Modern Recording Techniques
Chapter 2 Tutorial: Masking
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Masking is the phenomenon by which loud signals prevent the ear from hearing softer sounds. The greatest masking effect occurs when the frequency of the sound and the frequency of the masking noise are close to each other. For example, a 4 kHz tone will mask a softer 3.5 kHz tone, but has little effect on the audibility of a quiet 1000 Hz tone. Masking can also be caused by harmonics of the masking tone (i.e., a 1 kHz tone with a strong 2 kHz harmonic might mask a 1900 Hz tone). This phenomenon is one of the main reasons that stereo placement and equalization are so important in the mixdown process. An instrument that sounds fine by itself can be completely hidden or changed in character by louder instruments that have a similar timbre. Equalization, mic choice or mic placement might be required to make the instruments sound different enough to overcome any masking effect.
Do It Yourself Tutorial: Masking
- Download the MaskingWavFiles.ZIP file which contains the 3 audio files for this tutorial.
- Load the 1000 Hz file onto track 1 of the digital audio workstation (DAW) of your choice, making sure to place the file at the beginning of the track, with the signal panned center.
- Load the 3800 Hz and 4000 Hz files into the next two consecutive tracks.
- Solo and play the 1000 Hz tone on its own.
- Solo both of the 1000 and the 4000 Hz tones and listen to their combined results. Can you hear both of the tones clearly?
- Solo and play the 3800 Hz tone on its own.
- Solo both of the 3800 and the 4000 Hz tones and listen to their combined results. Can you hear both of the tones clearly?