<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1>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:<o:p></o:p><img width=97 height=170 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.png@01CBE580.69E34DF0"><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>since that is what we get on most pianos, but if we get decay like this:<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><img width=291 height=177 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image006.png@01CBE580.69E34DF0"><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Our brain could interpret it as bloom since it is more than we expected.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>dave<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 12:36 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] What is bloom,<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>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.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.736.7563 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com%20">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Nicholas Gravagne Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 8:24 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] What is bloom,<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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.<o:p></o:p></div></body></html>