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94.1 Processing
- Thread starter Wrench
- Start date
You should E-mail their programming department with your comment. If even a radio nerd notices over-aggressive processing, imagine what it's doing to their TSL/average listeners?
Not that we don't care about your opinion, but posting such a comment here will have zero result in fixing it.
It may depend on the radio you're hearing it on? I tuned in The Sound on my stereo boombox PR-D5 and it doesn't sound unusual. A bit compressed on the high end maybe? But what isn't? And maybe I'm 'hearing' it because I'm listening for something that may not even be there?
Have you listened on a couple different radios?
Have you listened on a couple different radios?
Goes to show how listening is subjective. Was down in Seattle on business yesterday and gave 94.1 a listen. If anything, I like their processing better than most of the other stations in town. It seemed to have more stereo separation and more dynamic range than the other outlets, and still maintained excellent volume and punch. About ideal on my decent car radio.
Why would they do that? Borrowing part of a previous statement from you on another thread of similar subject matter. “Volume knob” Kelly A.
Well Bobcat; volume knob is different than overly-agressive processing or distortion that's noticeable. My philosophy has always been; if you can hear the processing, it's too much.
Because research has shown, that TSL (Time Spent Listening) can be harmed by over-processing audio. Especially true for women, who's high frequency hearing range extends well above men. Excessive clipping, which mainly affects higher energy transients at the higher end of the audio spectrum, fast release times to create loudness, all induce what amounts to; 'listening fatigue'.
Over the years in various focus groups, participants have found heavily processed audio to be inferior to less, or no processing without being able to articulate why they don't like the heavily processed sound. Mostly their response is less or no processing is a more pleasant listening experience.
As I recall, my comment was to a poster you keep referring to on this site, felt a station was too quiet or not processed enough. Mainly radio nerds, are nostalgic of the 'loudness war'-days. With the competition from streaming, or even personal playlists on smartphones, music radio stations who continue to focus on loudness and heavy processing are only further driving listeners away from radio to streaming.
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94.1 sounds fine. Do you not think they have access to all of the information and research (and then some) that you do? Again, just using your style here.
It depends. Even stations in large groups still give their programming or technical management folks the autonomy to adjust things like audio processing. Some engineers, PD's, or seasoned GM's are still living in the past of wanting 'their' station to sound a certain way, whether the goal is to be 'louder' than the competition, 'wider' than the competition, whatever. Either way, it's old school thinking that is hurting the industry.
I'm on the East Coast for the upcoming few months, so I have no idea what 94.1 sounds like to comment. We're talking in generalities here.
So your engaging in conversation by directing an individual to contact the station to have them make changes based on something you haven’t even heard yourself. Got it.
If someone came on here and complained because the multipath static (terrain) was louder on KPLZ because of the low processing you’d be on here defending that with a full page response.
If a large group of target demo listeners were tuning away from a station because of a specific song, you’d disregard it as anecdotal or unlikely to have happened.
Seems your responses depend on the company or specific stations involved. That didn’t take much to figure out.
If someone came on here and complained because the multipath static (terrain) was louder on KPLZ because of the low processing you’d be on here defending that with a full page response.
If a large group of target demo listeners were tuning away from a station because of a specific song, you’d disregard it as anecdotal or unlikely to have happened.
Seems your responses depend on the company or specific stations involved. That didn’t take much to figure out.
Sure, if someone found the audio processing an issue, I see no reason why they wouldn't bring it to the attention of the station, rather than some radio discussion board. That is of course, if they expected to reach someone who could do something about it.
Most stations never hear from listeners about that sort of thing. If it had been me at the station, I'd be interested in hearing the observations of a listener.
Audio processing doesn't cause multipath. Multipath is a physics phenomena:
Bobcat, I don't make claims about what you think, or not, so I'm unclear why you're making assumptions on my behalf. You asked me to clarify a previous statement, so I did. Can't help it if you disagree, or didn't like my reply.
I read your posts as you're generalizing, or seem to be attempting 'gotcha' moments like you have some beef with me. Can't help that either. You ask me to clarify or provide information, you got it. Don't like it? Too bad, not sad.
When the audio processing is set low, the noise factor (multipath) is more apparent when the listener turns their volume up to compensate for it. Hence the comment. Seattle has terrain issues to overcome. When KPLZ ran low processing, as you seem to like, the noise was perceived as louder because of it.
