That LOUDNESS Button! August 2025

The most misunderstood feature on any audio product is the loudness switch or button. Loudness was derived by the research into making a good telephone (The handset one with both the receiver and transmitter in one piece) which resulted in the Fletcher-Munson curve. 

It was discovered that human hearing is not flat (equal) across all frequencies, assumed to be 20 to 20,000 Hz, but has curve across the frequencies with less perception at BOTH low and very high frequencies, particularly at low volumes.  This was used in the design of the original handset dial telephone.

Now, there is not one curve but many based upon decibel levels or how loud it is.  Almost all manufacturers produced a loudness button with a sort of one size fits all and the boosts varied between manufacturers.  

The only company that actually tried to get this right was Yamaha with their variable loudness.  You may recall seeing their loudness control with the numbers 1 thru 10. That would allow the user to change the loudness based upon the volume of the system.  This was actually a promoted feature but even this attempt was basically misunderstood.

Unfortunately, the loudness control became synonymous with bass boost and away it went. Wanted more thump, press the loudness. By the way, I don't think anyone really addressed the human weakness at the other end of the spectrum, treble. 

So now we come to audio products that do not have a loudness button.  This is where misunderstanding really comes into play. Human speech is typically between 55 to 65 db.  If you look at the curve, a loudness button does have some use. However, most people don't listen at that level but, higher.  Put into perspective, 90db is that of a lawnmower, a car horn at 10', or a shouting conversation.  People often listen at 70 to 80 db where the curve begins to flatten out. At 90, well, it is a lot flatter.  But a switch in the signal path is typically not harmless.  So, a number of manufacturers recognizing the incorrect use of the loudness button and the risk to accuracy, have chosen not to provide one at all.  For most, this is not a real issue.  For some, well, they rather cling to it as a bass boost.  

Now, recognizing that not everyone perceives sound the same way, particularly as we age, well, some equalization may be proper.  Life's experiences also dramatically affect hearing.  Constant loud noise at work can be a contributory factor in hearing deficiencies.  Even illnesses can affect life-long hearing.  So, it is not necessarily age dependent but typically it is. 

I thought it would be useful for all to understand a bit more about loudness and if you are interested, look up the Fletcher-Munson curve. 

-Lou

Enter The Age & Inaccuracies of AI - July 2025

Oh, the stock market has gone crazy about the prospects of AI. 

The stories are everywhere about how everyone is going to be replaced by it so you better buy stock in it if you have any hope of making an income.  A fine bit of misinformation in my humble opinion.  Fear mongering for profit, actually.

Our first experience with it came as a result of a customer doing some research about a product of a company we represent.  The President of that company was trying to resolve a situation with a product and there were various proposals discussed.  The customer's choice, however, was influenced by incorrect information provided by AI.  This caught the attention of the company triggering an attempt to correct it with, in this case, Google.  The customer made a good and correct choice, mind you, but with the wrong information.  It could have gone the other way. 

Being curious, I decided to set the wonderful new system to the test.  What else is AI saying and so I searched my own company, Audible Elegance.  What I discovered was, to say the least, disappointing and, in some aspects, harmful to the reputation of my business.  Peppered in the AI response was all sorts of nasties not about us, but about a company with a similar name, Audible, which is a podcast company of entertainment, principally books.  We, ourselves, are quite familiar with that company and every week we receive 10 to 25 calls from their subscribers wanting to talk to them and, as we can gather from the AI review, well, they are not happy campers.  So, the reality is that Google AI is publishing negative and frightful information related to Audible, the podcast company, and not us.  Yet, there's our name attached to it.  I have little doubt that this is happening to many companies and many individuals. 

What is so equally common about these mega-distributors of information, or misinformation, is that it is nearly impossible to hold them accountable for harm they cause.  Multiple attempts have been tried and failed.  They just do what they do and you can go screw yourself.  Yet, they will net immense stock gains every time they mention what they are doing with AI all to the benefit of both management and large investment houses like BlackRock. Who gets harmed in all of this doesn't matter because they will never be invited to their country club. I have sent feedback to Google about what I saw but who knows if and when they will ever correct it.  So, what does this all mean?

I have said time and time again, review the reviewer.  I, myself, place little credibility in AI at this time.  Maybe in the future, yes, but certainly not now based upon multiple other searches.  Some information can be correct, yes, but there is also bad information contained there-in. Like I say, "there's no sense in idiot-proofing anything because they will always build a better idiot." 

Now we have one that many will simply falsely follow like the Pied Piper and Rats.  Remember, he eventually led all their children away too.  Be careful not to be led astray.  Use multiple sources and, if possible, talk to a human.  We are still needed and waiting. 

-AI Lou

Covid Without The Covid! - May 2025

Take a step forward (or quit being afraid)

I have been remiss in writing a monthly blog although it has been on my mind.  I have been, like many, watching and reading the news and thinking about my place in it.  It was only recently that all the pieces fell into place.

With the way news is being handled, it is causing many people to crawl into a corner.  The news has become a mirror of political campaigns or visa-versa.

  Yet, we all are pretty disgusted with political advertising as it is always negative and what's wrong with the other person.  We are all relieved when elections are over because we don't have to listen to it any longer.  Oddly enough, however, common news is given a passing grade when the very same type of negativism needs to be followed.  

Years ago, as many of you know, my wife began to suffer from a genetic heart disease known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (or HCM).  Notwithstanding all the attempts to fix the problems (which required multiple surgeries), it began to fail.  This required a heart transplant which she received Thanksgiving Day, 2020. In the 4 years following that event, Deb eventually forced into retirement by her employer as she no longer had the steady hands needed to draw blood.  This was caused by the medications to prevent rejection.  In addition to this, over the next four years, she nearly died 8 or 9 times.

Through this, I made about 65 trips to the Cleveland Clinic from Virginia to be at her side not knowing the outcome. It was difficult on both of us.  Yet, through this all, a seed was planted.

Shortly after she was "retired" Deb began to plan her future and decided to pursue the path of being a social worker to help other transplant families.  As Covid protocols were still rampant, she chose Mary Baldwin University of Viginia as they offered on-line courses.  Working with them, they pieced together a path using credits she had previously earned nearly 40 years ago from another university combined with their program. 

Over the next few 2 ½ years Deb worked away on getting this degree and in the process held a GPA of 3.98 with honors.  In April of 2024, her transplanted heart began to fail.  The Cleveland Clinic offered the chance at a second heart transplant.  So, amazingly, while she was lying in bed from that time to August 21st, Deb continued to work away at earning her degree.  I, for my part, continued all the support necessary to run a farm, keep a household and run Audible Elegance which I have been visiting when I can. I made multiple trips during that time to continue the emotional support. On May 18th, she graduated from Mary Baldwin with her degree.  She plans more....  

Debbie's Graduation May 18th 2025

So, why write about this?  It is because she could have chosen to crawl into the corner and eventually die.  She not only chose to live but to see to others who are on this path.  It is, for both the patient and caretaker, not always an easy path.  She stood up and chose life.  It took 43 years to graduate and she did it after so many of life's distractions. 

Most recently she has been declared legally blind as a result of all the trauma her body has been through.  She has lost peripheral vision.  I am now her transportation to the future.  We are not giving up, we are not hiding in a corner.  We are looking forward. 

So, indeed it saddens me when I see perfectly healthy people crawling into the corner afraid to live life.  Afraid to enjoy the things of life, afraid to bring things into the life for enjoyment, afraid of what tomorrow may bring.  Well, from my experience, I can only say to you is to live life, enjoy life, and quit being afraid of tomorrow.  

-Lou