Things I've never heard before

[Mike Walker]

Glad to see us back in an area where we are in agreement, Hippo. Far from being any automatic "savior", the truth is that FM audio was FAR better in the 70s and early 80s when sources were analog, and there was nothing digital in the air chain (the exceptions being those rare stations who have used digital technology to make things sound better).

People in "our demographic" (I think we're close in age, Hippo) can remember when FM SOUNDED GOOD! It was a TRUE high fidelity source. I've always been a big headphone listener. That's part of why I'm kind of succeptible to "HD Fever"...it sounds GREAT through headphones (at least it can), in an era when the analog channel usually is processed to within an inch of it's life! Of course an HD channel that's gone through the same "squeeze it till it bleeds" air chain as analog will sound just as bad. Maybe worse, as there's no hiss to cover up the violence done to the sound.

I'd take typical FM analog audio from 1977 on a good album rock station over typical HD2 digital audio today IN A HEARTBEAT. Too bad we're not given that choice! (Hell, AM sounded better back then than FM does now! There were some DYNAMITE sounding AM stations...WAIR in Winston Salem had phenomenal sound quality in the 70s, as did WTOB Winston Salem, WISE Asheville, and WAYS Charlotte. I've recently heard some well recorded airchecks of WAYS from the 70s which confirm my memories of how good AM audio was back when someone cared!)

 

[hipporadio]

Don’t get me wrong Mike... I’m not some “analog ancient” in love with RCA-BA6s and Gates “Level Devils”. There are MANY exceptional digital dynamics processors available today. When a TCElectronic Finalizer clocks in at 96k in 24-bit “chunks”—it can’t be missing much—if ANYTHING! ...And the VERY FINEST AGC is analog (with a digital I/O option). But it's not quite as easy as a price-hyped “one-box wonder” from “The Big Os”. Components aren’t “single-solution” in design, and require a certain level of creativity in their integration and installation. God forbid—you may need to buy three or four products from different companies!

A “cluster” CE (don’t you just savor “radiospeak”) once told me... “Yeah—you’re right, but with seven stations in the building—I don’t have time for all that stuff!” The sad truth is—NONE of this is “rocket science”... It’s an appreciation of the program material destined for the transmitter, a bit of research into the options, and a good dash of trial-and-error. Engineers used to take pride in their on-air experimentation and quality—some still do, but they generally have reasonably-defined responsibilities. Unfortunately, there seem to be many more who feel that a ten-grand P.O. from the home office for the latest box advertised in Radio World will quickly get them off the hook.

Under these circumstances, I’m challenged to understand how throwing complex HD radio into the mix can do anything but compound the problem. As my mother used to say when I insisted on the largest 128-piece Crayola Crayon set: “When you show me a pretty picture using 64 colors—we’ll talk about the deluxe set!”

And I haven't even gotten around to AM yet :'(

 

[Mike Walker]

Oh I agree Hippo. These digital boxes are CAPABLE of cleaner sound than their analog ancestors. But they're also capable of BLAST-OFF loudness that's beyond what analog could ever do...with "only" 10 percent distortion or so. Anyone who's scanned the FM dial lately knows which option most stations choose. I'm not anti-digital. But radio (imho) did sound MUCH better before stations had the option of destroying their sound by misuse of all these new digital doo-dads.

 

[hipporadio]

These digital boxes are CAPABLE of cleaner sound than their analog ancestors. But they’re also capable of BLAST-OFF loudness that’s beyond what analog could ever do...with “only” 10 percent distortion or so...

Mike... You are playing my very-own violin PERFECTLY! I could NOT come any closer to full agreement with you.

A popular catch-phrase in the marketing of digital audio hardware is “powerful tool”—but it seems the customers don’t fully understand or believe that. Instead, they set out to adjust these devises much the same as they would a decade-old analog processor. In the “old days”, 15db of limiting was not uncommon to achieve the desired result—and an Aphex Studio Dominator and even an Innovonics MAP could handle such with minimal fatigue.

I was somewhat surprised when first reading the manual provided with the TCElectronic Finalizer 96k and its “basic” cousin (the Finalizer Express). TCE sternly suggested the user employ no more than 3-6db of multi-band compression... I said “WHAT? This doesn’t sound like business as usual on an Audio Prisim or older DAP!” I happily came to find that the Finalizer “engine” fully accomplished its goal at the suggested levels. The “power of 3db” (in the digital realm) IS REALLY the power we were long-taught to respect. Exceeding that limit did not run it “off a cliff—rather it quickly transcended into the “blast-off loudness” mode you describe. Sadly, I can see MANY “low-end” PDs seizing on this and subjecting copasetic audiences to a “grunge-fest”.

And believe me—that very “party” plays on a horrific number of FM stations in EVERY large market these days. In metro Cincinnati, the ONLY “exceptional” audio quality resides at the “left side” of the FM band on WMUB and WGUC—where “heritage” engineer Jim Stitt would never allow such nonsense. The same is true in Chicago, where ONLY “famed” WFMT continues to place a top priority on is analog audio quality... BTW—they are THE ONLY full-power commercial facility in that market that has not flipped on the IBOC switch

I find it interesting that what little remains of “good audio” on the FM band nearly always resides on a well-kept station in a smaller market!

 

[Mike Walker]

I think you're right (about small market stations being the last refuge of quality). These days most small market stations are using digital sources...hard drive, or at least good cd players with commercials and other elements from the 'puter, but don't have the money for the latest/greatest digital box. The result is that they STILL SOUND GOOD! Clean audio in, and no excess going out. I'd gladly trade that up and down the dial for digital (although the lack of multipath is a POWERFUL argument for HD in my area).