Re: Trivial, but cool

[allen_watson@quickmail.apple.com (Allen Watson III)]

In article <CMM-RU.1.4.780307569.vickie@pilot.njin.net>,
vickie@pilot.njin.net (WretchAwry) wrote:
> 
> I broke my headphones and it's been wonderful! :)  I got the cord
> caught under the chair and something went very weird.  The lead
> vocals of whatever I'm listening to almost completely disappear,
> and so everything is practically an instrumental, except that 
> some of the way background and hidden sounds, and some vocal
> overdubs are right *there*.  

  [ deleted: a whole bunch of comments about listening to different 
    albums with the funky headphones. . . ]

What you have here, folks, is an accidental hookup that connects the left
and right channels together out of phase so that the center drops out. 
Kate and the drum kit are usually in the center, so they go away, leaving
just the stuff that's on the sides. 

Surround sound, BTW, just takes the "sides-only" signal, delays it a bit
(equivalent to 10 or 20 feet of distance), and sends it to the back
speakers.  Anyone who has a surround sound setup (AKA "home theater") can
hear what Vickie is talking about by turning down the main channels and
just listening to the surround speakers. 

> 
> Vickie (who has to decide between getting new headphones and keeping
> these so I can hear all the details again, or letting Chris fix 'em)
> 

The "broken" headphones may be putting a heavy load on the headphone amp in
your CD player or receiver.  Listening to the surrounds (if you have 'em)
is probably safer.

There's an electronic gizmo on the market that lets you turn down the
center and boost the sides.  I can't remember what it's called.  When I
find the ad for it, I'll post to r.m.g.

Keep letting the weirdness in!
- Allen

+-----------------------------+
|   "Get the bow going,       |
|    Let it scream to me!"    |
|             - KaTe Bush     |
+-----------------------------+