Trumpets and bones are the wrong way round in the right hand picture...
Hello Cathbad
Nice that you study my graphics so carefully.
According to your opinion and maybe, as they are often set in reality, the instruments are drawn in the wrong way, yes...
But: These graphics are from a tutorial that shows possibilities to create a more transparent mix with samples.
Imagine the following situation:
If the 1st violins, 2nd violins, flutes and trumpets are placed one behind the other on the left, there will be many frequency masking in the accompanying mix.
Let's continue on the right side, in reality there are all deep instruments: bass, cello, tuba, trombones etc. If you do all this in a mix, you are copying the reality, but mix technically this is a complete nonsense.
As an example we want to place a solo flute.
Think of a mix where you set up the whole orchestra in the way you are used to. On which side in the mix a solo flute would be better: Right on the bass side or on the left side where the violins, trumpets etc. are?
Now look again at the wind section on my image above: The violins cannot cover the horns. The trombones in the middle have power from both speakers and bang well through the 2nd violins and the violas. The trumpets can be heard well behind the cellos and the tubas could also be placed well in the middle together with the double basses. This is because then both loudspeakers can reproduce the low bass, which is the most energy-rich.
That was the idea of these pictures.
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Personally, I am not of the opinion that you have to reproduce reality exactly in the mix. Then you would have to place the microphones in row 7 in the audience. Nobody wants to hear such a mix. Besides, one would never bring the dynamics of a symphony orchestra into the living room - possibly even via PC speakers.
My approach is: A mix should be the illusion of a concert event as well as possible. In favor of a "good illusion" I take the liberty of placing instruments a little differently. If you don't want to do that, that's up to you.
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In favour of a good mix, instruments are often swapped in film music.
Nobody is interested there in the classical formation of an orchestra. The sound (Illusion) has to be good, from the music to the noises to the spoken word.
Listen to the main theme of Jurassic Park.
The high strings are more to the left and the trumpets more to the right. In the middle you can hear the flute and other woodwinds, anyway you will find my setup a bit (horns behind the violins). This mix is designed so that everything can be heard very well, even more extreme as I tried to get it out above. By the way, try to find out how many positions the first violin has - in the whole mix.
Welcome to the professional mixing world.
Have fun with the new possibility to place instruments for getting the most transperent mix, so that you still reach the illusion of a real concert.
All the best
Beat