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Help I run 4 Oldies Fm's what is the Best Limiter/ Compressor

K

kya radio

Guest
I own 4 Fms I need some Eng brains what is the best processor for my FMs
 
The "Best" will elicit multiple replies hereon...mostly biased, IMHO.
If you have a limited budget and want a totally adequate processor, use an Inovonics David III. They used to send them out for trial. Their service is prompt and reasonable and support is superb. You might even speak to the Boss when you call...if not, just ask for him.
If you want to spend 10,000 plus, no problem...but on oldies? I think not...the audience will love your sound, and your boss will love you for saving all that Jack...Just my opinion and there will be many conflicting ones coming...Cheers and Thanks...JBI (I run Inovonics exclusively on an oldies, Mor and Country format (3 Stations) and you could not pry them away!.
 
david III very good unit for the bucks.you may also want to check out the omnia 3fmt and the dsp-x.all depends on how much budget, but for oldies you can't go wrong with the david 111, take it from the old timers like me and jboyd.we have been there done that..inovonics makes great stuff..
 
Based strictly upon my experience...and for a lower cost unit, I'd give some serious consideration to an Aphex 2020 MK III.

They work well with the challenges of widely varying audio material. And while an Aphex won't win a pee-ing contest in the loudness dept., they sound very purdy.

And if you don't like the sound you are getting out of ANY box, call an expert...the manufacturer. Spoken to folks at Omnia and Aphex that really know their boxes. Quite well.
 
had a 2020, been there.for the options you would need including stereo gen ,you'd be better off with the omnia 5ex or possible the orban 8300.basic list for the 2020 no options is 5495.00 for the price of the other processors, take j boyd's advice and get the david 3's.i run the omnia 6 and the dsp-extra.but as you may know you will step up to the plate for the 06, best street price now is around 9800.00 for the EX, but it is one hell of a box .maybe you can get a couple of demo's.you can almost get 3 of the davids for the price of one of the others.hint hint..heard a fm with one of the david 2, i was running a 8100 with texars.got to tell you i was very impressed with the way the david sounded to me...
 
The David III is OK, but I think for the same (or less) money, the DSP-X Mini wins hands down. Why not audition both, and make up your own mind?
 
Take the heretic's point of view - the guy turning the knobs makes a lot more difference than the knobs themselves (really). If you're playing oldies, the product is going to range in quality from marginally OK to Really Chitty. So, all that last 2 % or so everyone is trying to squeeze out of this or that esoteric box would likely only point out the bad spots in the original recordings anyway. So... any of the units mentioned here will do a credible job for you. I wouldn't shy away from older equipment, either. You can likely buy a used Optimod 8100xt and pay for a trip back to the factory to be sure it's up to snuff for substantially less money than much of today's esoterica - and the oldies were probably broadcast through one when they were currents. Use the savings to make sure your air chains are squeaky clean. Everything from the source to the antenna ought to be flat in response to about blue light, and quiet as a mouse. If the exciters aren't fairly new, go get new ones, or refurb what you've got. Get the synchronous AM down under -45 or so on program (if it will do -55 on a tone, it will probably do -45 on program). If the antenna resembles an old coathanger, and the feedline percolates at the lowest point, upgrade. In other words, look at the total plant and make sure it's working to the various manufacturer's specs. Processors, more than anything else, are subject to the GIGO factor.
 
dsp-x mini is a steal.demo one before you buy anything else.any of their products offer the most bang for the buck.have FM's running the dsp-x and dsp-extra.very good products and easy to set up.older 8100's are ok( i ran lots of them YEARS AGO),but they don't have the DSP processing power or features of todays units.IMHO
 
If money was no object, Omnia 6. There's a preset in the newer boxes that is "out of this world."

Good advice there about using an 8100. I used an 8100 with card 5 and an Arianne in front of it for Oldies.

We weren't the loudest on the dial, but it was breathtaking.

Get good source material, avoid bit reduction.
 
sgeirk, what is the preset name??i run a 6, downloaded the warm and contemporary preset off the Omnia site.sounds very good, open, bright and good bass and all the loud anyone would need..
 
thanks sgeirk, that cosmic pre is on my menu.will check it out soon.according to the 06 manual it could work with just about any format.who do you know using it and what is the format?thanks
 
I'll just say it's a very versatile preset, indeed. I feel it's best left alone, except for the final clip drive. Adjust to taste. Yum.
 
Another sub-2K$ prospect is the Ultramod from Broadcast Technology which now incorporates a composite clipper. I used the Original UltraMod and Comp-Roc and liked the clean sound.
 
just replaced a ultramod with the dsp-x .stomped it like a step child. loud and dam clean.owner was amazed.
 
littlejohn said:
Take the heretic's point of view - the guy turning the knobs makes a lot more difference than the knobs themselves (really). If you're playing oldies, the product is going to range in quality from marginally OK to Really Chitty. So, all that last 2 % or so everyone is trying to squeeze out of this or that esoteric box would likely only point out the bad spots in the original recordings anyway. So... any of the units mentioned here will do a credible job for you. I wouldn't shy away from older equipment, either. You can likely buy a used Optimod 8100xt and pay for a trip back to the factory to be sure it's up to snuff for substantially less money than much of today's esoterica - and the oldies were probably broadcast through one when they were currents. Use the savings to make sure your air chains are squeaky clean. Everything from the source to the antenna ought to be flat in response to about blue light, and quiet as a mouse. If the exciters aren't fairly new, go get new ones, or refurb what you've got. Get the synchronous AM down under -45 or so on program (if it will do -55 on a tone, it will probably do -45 on program). If the antenna resembles an old coathanger, and the feedline percolates at the lowest point, upgrade. In other words, look at the total plant and make sure it's working to the various manufacturer's specs. Processors, more than anything else, are subject to the GIGO factor.
Click to expand...


And don't forget the source material!!! If half your library is from mp3's someone downloaded from Napster or vinyl dubs, go out & buy a GoldDisc library!! Be glad the format has moved away from 50s stuff to an era where at least most of the original source material doesn't sound like it was recorded at 3 3/4 ips.
 
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