I’m not a technician by trade; but I have held the license for two AMs in the past, and was the guy that engineers always made time for and enjoyed working with. Unlike many of the more-demure owners who preferred “patch-ups and twisty-ties”, I seldom lost sleep over paying for a well-engineered plant. Although there were two FMs in house – I refused to consider AM as an afterthought!
I’ll recall a recent exchange here with another AM radio “war-horse”...
You may rest assured that Jim Loupas’ fame wasn't formed by the likes of a digital "all-in-wonder-box” with Omnia or Optimod nameplates. In fact, Mr Loupas’ early secret weapon was rumored to be the little-known and costly Gregg Labs MAP box you mentioned. Many of his “ilk” were fans of the UREI “Modulimiter” and early Pacific Recorder MAP [which was a UREI re-brand]. On our stations; one used a CRL stack [minus the first-stage “Pre-Proc” chassis which was a somewhat unimpressive AGC by comparison] – the other had an Optimod 9100. Both produced fine results – the Orban was more versatile and dense, but I slightly favored the sound of the CRL gear – brighter and more “airy”.
Common to both was the Aphex Compellor at the front end. I cannot stress more diligently the positive difference this often-confused “production AGC” will make in both AM and FM air-chains! It is quite simply THE BEST “careful hand on the pot” audio leveler ever made. A common misconception is to mistaken it as a compressor – technically it is [although not in the “effect” sense], but aurally it is much more agile and forgiving of stray levels – an absolute must if a multiband device is employed to enhance density. Its output is as natural and fatigue-free at 25db of gain-reduction as it is just “limping along” at 10db. The only difference is a desirable increase in the robust quality of the sound. If you run an automated or live-assist system, its capabilities will be even more appreciated. amfmsw seemed concerned that it is 25 year old technology... NOT SO – Aphex has modified its design no less than six times since the late 80s. The most recent version features discriminate leveling based on low-frequency content [a final nail in the “thump” coffin], and a version is available with D>A/A>D converters for use in a digital chain. Aphex feels [as I long have] that the very-best AGC processing is unique to the analog domain... Others must agree as this has been a very popular option. Many studios are trading their analog Compellors with one featuring the digital interface, so you may pick up the former in mint condition for a sweet price!
I’ll recall a recent exchange here with another AM radio “war-horse”...
hipporadio said:
You may rest assured that Jim Loupas’ fame wasn't formed by the likes of a digital "all-in-wonder-box” with Omnia or Optimod nameplates. In fact, Mr Loupas’ early secret weapon was rumored to be the little-known and costly Gregg Labs MAP box you mentioned. Many of his “ilk” were fans of the UREI “Modulimiter” and early Pacific Recorder MAP [which was a UREI re-brand]. On our stations; one used a CRL stack [minus the first-stage “Pre-Proc” chassis which was a somewhat unimpressive AGC by comparison] – the other had an Optimod 9100. Both produced fine results – the Orban was more versatile and dense, but I slightly favored the sound of the CRL gear – brighter and more “airy”.
Common to both was the Aphex Compellor at the front end. I cannot stress more diligently the positive difference this often-confused “production AGC” will make in both AM and FM air-chains! It is quite simply THE BEST “careful hand on the pot” audio leveler ever made. A common misconception is to mistaken it as a compressor – technically it is [although not in the “effect” sense], but aurally it is much more agile and forgiving of stray levels – an absolute must if a multiband device is employed to enhance density. Its output is as natural and fatigue-free at 25db of gain-reduction as it is just “limping along” at 10db. The only difference is a desirable increase in the robust quality of the sound. If you run an automated or live-assist system, its capabilities will be even more appreciated. amfmsw seemed concerned that it is 25 year old technology... NOT SO – Aphex has modified its design no less than six times since the late 80s. The most recent version features discriminate leveling based on low-frequency content [a final nail in the “thump” coffin], and a version is available with D>A/A>D converters for use in a digital chain. Aphex feels [as I long have] that the very-best AGC processing is unique to the analog domain... Others must agree as this has been a very popular option. Many studios are trading their analog Compellors with one featuring the digital interface, so you may pick up the former in mint condition for a sweet price!
