Not to get off topic...

[radioriot7]

But, has anyone noticed Star's processing? It sounds horrible. Lots of mid and highs. Very noticeable when flipping between stations. Anyone else notice, and would they be doing this for a reason?

Sorry this has nothing to do with Project - but hey, I'm not one to judge after a couple of days.

 

[al_atl]

My scan in the car happened to land on 94.1 today and they happened to be playing a song I liked. I turned up the volume a little and noticed the same thing you did. Sounded terrible! I switched off, not even staying to hear the song. I came back to it a little later in the day and it still sounded the same. It reminded me a little of a couple of AM stations back in the '70s that passed no bass and very little above about 5k...all midrange "honking." I'm guessing something in Star's processing rack either has, or is about to, die a horrible death.

 

[whit979]

I was wondering if it was typical of Star 94 to have processing like that. I can pick them up pretty well in Jacksonville, AL and I noticed how bad it sounded the other day. Star has such a "hot" sound right now that they're almost unlistenable.

So, who's got the best processing in Atlanta?

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

Ive always thought that Lite fm 94.9 has great processing. Or at least to my ears,
Compressed and nice. B98.5 is flat sounding. 97.1 sound wise is pretty good.
Whadda yall thank?

 

[taylorengineer]

On FM:
DAVE, by far, has best technical (commercial)audio quality. Runners up to Hot107.9 ,107.5 and V103.
The non comms like WREK and WRAS, when occasionally playing well produced material, sound outstanding.
And special mention should be made about WCLK 91.9. Of all the FM signals in Atlanta....these guys have the VERY BEST audio. It is dreamy!
On AM:
WSB has always been the benchmark. Some like the sound....some are less enthusiatic. It's loud and clean.
I think WGST sounds great although many on this board are critical due to the ClearChannel corperate mandate of a 5 kilohertz maximum frequency response. All my AM radios are crummy so it doesn't matter.
The best AM has to be 1480 WYZE! Still a music station, it is tastefully processed, and sounds really good on any radio.

 

[whit979]

I think WGST sounds great although many on this board are critical due to the ClearChannel corperate mandate of a 5 kilohertz maximum frequency response.

What is this 5 KHz maximum frequency response you speak of? How strange....does it apply to FM too?

 

[taylorengineer]

This mandate is part of the drive to improve AM radio. It is only AM....FM is not affected.
Reducing the high frequencies(of the audio programming) broadcast by an AM station reduces interference to stations on the channel next door....especially at night.
This is all to help make the roll out of digital radio more successful

 

[ChrisWright]

Hmm....what's a typical maximum frequency response of an FM station in Atlanta? Just curious....I've been working with our processor at the station I work for in east AL. Some of the ATL stations sound great....others, like Star 94, are having a tough time right now.

 

[taylorengineer]

FM stations broadcast 50-15,000 Hertz(or cycles)The exceptional person can hear up to 22,000 Hz....the average 25 year old female can hear 18-20,000 Hz and the average 50 year old man can hear 13-16,000 Hz.
Star 94 sounds the way it does because the PD there thinks that's the way it should sound. One of the Star engineers posts here on a regular basis.....but the engineers usually don't decide on audio processor settings.
There are a million different opinions on how a radio station should "sound" to the listener. Some believe in sonic purity....some want a "signature," or unique sound.
The Star PD probably thinks the current settings sound good in his car and it hasn't occurred to him/her that it may sound bad in others.
I have not listened to Star lately but the last time I did they sounded great.