OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC RECORDINGS
Classical music recording, as it is commonly done, seems to be quite simple, at least in principle.
The goal would be : getting on record something as realistic as possible, like if the musicians were in front of the listener, even though it's a recording.In practice, this is not so easy : the "sound scene" of musicians playing is quite complex - thus, translating it to a record is also complex.
To be able to speak and think about the goal image, several criteria can be used.
The following list may not be exhaustive, but it gives a good idea of the issue.
- Transparency
The listener is under the impression of seeing, or hearing, the instruments without any veil between him and the instruments
- Definition (linked to transparency)
The instruments are clearly defined. Every detail can be precisely heard.
- Acoustic ambience
The instruments sound like they are in a realistic space, not in terms of room acoustics, but in terms of ambient noise.
There is naturally ambient noise everywhere, so it has to be of good quality. It has to define the space without being a nuisance.
- Panning
You don't want to hear all the instruments in the middle. One instrument slightly on the right, the other slightly on the right, another one way on the right...
This gives interest to the sound scene
- Width (linked to panning, but not necessarily - also linked to acoustic ambience)
The subjective impression of width - it can be the instruments that are panned, or it can be the ambience which is perceived as wide.
- Depth
You don't want everything on the same plan : the scene is more interesting if it's two dimensional, and deep as well as wide.
Basically, in means not everything on the same horizontal plan.
- Relief (depth organisation - linked with depth)
It is a good thing if the recording is a bit deep, but it is even better if the different plans are nicely organized and well defined.
You can hear a solo instrument right up front, a small group of other instruments just behind, another group way back...