The Ride WXRC

[maholy]

'The Ride' definitely has a dedicated fan base. 95.7 always had a loyal following whether it was album rock, AAA, active rock, etc. over the last 25 years. They've always been a little different than the rest of the dial.

I'm glad 'The Ride' is still locally owned and has a wider playlist than your typical classic rock station. My personal criticism of the station is that they are so entrenched in sounding like something 30-40 years ago, not only with their musical rotation, but their imaging and announcing as well. As an up and coming city of the future, I wish some of our media here in Charlotte wern't so stuck in the past.

What drives me even crazier is how some people make such a sacred cow out of this station as if it was so innovative, and can't understand why others don't like it. Sorry, but sounding old and not changing anything over 10 years is not innovative at all.

Even your typical oldies or classic rock station manages to sound fresh in 2012. Old houses and buildings need updates and renovations every now and then. 'The Ride' does too.

The Problem (as always) is Money. The first thing that ''Dave & Co'' needs to do is replace their Transmitter. I think they have a Orban 8200 or maybe an even earlier model than that. What I do know, is that on the 2011 and 2012 ''Loaner Cars'' that I've been temporarily given, I do not see any ''RMS Data'' on the Radio. There is no ''Friendly Name'', nor are the ''Song Details'' scrolling down the Screen. 95.7 is the ONLY FM Radio Station in Charlotte that lacks ''RMS Data'' --- even 90.3 WRBK has it now! That is where I would start. But... don't tell Management what they will have to spend on an Orban 8600 Pro. It might just freak them out. Steve.

WXRC has an Omnia 11.

WRBK has an Orban 8600 and it sounds great.

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

If XRC does have an Omnia 11 on the air, it sounds rather "flat" sounding and definitely not as dynamic as an Optimod.
Then again audio processing is subjective.

 

[Steve.Gates]

Steve, a new transmitter or a new audio processor. As far as I know, Orban does not manufacture transmitters. Why in your opinion would the "The Ride" need either?

Thanks for catching that. I am making terminology mistakes these days (and grammar ones as well). I hate getting old. I mean a new audio processor. WXRC's Transmitter is doing just fine, but WXRC is the only FM Radio Station is Charlotte to not utilize RMS Data. Some people may care about this; to others it is unimportant.

 

[nuffsaid]

Think what is important is what comes out of the speakers and not crawing across your radio!

 

[Steve.Gates]

What the heck?? I noticed "Baby I'm a want you" from Bread and "Lady" from the LRB were played. Could it be that Dave is wanting to include an audience like me?

Maybe not.. Pop music probably is not his specialty..

Every once and awhile Dave pulls an Obscure Hit (Pop or Otherwise) from His Bag O' Tricks.

I heard Bad Company's ''Silver, Blue and Gold'' for the First Time, In A LONG Time, about this time Last Year.

Now that is Impressive! - Steve.

 

[Steve.Gates]

'The Ride' definitely has a dedicated fan base. 95.7 always had a loyal following whether it was album rock, AAA, active rock, etc. over the last 25 years. They've always been a little different than the rest of the dial.

I'm glad 'The Ride' is still locally owned and has a wider playlist than your typical classic rock station. My personal criticism of the station is that they are so entrenched in sounding like something 30-40 years ago, not only with their musical rotation, but their imaging and announcing as well. As an up and coming city of the future, I wish some of our media here in Charlotte wern't so stuck in the past.

What drives me even crazier is how some people make such a sacred cow out of this station as if it was so innovative, and can't understand why others don't like it. Sorry, but sounding old and not changing anything over 10 years is not innovative at all.

Even your typical oldies or classic rock station manages to sound fresh in 2012. Old houses and buildings need updates and renovations every now and then. 'The Ride' does too.

The Problem (as always) is Money. The first thing that ''Dave & Co'' needs to do is replace their Transmitter. I think they have a Orban 8200 or maybe an even earlier model than that. What I do know, is that on the 2011 and 2012 ''Loaner Cars'' that I've been temporarily given, I do not see any ''RMS Data'' on the Radio. There is no ''Friendly Name'', nor are the ''Song Details'' scrolling down the Screen. 95.7 is the ONLY FM Radio Station in Charlotte that lacks ''RMS Data'' --- even 90.3 WRBK has it now! That is where I would start. But... don't tell Management what they will have to spend on an Orban 8600 Pro. It might just freak them out. Steve.

