We ask questions! And plenty of real world experience!
The keyword you may have missed was
average
We have done extensive listener testing over the years; we actually ask what they think sounds better.
ABC comparisons are one way we test; we take the same song synced and play it from three sources: a broadcast cart, mp3 & and directly from a CD. You would be surprised how many liked the cart the best; listeners in the states may not be as discerning as in Europe; I know when it comes to video they aren't. Fact is some listeners don't like the sound of a CD either; and swear vinyl records sound better.
Goran, name a better way for a small broadcaster to link up multiple transmitters for under $1000 without a major sacrifice in sound quality or requiring a license. The fact is the Barix is a cost effective way for a broadcaster on budget to link up a studio with transmitters in multiple cities or locations. Some day you might want to pay a visit to the United States, listening to what is broadcast and how it sounds here in the states; and not just the major markets. One visit and you will quickly realize sound quality is not a high priority with broadcasters here; markets large and small leave allot to be desired. Those few broadcasters who program locally, are airing MP3's 128kb -192kb straight off a consumer computer using at best a Creative Labs sound card. Some broadcasters will go the extra mile running WAV files, use a good sound card; but they are few.
We have a station that uses a BW FM transmitter, only peak limiting in the audio chain, only CD's as a music source on the air and no STL to muck things up. It's as straight wire as you can get;Very few listeners notice the difference, so I understand why some broadcasters don't bother going the extra mile. We have a 100% vintage analog radio station playing vinyl, reel to reel and cart for program sources; processing is analog; Some listeners call telling us they like the fat sound, and the old analog sound. Those that notice and call, often are other broadcasters asking how we get away with it;meant in a positive way. To run a straight wire operation you need a skilled engineer at the board to ride gain; most of todays board ops don't even know what or where the transmitter is.
Sometimes we have to live in the real world! Today it is like pulling teeth to get an artist to send us a CD, typically it's an e-mailed mp3 at 128kb, and if we are lucky it's 192kb. The spots from the nationals are also e-mailed too, as are the PSA's. It's almost pointless to exceed your source material, not to mention being very costly.
So when I say the average listener won't notice; I speak from experience, after 43 years in the broadcast business I know they don't, again the keyword is:
average.
Back in the late 80's, I notice when a radio station CD107 tried to pass off a cart machine as a CD for a music source; not only did I notice, but I could tell which cart machine they are using, much to the shock of the programmer of the station. But he and I knew, I was the exception not the rule and he could keep on passing his carts off as CD's. Today in the real world, most people are listening to us on boomboxes of one kind or another or in their noisy cars yakking on the cell phone. The Ipod has changed what most people perceive as good quality sound, the rapid decline of CD sells proves few care about sound quality here in the states. I dare say a majority of listeners would not know an uncompressed recording if they herd it, that is the way it is in the real world.
Sure guys like Tom and I, will go the extra mile to have our stations sound the best they can, but few will notice or care; for us it's personal. In the real world, listeners are just glad to have a locally programmed radio station that plays the music they like.
Steve
www.knjoradio.com
First stereo FM station west of the Miss
