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Q100 at 99.7: Audio chain
- Thread starter caller10
- Start date
I will agree that the audio processing on 99.7 isn't doing well with Q100 programming going into it. I was listening this afternoon and the 10K seems overly emphasized, almost to the point where syllibants push the compressor into overdrive and swooshing sounds occur. Sounds very harsh, when that trailer park queen's "Toxic" was playing, it made already poor music sound even worse. I guess that's what happens when you send garbage into something setup for higher quality music. I guess the average Q100 listener doesn't care anyway.
MRFLASHPORT said:
I agree. It's to the point where it sounds like the signal is starting to break up or you're getting stereo noise. Not a good strategy with a relatively weak 10kW signal that you're trying to get everyone to forget about--it makes the signal sound weaker than it is. If I had an old analog tuner I would have broken off the fine tuner by now trying to get rid of the noise.
The bass, OTOH, is nice, tight, and punchy without being obnoxious. Complements the playlist nicely.
Of course, less compression (and a side of world peace) would be nice too...
I have always been impressed with the old Q100 processing on 100.5 FM. Wish I could make my own station sound as good as that.
The Q100 @ 99.7 is very, very similar to what WQEN 103.7 FM (CHR) in Birmingham is running. Almost the exact same settings.
Other news: I can't believe they put the reverb back in the chain at Star! Can somebody confirm this?
The Q100 @ 99.7 is very, very similar to what WQEN 103.7 FM (CHR) in Birmingham is running. Almost the exact same settings.
Other news: I can't believe they put the reverb back in the chain at Star! Can somebody confirm this?
O
OnTheAir123
Guest
The 99.7 chain does need to be tweaked for the new format. Q-100 sounded better on 100.5 for sure but keep in mind that there is more that just the processor here to worry about. There are settings on the pre-processor, STL frequency response and rolloff, the main processor settings, and the transmitter exciter response to consider. All exciters do NOT sound exactly the same.
It currently sounds like Alternative processing setup with Top-40 programming but given some time, they will get it all dialed in.
8)
It currently sounds like Alternative processing setup with Top-40 programming but given some time, they will get it all dialed in.
8)
I could never get a good signal processing sound out of 100.5 northeast of town where I live. The high-fidelity stereo nature of the FM signal seems to fade within miles of downtown as you go northeast on I-85. However, south, west, and north of the transmitter seems to stretch out far with great sound quality for miles. I assume this is the directional nature of the antenna as not to interfere with WSSL in Greenville northeast of town. I think depending on where you live there is going to be a difference of opinion on 100.5FM's sound quality.
I am given to believe that all the Cloud Company stations are setup up by the same gentleman, who is a legend in his own mind. To my aged ear, they sound awful.... blare-ey and overdone. And a fair amount of aliasing distortion on the loiud passages. It's that annoying buzzing sound in the background which tracks along with the music on loud passages, and is usually caused by overdoing a hard limiter - used to be most obvious when one had a composite processor and hit it just a bit too hard.
Both those airchains were totally digital, and both had available for the main channel signal the best stereo generator/processor/exciter made. It does require some sublty in its setup, but kicks everyone else's into the weeds. They also had the current weapon of choice as the main processor, made by Telos/Omina/axia. There are those who prefer the current Orban box, both are very sophisticated audio computers, and both are capable of excellent results. Both are also capable of sounding like hammered dogs--t if you aren't careful with them.
The proof of the pudding is in the long term TSL from the younger female demos - a major part of Bert's audience. Young women have very acute hearing, and are quite sensitive to bad sound. They will tell you simplky 'I don't like that station' when asked. When you determine the reason by elimination, you find it is usually overdone audio. It wears on them more than males or older women. If your 20 - 29 females begin to trend down over several months or a year, and there's been no change in programming, it is time to look at what you're doing to the audio.
Contrary to some opinions, nobody I know of has been able to demonstrate a gain in audience by processing, but you can damn sure run them off with it.
Both those airchains were totally digital, and both had available for the main channel signal the best stereo generator/processor/exciter made. It does require some sublty in its setup, but kicks everyone else's into the weeds. They also had the current weapon of choice as the main processor, made by Telos/Omina/axia. There are those who prefer the current Orban box, both are very sophisticated audio computers, and both are capable of excellent results. Both are also capable of sounding like hammered dogs--t if you aren't careful with them.
The proof of the pudding is in the long term TSL from the younger female demos - a major part of Bert's audience. Young women have very acute hearing, and are quite sensitive to bad sound. They will tell you simplky 'I don't like that station' when asked. When you determine the reason by elimination, you find it is usually overdone audio. It wears on them more than males or older women. If your 20 - 29 females begin to trend down over several months or a year, and there's been no change in programming, it is time to look at what you're doing to the audio.
Contrary to some opinions, nobody I know of has been able to demonstrate a gain in audience by processing, but you can damn sure run them off with it.
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