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AnyHuman
Guest
Why is it distorted and overdriven when music is playing, and normal/quiet when a talk radio program is going on?
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Some stations choose to "process" music and "voice" differently.......
In my area we have several stations that run talk in morning drive, and music the rest of the day....
Your description of audio change fits these stations to a "T"!
Careless board control is another reason for this happening......
The days of "watch your VU meter(s) -- Peak into the red OCCASIONALLY!" are long gone, methinks.....!!
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AnyHuman
Guest
Well then if you ask me, KSGR needs a smart engineer, or at least an audio compresser.
Are you listening off the air, or to a stream?
Streams are often / usually processed separately from the OTA analog audio, just as the main HD channel (HD-1) simulcast is separately processed.
The station may even be using software processing for the stream.
Processing is a lot more than a "compressor". The general specifications for an analog FM audio chain include some form of gentle AGC (Automatic Gain Control) to keep average audio levels in a more narrow range, and then there is a compressor, which adjusts the highest audio peaks dynamically, usually in bands of audio frequencies (each of which can be independently controlled, effectively becoming an equalizer at the same time), and then a peak limiter which cuts off audio excursions that would cause modulation greater than +/- 75 kHz. The PPM encoder is inserted into the chain, as might be Voltair as well, in PPM markets. Some stations also use, as the last step, a composite clipper which "squares off" the highest level audio to increase loudness (at a cost).
An example of an AGC would be the Aphex Compellor, and the compressor / peak limiter is more often than not an Optimod or an Omnia. You can search on all three of those to get an idea of what each does.
Stations in smaller markets or those with limited resources may buy used, older versions, of the popular audio processing products. But the theory of operation is the same, and comparable (but far less effective and sophisticated) audio chains go back to the 50's and compressors / limiters go back even further in time.
This is a simplistic view, and there are many other AGC products and compressor / peak limiter devices. The adjustment of all of them can take many, many hours if not days and is highly subjective. In the past, I have used a panel of people, men and women, of different ages, to get the right settings since there is considerable difference in the way men and women and older and younger people perceive audio.
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AnyHuman
Guest
That's just it, KSGR's on-air sounds like someone with NO processing experience set it up. It might as well be running out of a headphone jack on a PC somewhere, no automatic gain control or limiter or anything. As I said, the volume is too loud for music, but talk is quieter.
KSGR sounds like KNLE in Austin when music is playing. KNLE is too loud and so is KSGR.
KSGR sounds like KNLE in Austin when music is playing. KNLE is too loud and so is KSGR.
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