The thread here the-7-frequency-zones-understand-broaden-your-knowledge.94885/ just caused more questions. 
One being on the microphones used to record our source materials. In particular I was looking at the frequency response, boy is that all over. A while ago I bought a new Mic, the Electro-Voice RE 27 N/D. Took lots of research as I already own a few in my Mic locker, being a Sennheiser shotgun Mic, AKG P220 Condenser and a MXL 990 Condenser mic.
Most likely the most south after and highly revered Microphone, in the World, is the Neumann U87 in various incarnations over the years. I will add its response plot below. It is stated as 40-16000Hz. The EV 27 N/D response is 45-20000Hz. Outch.... Instrument microphones mostly also only cover 20-16 000Hz, there are exceptions of course.
Here is the point. Most Microphones are not able to capture any information beyond 16kHz (look at the drop off in response, likely between 12-24dB curve) that will be audible anyhow. This is due to the response falling off rapidly. If the Microphone is not even recording any energy up above 16 000 or 20 000Hz, there is nothing captured. On a lot of Mastering, filters are used and tweaked to eliminate frequencies much above 16 000Hz anyhow. It is claimed by the artists that those sound harsh and not musical at all.
What to make of this? Whatever sounds good is what goes down on the master. These artists will do whatever they need to to make the mix sound good before recording the master. This goes to show, that even the recording and mastering process is limited at best.
Neumann U 87:
EV 27 N/D:
One being on the microphones used to record our source materials. In particular I was looking at the frequency response, boy is that all over. A while ago I bought a new Mic, the Electro-Voice RE 27 N/D. Took lots of research as I already own a few in my Mic locker, being a Sennheiser shotgun Mic, AKG P220 Condenser and a MXL 990 Condenser mic.Most likely the most south after and highly revered Microphone, in the World, is the Neumann U87 in various incarnations over the years. I will add its response plot below. It is stated as 40-16000Hz. The EV 27 N/D response is 45-20000Hz. Outch.... Instrument microphones mostly also only cover 20-16 000Hz, there are exceptions of course.
Here is the point. Most Microphones are not able to capture any information beyond 16kHz (look at the drop off in response, likely between 12-24dB curve) that will be audible anyhow. This is due to the response falling off rapidly. If the Microphone is not even recording any energy up above 16 000 or 20 000Hz, there is nothing captured. On a lot of Mastering, filters are used and tweaked to eliminate frequencies much above 16 000Hz anyhow. It is claimed by the artists that those sound harsh and not musical at all.
What to make of this? Whatever sounds good is what goes down on the master. These artists will do whatever they need to to make the mix sound good before recording the master. This goes to show, that even the recording and mastering process is limited at best.
Neumann U 87:
EV 27 N/D:
