ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a set of standards for good sound quality in both popular- and classical-music recordings. Some classical-music recordings with outstanding sound are on the Telarc, Delos, and Chesky labels. As with pop music, classical music should sound clean, have a wide range, and be tonally balanced. But because classical recordings are meant to sound realistic like a live performance they also require good acoustics, a natural balance, tonal accuracy, suitable perspective, and accurate stereo imaging. "Bad sound" is heard when one monitors the live microphone signals. Some examples of bad sound are muddiness, distortion, tonal imbalance, lifelessness, hiss, rumble, hum, breath pops, sibilance, and so on. Pops are explosive breath sounds in a vocalist's microphone. Sibilance is an overemphasis of "s" and "sh" sounds. When pop-music recording has unnatural dynamics, loud sounds do not get loud enough. Bad tonal balance expresses itself in a sound that is too dull, too bright, or colored.
