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op.9 wrote:

One of the dark arts of playing in (and conducting) an orchestra  is the question of judging when to play. This is a huge subject. For example, often the backs of sections are playing slightly behind anyway - If you play exactly on the speed of light signal from the conductor when you are at the back - you will most likely be early. Its very tricky. I prefer being at the front! Percussionist have it hardest - timing a 'ding' exactly where on the beat you want it (i.e. on or just after) when positioned right at the back is a miracle. Only the very best musicians get it right. Conductors who try to solve this with clever leads or flicks of the wrist tend to cause more problems than they solve. When you listen to a really great ensemble its wonderful how all those musicians find a way to really listen and to use the acoustic and delays in the hall to create the perfect sound for the listener or microphone. (Horn players playing a low note have to play a good quarter of a second or more in front to compensate for the length of their instrument and also because their sound is best reflected off the back wall of the hall) Interestingly, in the film music studios most instruments have their own microphone and you simply play with the click track. Comb filtering heaven! Then they do what they like with it in the control room.

However, and it is a big however!

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