[pianotech] What is bloom,

[Ron Nossaman]

On 3/18/2011 3:23 PM, David M. Porritt wrote:
> I am very aware of how our expectations affect what we see, hear,
> believe etc. Could “bloom” be a result of different expectations? If we
> are expecting decay like this:

-Simulate steep decline graphic-


> since that is what we get on most pianos, but if we get decay like this:

-Simulate shallow decline graphic-


> Our brain could interpret it as bloom since it is more than we expected.


I agree, from my questionable experience. Reshaping the tonal envelope 
to produce a less dramatic impact spike, and a shallower transition into 
dwell, tapering gradually into decay gives the subjective impression of 
more sound (average) for longer. I've always much disliked the term 
"bloom" for this effect, since it doesn't, so "bloom" isn't really 
descriptive and I consider it misleading. It just dies more gradually, 
gracefully, and less traumatically, like UL approved electrical products.

And it's still nowhere near the phenomenon JD brought up.
Ron N