Listening at live performances: a new level of hearing

[thorendor]

I've posted in the past about attending live theater and using the assistive listening devices (ALD). Without ALDs, results were not satisfying, I had tried using on the processor:
1) Everyday program: sound is "mushy" and I understand very little of the dialog, though music sounds nice
2) Noise reduction program: dialog is easier though my

Comments

[sfkev]

So wonderful to see your post!

[thorendor]

Thanks! It's been a while.

[dr_scott]

You're doing about as well understanding dialog and lyrics as I am! Many musicals I only get half the lyrics. The change in style with miking and more rock-influenced music has not improved comprehension... and the older brain has more trouble separating signal form noise.

But great news. Now you can deteriorate with the rest of us! :-)

[thorendor]

Oh joy, yet something else to look forward to. :)

[bearfuz]

Have I told you before how fascinated I am and how much I love reading your reports? I dare say that you may have followed the dialogue and lyrics in TOTC better than I did on Thursday (when I was sitting up in the nosebleed section)!

You're my hero.

[thorendor]

I need to clarify: the 80% referred to the lyrics at [Title of Show]. We had front row seats at a small theater. Tales of the City was much more of a challenge to understand, between being up in the loge and the crummy acoustics at ACT; I followed much less there.

[bearfuz]

Ah! Okay - I had the two shows reversed. This actually makes more sense; if you were in the loge at ACT, I can see how the acoustics probably worked against you. It may have been mixed better for the folks down below.

And as I recall anyway, there was often a LOT going on aurally at what I would consider to be some key moments; the show seemed to me to be cluttered with extra choreography and, often, extra background vocals at times when simplicity would have better served the storytelling. (If they hope for this show to have a future in New York or elsewhere, I hope they fix some of these problems.) So if it was problematic even for those of us who have had a lifetime of experience filtering out lead vocals from background stuff, it must have been worse for you!

[thorendor]

Good point and I've updated the entry to reflect. Thanks for pointing it out.

[fuzzybearcub]

The human brain loves a challenge. Good for you. :-)

[thorendor]

Thanks hunky!