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SoleilAbsolu commented on Can Dave Hurwitz Save Classical Recording?   newyorker.com/culture/per... · Posted by u/FinnLobsien
BrenBarn · a month ago
The stuff about the titular individual is amusing, but I'm more interested in some of the underlying issues this article touches on. I typically go to a handful of classical concerts in a year, and have been doing so (with occasional gaps) since college. As time passes my own age has approached the average age of the audiences, although I'm still probably a solid 20 years behind.

But I always wonder how this can be. When I was 20 I went to classical concerts where most of the audience seemed to be over 60. Now I'm going to concerts where the audience is still over 60. That means they were in their 40s twenty years ago. So where were they in the audiences I was in back then? It's as if classical music is a developmental stage or ailment, like menopause or arthritis, that consistently hits most people around the same age.

When I think about it, I sometimes feel a sense of dread for the future, because if old people don't keep liking classical music, attending concerts, and donating to orchestras and similar groups, there's the possibility that the whole remarkable apparatus that supports this art will wither away.

SoleilAbsolu · a month ago
FWIW - I have seen several symphonic shows this last year, and will see a few more - they happen to be local orchestras accompanying Beck or The Blackstar Symphony (including musicians who played on David Bowie's final album). Beck's catalog is filled with incredible orchestral arrangements written by his father, David Campbell, it's great to finally hear them live. Trey Anastasio from Phish is also a "serious" composer who writes for orchestra and varied ensembles. I think this is a viable way forward for orchestras to at least fill their calendars and attract people who might not have come to see a Mahler or Beethoven symphony.
SoleilAbsolu commented on Welcoming the Next Generation of Programmers   lucumr.pocoo.org/2025/7/2... · Posted by u/ingve
jononor · a month ago
I concur. This post of one being welcoming, accepting and encouraging is appreciated. What is the opposite of "gatekeeping"?
SoleilAbsolu · a month ago
In this case, opening the Flask and passing it around!
SoleilAbsolu commented on Norwegian city uses pneumatic tubes to whisk trash away   washingtonpost.com/climat... · Posted by u/bookofjoe
em3rgent0rdr · 3 months ago
Norwegian city uses pneumatic tubes to whisk trash away.

Not "vacuum tubes"... (◔_◔)

SoleilAbsolu · 3 months ago
Haha, I was envisioning a huge backline of Marshall stacks and Ampeg SVTs blazing away, with the rubbish riding the soundwaves off into the sunset...
SoleilAbsolu commented on 'Turbocharged' Mitochondria Power Birds' Epic Migratory Journeys   quantamagazine.org/turboc... · Posted by u/rbanffy
parpfish · 3 months ago
It’s interesting how “turbo” has had so much semantic drift that people don’t even know it’s a specific component in an engine. They just think it means “fast”. Wouldn’t be surprised to eventually see a “turbo” trim levels for EVs someday.
SoleilAbsolu · 3 months ago
Haha as a car enthusiast, whenever I see "turbo" my next thought is always the inherent downside, "turbo lag" (the non-zero time it takes for the turbo to actually kick in)!
SoleilAbsolu commented on Eye-tracking study reveals where women and men look when viewing a female butt   psypost.org/eye-tracking-... · Posted by u/austinallegro
SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
Spoiler alert, from the article:

"...both men and women tend to focus most on the intergluteal cleft, commonly known as the butt crack."

SoleilAbsolu commented on Scientists have found a way to 'tattoo' tardigrades   phys.org/news/2025-04-sci... · Posted by u/PaulHoule
snvzz · 4 months ago
Tardigrades are quite durable otherwise.
SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
Yes, durable enough to power FTL starships in the future!
SoleilAbsolu commented on H.R.1161 – Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025   congress.gov/bill/119th-c... · Posted by u/martialg
SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
Wow, they can't even spell "Greedland" right!
SoleilAbsolu commented on Samsung is paying $350M for audio brands B&W, Denon, Marantz and Polk   engadget.com/audio/samsun... · Posted by u/thibautg
gehwartzen · 4 months ago
For most people a good 2.1 system vs surround or soundbars is where it’s at these days. As you say most surround mixing is an afterthought now anyway.

The physics of moving air to create sound hasn’t really changed in any meaningful ways; the biggest upgrade is usually larger drivers fed with more power. I think most would experience that as much more of a theatre like experience than 7+ tiny underpowered satellites outputting an already bad mix.

SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
I'd say "specific format surround mixing" like 5.1 or 7.1 is mostly an afterthought, but Dolby Atmos (which is "mix once and it automatically folds down properly to the actual number of atmos speakers" has become huge in the audio world according to multiple interviews I've read with pro audio mixers and film/video/TV post folks.
SoleilAbsolu commented on Samsung is paying $350M for audio brands B&W, Denon, Marantz and Polk   engadget.com/audio/samsun... · Posted by u/thibautg
forevernoob · 4 months ago
AFAIK B&W 800D is used in many mastering studio's. I wonder what they will do with their high-end / pro audio segment, since it's quite different from your average home stereo (or even hi-fi) markets.
SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
I wondered the same thing...FWIW under Samsung the pro/pro-sumer audio Harman brands (JBL in particular) have managed to keep making well-regarded products from consumer Bluetooth speakers up to live PA systems and studio monitors. On the other hand, Lexicon is a former top-shelf audio brand that has pretty much languished under Harman - they no longer employ some of the world's best audio DSP talents, and have been slow to update the highly regarded Lexicon DAW plugins for native Apple Silicon.
SoleilAbsolu commented on Samsung is paying $350M for audio brands B&W, Denon, Marantz and Polk   engadget.com/audio/samsun... · Posted by u/thibautg
insane_dreamer · 4 months ago
Yes, but vinyl is making a strong comeback, and with that comes the need for traditional receivers. Even CDs are making a comeback -- as many indie artists publish CDs (and some do vinyl), which implies demand for standalone CD players with a receiver (like those made by the Denon, Onkyo, etc.)

I have a HomePod in my living room and it gets used, but I also have a traditional receiver hooked up to my external speakers, with a turntable and CD player plugged into the receiver.

SoleilAbsolu · 4 months ago
I was going to say something similar - I think there will still be some market for high-quality audio preamp/receiver/mixer-type devices that have actual EQ/tone controls rather than endless menus, and focus on actual fidelity over features. Sony, Onkyo, Sansui & Yamaha are brands I've trusted for this over the years.

u/SoleilAbsolu

KarmaCake day416March 17, 2017View Original