look but a look as well from the ground up. In other words, a 3-D type sound stage.

If you notice in the picture above, some images are circular and more distinct, while others may have a bit of image smearing. Hence, the oval shape. What I'm thinking of is a quick, easy way to plug and play the types of speakers and their general location and the images within to help describe what it is we are experiencing within our system's sound stage.

In other words, plot the size of your speakers, hit enter. Adjust the space between and hit enter. Now take one of the available circles or oval and place it on the screen and print what it is you are referring too. Then on to the next and so on...

Could this be something that is easily done if it does not already exist?

 

[JackD201]

A little over a decade ago, I recall a software package for professional use that would create a visual representation of panning inputs on a computer screen. I don't know what happened to that developer or that product. I remember seeing the ad in either Mix Mag or Electronic Musician. The screen shot was similar to the pics you posted above.

 

[bblue]

Good afternoon, gentlemen. I have heard reference to mapping of the sound stage by some here. I personally feel that the mapping can prove beneficial to many aspects of many conversations we have here on WBF. Does anybody know of a website that can offer audiophiles the mapping of their systems to assist in what it is they are tying to describe with the sound stage?

I feel that this will benefit many a discussion. Below is an example of a typical sound stage borrowed from a friend of mine that offered both before and after of an aftermarket audio fuse being installed and the changes within the sound stage observed....

I do not know how easy it would be but what I am envisioning is a website or link that offers a general and basic location of the loudspeakers, their respective size and the sound stage [as perceived from the listener] from not only an overhead look but a look as well from the ground up. In other words, a 3-D type sound stage.

If you notice in the picture above, some images are circular and more distinct, while others may have a bit of image smearing. Hence, the oval shape. What I'm thinking of is a quick, easy way to plug and play the types of speakers and their general location and the images within to help describe what it is we are experiencing within our system's sound stage.

In other words, plot the size of your speakers, hit enter. Adjust the space between and hit enter. Now take one of the available circles or oval and place it on the screen and print what it is you are referring too. Then on to the next and so on...

Could this be something that is easily done if it does not already exist?

I've never seen or heard of anything like it intended for a listener analyzing a sound stage. Interesting idea, though. Maybe one of the Easy drawing-type programs that can do simple circles, boxes and labels? A basic starting template could be made up and then modified to suit each recording.

It certainly is odd to see Bass at the top as in your example. What about cymbals and other separate drum kit pieces? That might be a little difficult to depict.

The oval entries aren't necessarily from smearing, but effects in mixing. It's not unusual to time delay a vocal (for example) and pan the original and delayed close to each other but not on top of the same position, to make the vocal fatter and occupy a bit more space in the mix without necessarily being louder. Lead guitar also, sometimes drums (anywhere from a pinpoint to full width) and very frequently piano (acoustic or electric) and acoustic guitar. It just depends on how it makes the individual elements of the mix fit together. If there is some out of phase content in a stereo synthesis (a product of effect by subtracting some L-R from the L+R signal (MS processing) and then (optionally) narrowing, and panning the stereo result, you get positions outside of the speakers (left to right only). Certain types of reverb will have a similar effect.

Cool stuff when done right.

--Bill

 

[treitz3]

It certainly is odd to see Bass at the top as in your example. What about cymbals and other separate drum kit pieces? That might be a little difficult to depict.

Hello, Bill. This is just an example that spaces the instruments in a particular sound stage as if you were looking down from above at what the listener observed in terms of image placement. What I am looking for is something that can not only do this but offer what it is that may be observed from the listening position as well. I do believe that this would be the most advantageous way of evaluating what some observe, with regards to the sound stage.