[pianotech] What is bloom,

[Delwin D Fandrich]

And I'm reluctant to introduce the notion of psychoacoustics here. But,
although the notion of "bloom" is frequently described as an increase in
acoustical power starting some period of time after the initial hammer
impact, it seems to be unmeasureable and I've not yet found an explanation
that adequately explains-me, at least-how this might be happening. Most
descriptions of what is going on are vague; often bordering on the mystical.

 

Things like this bother me. I can't seem to simply accept the phenomena as
part of the magic of the instrument and leave it alone. If something real is
going on I want to know what is really happening. If it is imagined I want
to know what is triggering such widespread imagination. I've never
specifically studied this phenomena but I have studied hundreds of waveforms
of piano tones and I'd think by now something would have shown up to verify
its existence. I don't know if any specific research into the idea of
"bloom" has been done. If it is out there I've not yet seen the results. As
wide spread as folks seem to think bloom is, you'd think by now somebody,
somewhere might have come up with at least one measured hint of what might
be going on. Assuming, of course, that there is some real and measurable
activity taking place in the actual piano that is causing bloom. Otherwise,
until further notice, I'm back to my earlier explanation as distasteful as
it might be. Sounds like a good doctoral thesis for somebody.

 

ddf

 

Delwin D Fandrich

Piano Design & Fabrication

6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA

Phone  360.736.7563 - Cell  360.388.6525

 <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com%20> del at fandrichpiano.com -
<mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com> ddfandrich at gmail.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Nicholas Gravagne
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 8:24 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] What is bloom,

 

Agreed. This is my take on it. However, the psychoacoustic idea (PI) is
considered bunk by some (they would have to argue with the likes of
Helmholtz and many physicists) owing to what seems to be a far too
open-ended and subjective realm. I can appreciate this point of view when
the PI is used carelessly to explain away or to explain "in" any pet theory
they may hold.

But clearly the amazing ear fills in the gaps and "smooth-curves" the choppy
effect of even listening to, say, A440. We don't hear this Hz as a staccato
effect of 440 acoustical pushes and pulls. That is to say, the ear will
analyze, filter and construct a useful resultant curve of many disparate
impulses.

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