Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

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lamanoditrento
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Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

Post by lamanoditrento » Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:06 am

I saw this on another forum and thought those here would also be interested
Trent

RodC
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Re: Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

Post by RodC » Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:54 am

That's interesting Trent.
Like all studies, more data is needed. A sample size of 7 opinions is quite small and there seems to be other factors (such as age) that make this a complex area to research.

My personal opinion is that targeting specific FRC's is more an exercise in consistency than excellence.
Excellence comes in hitting the target.

I heavily caveat that opinion - I 'm not experienced enough to offer anything like expert opinion.

It will be interesting to see what Trevor et al have to say on this.

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Re: Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

Post by jeffhigh » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:05 pm

Seems deeply flawed to me. To the extent of being worthless

It puts up this hypothesis that percieved quality will be correlated with
-the lower body frequencies being certain values (though not specified what is desirable)
-the ratio of those frequencies not being 2.00

And then throws in a vast mix of instruments including beginner instruments, and the one that comes out on top has a soundport which is likely to influence player perceptions.
Classical players used to feel that the main air resonance (which is the only one you can really hear and measure without equipment) was something to look for and they wanted this on a scale note
Trevor has shown that this increases the tendency to wolf notes as does the stacking of the modal frequencies at multiples of the air mode. This is therefore to be avoided.
Not a measure of quality, just a means to avoid problems as the instrument is crafted to become more responsive.

There are a lot of other problems in the study but these really stand out.

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lamanoditrento
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Re: Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

Post by lamanoditrento » Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:30 am

I think 'worthless' is a bit harsh but yeah I don't find it compelling. I am glad someone is trying to fill some gaps after all science is a conversation by iteration.

The player being able to see the instrument is a concern but also no mention of set-up etc. How do you know the player isn't responding to playability rather than musicality.
Trent

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Re: Study comparing FRC to subjective experience

Post by jeffhigh » Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:13 pm

It's a bit of a Straw man exercise
Put up a proposal that does not really represent anyones position then attempt to disprove it
I'll say worthless is being generous

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