A
AnyHuman
Guest
Why is the audio on 98.5 The Beat in mono not stereo? The HD on it is stereo but the regular FM is mono. I can't remember the last time I heard it in stereo.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
The analog signal audio is in stereo.
A
AnyHuman
Guest
But the audio on it is mono. The signal is stereo but with mono audio, if that makes sense.
J
John Quesada
Guest
What you apparently are hearing is monaural (or a single channel of sound) audio without the illusion of multi-directional audible perspective that stereophonic sound produces, even though the stereo indicator (or pilot) on the receiver which is being used indicates the use of two or more channels for the specific broadcast. This would likely be implemented as a cost reducing measure by the ownership of said station and is one that less technically inclined listeners of said audio would likely never decipher.
How would that save any money? That's absurd.
In any case, the stereo light on radios that still have them indicates the presence of the 19 kHz stereo pilot. Compatible FM stereo uses l+r and l-r information to create two channels of stereo. The system does no contemplate "or more" insofar as channels are concerned.
J
John Quesada
Guest
Even more absurd. The article refers, obliquely, to supposed savings in the recording of original content. That means music recordings.
For a radio station, if the studio equipment is stereo, there is no measurable cost differential. Most radio station audio is recorded and stored on digital storage devices and it has been about two decades since the cost of storage was any kind of a factor in compressing or storing in mono vs. stereo.
Record company service to stations is done via stereo digital copies. They are simply dubbed to the digital storage system; converting them to mono would actually involve costs.
When's the last time you saw a monaural FM Optimod or Omnia? Studio gear is generally all stereo... even newer AM studios are full stereo to enable streaming in stereo or to feed translators or HD subchannels.
The only reason why an FM might transmit a monaural signal is to improve fringe area reception... and that is occasionally done by limited Class A signals or translators. The station in question is a Class C and does not have a fringe coverage issue.
There is no saving in having a full stereo audio chain from studio to transmitter and then converting the transmitter input to mono.
A
AnyHuman
Guest
Well 98.5's engineer probably just didn't set it up correctly. I'll let you know if it changes.
Setting up FM stereo is quite simple, with the biggest issue always having been phase cancellation. Otherwise, simple.
I built my first stereo studio, processing and stereo generator in 1967 and it has only gotten simpler since then due to the wealth of two channel standard gear.
A
AnyHuman
Guest
KBBT 98.5 The Beat's audio is still mono. If you listen on a pair of headphones to the FM you can hear it's not stereo. Someone should let their engineer know...
A
AnyHuman
Guest
I guess their engineer was made aware of this fact, The Beat is once again stereo after a year and a half at least. Nice!
- Status