WXRC has an Omnia 11.

WRBK has an Orban 8600 and it sounds great.

That WRBK Orban 8600 was kickin' the other day, when I got stuck on Billy Graham inbound to Woodlawn (Tuesday). I had forgotten about the Road Repairs and it was subsequently too late to exit freeway. In addition, the Clouds were pinning down the Signal from WFHE in Hickory, so I was treated so some excellent Audio from WRBK. Those Oldies Sound SO GREAT when the WRBK Signal is very strong. Sound literally jumped out of the Bose Tuner-and-Speaker System. Otherwise... I don't know how I would have passed that time. I supposed I could have tried Satellite Radio, but my Satellite Radio Tuner does not seem to be that good when Clouds are in the picture... It's the AM and FM Tuner in my ''Daily Driver'' that really shines. Steve.

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

That WRBK Orban 8600 was kickin' the other day, when I got stuck on Billy Graham inbound to Woodlawn (Tuesday). I had forgotten about the Road Repairs and it was subsequently too late to exit freeway. In addition, the Clouds were pinning down the Signal from WFHE in Hickory, so I was treated so some excellent Audio from WRBK. Those Oldies Sound SO GREAT when the WRBK Signal is very strong. Sound literally jumped out of the Bose Tuner-and-Speaker System. Otherwise... I don't know how I would have passed that time. I supposed I could have tried Satellite Radio, but my Satellite Radio Tuner does not seem to be that good when Clouds are in the picture... It's the AM and FM Tuner in my ''Daily Driver'' that really shines. Steve.

I agree.

If that is indeed the new Optimod 8600, RBK sounds great. Very loud and consistent from oldie to oldie, bass is solid and the station now has great highs that do not splatter.
Very impressive box and great oldies.

 

[hschutte]

I was wondering the other day, when I was on the south western area of Charlotte, why 90.3 plays these old songs in such great quality stereo. I realize the quality of the transmitter is one of the reasons..

Were some of these songs digitally remastered by the station?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

What the heck?? I noticed "Baby I'm a want you" from Bread and "Lady" from the LRB were played. Could it be that Dave is wanting to include an audience like me?

Maybe not.. Pop music probably is not his specialty..

One of my co-workers had them on as we were going to lunch one day and I heard some softer tunes. I thought maybe they are dayparting the music. It could also be AOR which in this case means All Over the Road!

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

I was wondering the other day, when I was on the south western area of Charlotte, why 90.3 plays these old songs in such great quality stereo. I realize the quality of the transmitter is one of the reasons..

Were some of these songs digitally remastered by the station?

I think most oldies and older music in general has been digitized in some form. Some have been remastered but most have not. It’s amazing how you can clean up old records and digitize them.

The sound of a station definitely has a lot to do with what kind of analog or digital audio processor being used. Audio processors not only keep sound levels legal and high but most multiband processors also re-equalize the sound and some boxes today also use some type of spatial enhancement. Most digital audio processors have built in factory presets for different radio formats.

Used judiciously they definitely make the original tunes sound more dynamic.

An Optimod 8600 sells for around 10K.

 

[CBMAN01]

Does anybody know who that guy is who does the VO spots for The Ride's contest/community calendar?

 

[longtime listener]

I live far outside The Ride's intended coverage area - in the WNC mountains in Henderson County. Their signal is usually nice and strong to my car radio. And it is easier to pull in than many Asheville signals that are VERY limited. I only wish they were really live - not pre-recorded voices. The play list has actually grown on me. As far as the "attitude" and branding - I'll take the old Ride guy over the snarky punks spewing at the active rock stations or the "I"m so hip guy who you can't get away from" at The River in Asheville. I actively avoid The River not because of the music but that River voice is seemingly on an endless loop. And their signal dies 5 feet out of town limits.