The scientific method is to construct a hypothesis and then test it by measurable (and independently repeated) experimental observations. Anecdotes of ones personal views are not the same at all. Buying a microphone, however pricey, is not 'the science'. Hence Martin Shepherd's "I invite all you proper physicists out there to explain why!" and my own 'I'd be interested to read anything you have along these lines'....... MH __________________________________________________________________
From: David Tayler <vidan...@sbcglobal.net> To: lute <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Friday, 5 December 2014, 9:42 Subject: [LUTE] Re: Single versus triple roses I used the best measurement mic, AFAIK, that one can buy and measured it. That's the science. Part of science is measuring things. I don't believe there is a "one size fits all" scientific explanation since there is no standard lute soundboard, bowl, bracing, materials, strings, etc., (way too many variables) but it is universally accepted that if it is too noisy in the house you close the window. If someone comes up with a theory, that's great and I would read it, of course, and probably only understand half of it. But there would be no way of knowing whether the theory was correct--just read the history of acoustical theory. One could do a controlled study of a particular lute, but what would the goal be? If it is to play loud, then purchase a tuba. d __________________________________________________________________ From: Martyn Hodgson <[1]hodgsonmar...@yahoo.co.uk> To: David Tayler <[2]vidan...@sbcglobal.net> Cc: "[3]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <[4]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:55 PM Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: Single versus triple roses In his interesting response, I had understood Martin was asking for a measured scientific explanation rather than a list of anecdotal (and necessarily subjective) observations: "I invite all you proper physicists out there to explain why!". I'd be interested to read anything you have along these lines. MH __________________________________________________________________ From: David Tayler <[5]vidan...@sbcglobal.net> To: BENJAMIN NARVEY <[6]luthi...@gmail.com> Cc: "[7]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <[8]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Sunday, 30 November 2014, 19:13 Subject: [LUTE] Re: Single versus triple roses This is a very interesting question, and also one that has been debated in the construction of harpsichords. I have a few, very simple observations. First of all, and most importantly, Andy is absolutely correct that if you use a measurement micaI recommend the DPA 4007aand analyze the sound coming out of the sound hole (or holes), the sound is vastly different. The classic mistake when recording lute, guitar, cello, harpsichord, etc, is to place the mic too close to the soundhole, because of the extreme difference in the sound. You can also make a tube out of paper, roll it up and listen like a coelenterate. Using the same mic, you will also see that the bridge is the other hot spot. Let's take a little detour here and mention that in almost all recordings of lute, the frequency pattern is skewed so the left channel sounds different than the right, and that's because the sound is fundamentally different from the rose and the bridge, causing big imaging problems (which can be fixed using the lute centering trick, subject of another post). I can also go on record as saying that if you take a cheap lute and remove the rose and put a different one in, it will change the sound. Also, the surface area of the actual holes (not the size of the rose but the amount of space in the rose) makes a difference. If you add a vent hole to the bass, well, it changes the sound. They knew this back whenever. Lastly, the rose and the lute form a strategic sound system. You can't teak one without tweaking the other. And that's because the size of the rose affects the resonance and flexibility of the soundboard on the rose bar amplification nodeaa sub-hotspot that runs usually through the middle of the rose, edge to edge but mainly in the middle (the center of the rose or rose pattern, in most cases). If you make a BIG single rose that has the same open surface area as a triple, generally speaking it will sound more open, and if too big will make the lute yawn. But it all depends on the way the sound board interacts with the tension resulting from the roseaa really big rose bends easier, unless heavily barred (another factor). My feeling is that the most open sound comes from a large, single rose with narrower weaving, but you can achieve almost the same sound with a triple. And, again speaking very generally, if you want a more open sound, have the rose made a bit larger, bearing in mind that the lute may yawn. A lute that has a naturally stiff top may benefit from the added flexibility of a single rose, because the top of the triple is inherently stifferamore soundboard, less rose. Obviously, the shape of the bowl comes into play as the sound board may be wider at the top of the rose with a more barge-like bowl. It could also be that players in the renaissance and baroque preferred a more covered sound. After all, there are no recorders made nowadays with historical windways, the builders just widen them. It's up to the builder to find the sweet spot for an instrument, and it's up to the player to work with the builder to push the limits. dt _______________________________________________________________________ From: BENJAMIN NARVEY <[1][9]luthi...@gmail.com> To: Martin Shepherd <[2][10]mar...