You create gotcha moments on your own when you make statements that lean one way for a particular station or group then go completely the other way when someone makes a comment regarding a station that you have a soft spot for. It’s obvious that you have a bias toward specific groups in the market. As such when someone makes a comment regarding the stations, you defend their (station) decision as if they know everything. Conversely if someone mentions something about about a station or group you don’t like or don’t have a positive bias toward you slam the station or the comment or bring in a reason to disagree with the comment or person. Anyone following your comments, which are frequent can notice this trait. It’s like you’re the information referee here. With a lean toward favoring certain groups over others. The world according to Kelly.
No beef, recreational here. Enjoy engaging with discussion. Nothing personal. Don’t trip over your own ego.
Using the example of when I set up the KPLZ processing back in the day to enhance dynamic range and eliminated coloring (EQ) of the audio as a test, we received zero complaints of destructive multipath. As mentioned prior; TSL went up in the target demo about 29% over the previous two prior books.
The only people who gave negative comments regarding reduced processing/loudness were some radio nerds on this site. None were actually made to the station.
I've used KPLZ as an example, because I was there and most familiar with the signal path from microphone to antenna, including how a signal at 101.5Mhz from Cougar Mt. is generally received in the market.
Seems like that's how you simplistically interpret my comments, but in reality, one size doesn't fit all instances. For example; my suggesting that if someone thought (at the time) KOMO-AM was quieter than other AM stations on the dial, then they should consider using the volume control to adjust the level to their liking. Even you would have to admit, that's a big difference between someone complaining about aggressive FM audio processing. Apples and oranges.
I'll admit that I have more background information on certain stations than others. Whether it's because I've worked there, or have been in contact with people still there. What I typically "slam", is when hobbyists or disgruntled former employees make comments that are wrong, or come to conclusions based on useless 6+ ratings.
Scenario with KOMO, extremely low audio that was noticeable by everyone listening. Went on for quite a while. Concurrently Major market station missing channels, no left channel on the HD for KOMO on KPLZ. For several days. “Use your volume knob”
Scenario with KSWD, May or may not be overly aggressive audio processing, perceived by one person on a message board. No else notices it. “Email a complaint to management about it, overly aggressive audio effects TSL and the ratings are going to suffer etc etc, they’re destroying the business with this type of audio”.
“No complaints of destructive multi path”.
Not even from people in downtown Seattle? Do tell. I’m sure everyone would like to know how you solved that ongoing issue.
Scenario with KSWD, May or may not be overly aggressive audio processing, perceived by one person on a message board. No else notices it. “Email a complaint to management about it, overly aggressive audio effects TSL and the ratings are going to suffer etc etc, they’re destroying the business with this type of audio”.
“No complaints of destructive multi path”.
Not even from people in downtown Seattle? Do tell. I’m sure everyone would like to know how you solved that ongoing issue.
You aren't making any sense. I've tried to explain the circumstances, but you keep going back to the same previous statement as it's somehow carved in stone for all stations, all situations, AM or FM. If you don't understand the differences or nuances, then that's on you. This is turning into another useless Pat Benetar-construction worker-impression, rabbit hole back and forth. It's like trying to explain radio to a six year old.
That's not what I said, that's you merging several topics into one. I said if the OP didn't like the audio processing, they would be better served by contacting the station, than posting it here. The discussion about radio stations using aggressive processing was additional information not necessarily tied to the OP's concern. Again, if you can't differentiate the two parts of the explanation, it's not my concern.
Correct. During the reduced-processing time when I was there, the station received no complaints about increased multipath in the downtown, or any other market locations.
“Mainly radio nerds, are nostalgic of the 'loudness war'-days. With the competition from streaming, or even personal playlists on smartphones, music radio stations who continue to focus on loudness and heavy processing are only further driving listeners away from radio to streaming”
“You should E-mail their programming department with your comment. If even a radio nerd notices over-aggressive processing, imagine what it's doing to their TSL/average listeners”
“ThAts NoT wHaT I Said”
This has to be entertaining for the casual onlookers. Even they can comprehend the abstract connection of the examples I gave of your obvious bias.
Explaining radio to a 6 year old, that’s about how you communicate to people on here. Condescending much? Hahaha!
Are we having fun yet? I know I am.
“29% TSL increase”. In the flawed diary methods that turned out to be hogwash right? By your own admission in another post.
🤣🤣🤣
“You should E-mail their programming department with your comment. If even a radio nerd notices over-aggressive processing, imagine what it's doing to their TSL/average listeners”
“ThAts NoT wHaT I Said”
This has to be entertaining for the casual onlookers. Even they can comprehend the abstract connection of the examples I gave of your obvious bias.
Explaining radio to a 6 year old, that’s about how you communicate to people on here. Condescending much? Hahaha!
Are we having fun yet? I know I am.
“29% TSL increase”. In the flawed diary methods that turned out to be hogwash right? By your own admission in another post.
🤣🤣🤣
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