[Dixielandjazz] Acoustics

[Jim Kashishian]

> The drums were coming back about a half second late.

This is an interesting subject that I have mentioned to our pianist many
times.  (He happily sends me on my way with some phrase or other that I
can't mention here!)   

If we are on a large stage in a fairly large auditorium with the drums to
one side, the bass in the middle, and the acoustic (grand) piano to the
other side of the bass...and, the two front men (me, included) standing
equally between them in the front, we can often hear two different times
going on behind us.  

It is not a repeat of a beat, or anything so bad as that, but you just know
that "it's not all together" behind you.  Cuts down on the possibility of
that "magic drive" you get from the rhythm section when all is fine.

I try to explain to the pianist that, since he only wants his piano in his
monitor, there is no way in hell he can play perfectly in time with the
drummer (who has the whole mix), as he is hearing the drums after it goes up
into the heavens & comes back.  

He can't believe that the distance can make a difference, but I can easily
hear (in my studio) 25 miliseconds of delay applied to the left speaker with
no delay applied to the right one.  I just know that there is more than 25
mS between the position of the piano to the drums & the piano on a large
stage when you account for the area above (where all the scenery floats!).

Any comments from you "tech freaks" out there?

Jim