@luteshop.co.uk> Cc: "[3][11]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <[4][12]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 4:45 AM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Single versus triple roses Dear All, Thanks so much for all your thoughts into the single/triple rose conundrum. It is obviously so hard to know just how this aspect changes the tonal colours of lutes. It is also very difficult to test just how this one aspect alters things given that every lute is different, even if it is the same model from the same maker. I will continue to do some intuitive and highly unscientific tests! Best wishes, Benjamin On Sunday, 23 November 2014, Martin Shepherd <[1][1][5][13]mar...@luteshop.co.uk> wrote: I fear there is a natural tendency to think of the rose as the hole that "lets the sound out", but I think this is a case where intuitive physics lets us down.A The size of the opening affects the natural resonant frequency of the body, with a smaller opening giving a lower frequency. But I invite all you proper physicists out there to explain why! A more complex issue, but one which is related in that it also involves a mismatch between intuitive physics and the real thing: many people seem to believe that the lute soundboard should be flexible to "allow it to vibrate", and that the more flexible it is the better the bass response.A In fact I think - please contradict me if I'm wrong - that the frequencies which we are interested in are far too high to be aided by a floppy soundboard, which is more likely to have a damping effect.A As far as I can see, a relatively rigid soundboard is going to produce a more sustained sound.A The most important factor is the mass, which must be kept as small as possible so it can be activated by a small input of energy - hence the rather thin soundboards (supported by many bars to retain sufficient rigidity) required by lutes. Martin On 23/11/2014 16:07, BENJAMIN NARVEY wrote: A A Dear All, A A Just wondering if any of you (especially the makers out there) have A A thoughts about the projection of single versus triple roses. A A I have had many lutes/theorboes with both single and triple roses over A A the years, and I have always felt that triple roses helped make more A A sound, and that single roses made possibly more focussed, but more A A "woody", interior, sounds. Perhaps I am wrong?A A A All thoughts welcome. A A All best, A A And thanks, A A Benjamin A A -- A A [1][2]www.luthiste.com A A t +33 (0) 6 71 79 98 98 A A -- References A A 1. [3][2][6][14]http://www.luthiste.com/ To get on or off this list see list information at [4][3][7][15]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. [5][4][8][16]http://www.avast.com -- [6]www.luthiste.com t +33 (0) 6 71 79 98 98 -- References 1. mailto:[5][9][17]mar...@luteshop.co.uk 2. [6][10][18]http://www.luthiste.com/ 3. [7][11][19]http://www.luthiste.com/ 4. [8][12][20]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 5. [9][13][21]http://www.avast.com/ 6. [10][14][22]http://www.luthiste.com/ -- References 1. mailto:[15][23]mar...@luteshop.co.uk 2. [16][24]http://www.luthiste.com/ 3. [17][25]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/%7Ewbc/lute-admin/index.html 4. [18][26]http://www.avast.com/ 5. mailto:[19][27]mar...@luteshop.co.uk 6. [20][28]http://www.luthiste.com/ 7. [21][29]http://www.luthiste.com/ 8. [22][30]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/%7Ewbc/lute-admin/index.html 9. [23][31]http://www.avast.com/ 10. [24][32]http://www.luthiste.com/ -- References 1. mailto:[33]luthi...@gmail.com 2. mailto:[34]mar...@luteshop.co.uk 3. mailto:[35]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 4. mailto:[36]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 5. mailto:[37]mar...@luteshop.co.uk 6. [38]http://www.luthiste.com/ 7. [39]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 8. 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[56]http://www.luthiste.com/ -- References 1. mailto:hodgsonmar...@yahoo.co.uk 2. mailto:vidan...@sbcglobal.net 3. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 4. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 5. mailto:vidan...@sbcglobal.net 6. mailto:luthi...@gmail.com 7. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 8. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 9. mailto:luthi...@gmail.com 10. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 11. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 12. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 13. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 14. http://www.luthiste.com/ 15. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 16. http://www.avast.com/ 17. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 18. http://www.luthiste.com/ 19. http://www.luthiste.com/ 20. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 21. http://www.avast.com/ 22. http://www.luthiste.com/ 23. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 24. http://www.luthiste.com/ 25. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 26. http://www.avast.com/ 27. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 28. http://www.luthiste.com/ 29. http://www.luthiste.com/ 30. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 31. http://www.avast.com/ 32. http://www.luthiste.com/ 33. mailto:luthi...@gmail.com 34. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 35. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 36. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 37. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 38. http://www.luthiste.com/ 39. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 40. http://www.avast.com/ 41. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 42. http://www.luthiste.com/ 43. http://www.luthiste.com/ 44. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 45. http://www.avast.com/ 46. http://www.luthiste.com/ 47. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 48. http://www.luthiste.com/ 49. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 50. http://www.avast.com/ 51. mailto:mar...@luteshop.co.uk 52. http://www.luthiste.com/ 53. http://www.luthiste.com/ 54. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 55. http://www.avast.com/ 56. http://www.luthiste.com/