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What makes strings sound "sweet"?

I have always wondered about this. If you listen to many recordings of bowed string instruments, then you know that the upper registers can sometimes have a sweet tone. I define this by what it is not - edgy, brittle, dry and rough sounding. It is smooth and inviting. I used to assume this was due to rolled off highs or an emphasized midrange, but I am not so sure. It varies by recording, or course, but I have often wondered what, in the recording or reproduction process, causes strings to either sound brittle or sweet. Is it the acoustic of the original recording venue? A frequency balance issue? I would love to hear from those who might know. Thanks!
bondmanp
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
Strings shouldn't sound overly aggressive, but they also shouldn't sound too sweet. Depending upon the instrument and the player it can be very appropriate to have a little bite or even rasp to the sound. The choice of microphone and its placement are the biggest factors in string recorded sound quality.
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
What Onhwy61 said is exactly on the mark, as LIVE stringed instruments can sound very strident, when bowed aggressively. Good recordings will reproduce the edginess/bite, epecially if the mic was placed in front of the instrument.
unsound
6,115 posts
 
I fall into the microphone camp of believers, at least, most of the time. So often, one sees a microphone just above and oh so close to the instrument during recordings.
I suspect this was done in the past to compensate for (older) home equipment that had difficulty reproducing high frequencies. Unfortunately, the practice still seems to be in effect, even though the compensation is no longer necessary, and now, is even objectionable.
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
The room acoustics do make a difference, and I think the folks are on the right track pointing to microphone errors & higher ordered harmonic distortion created by limitations of the recording/playback equipment. I also wonder if inaccuracy of dynamics can create some loss of 'sweetness' due to changing the natural rise and decay of the instrument to a more abrupt note.
On the other hand though, George Bush might somehow be responsible.
hifimaniac
507 posts
 
A couple martinis!
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