WKOR and WJDX Airchecks

[Dr. Bob]

Sennheiser 421's were a popular AM mic "back in the day" for two reasons. They accentuate any asymmetry in a voice and they have a peak in the upper midrange (as was eluded to my beachguy). Due to the lack of sophisticated in AM processing then compared with today, Sennheiser 421's sounded louder that some other mics if they were set up (phased) so that the positive peaks were higher than the negative (also assuming the processing was also correct or had a "phase flipper". Phasing did not guarantee results as a few people have voices that are asymmetric in the opposite direction to the majority. Phase flippers could thump on the air and were distracting to talent listening to an air feed. Since the early 80's, most AM processors have had a phase rotator that reduces the asymmetry of voices as the processing can be cleaner and the asymmetry is created in the processor.

An area asymmetry is counterproductive is on coded audio (data reduced) like MP3's and web streaming. The coder has to use more of its available bits to code an asymmetric waveform that a symmetric one (clipping is another no-no). So a Sennheiser 421 that sounded great on WJDX then will not sound great on a web stream now.

Dr. Bob

 

[SkinnyJohnny]

For those who may be interested...
Before going to the 421's both JDX and KOR were using the RCA 77DX mics. This was in the early 70's.
When I was at JDX the 421's were processed with the Valley People Gain Brain Compressor with the Kepex Noise Gate and the onboard console EQ. I think the board was a Robbins Fairchild at the time but I may be wrong about that.

 

[tzbarber]

For those who may be interested...
Before going to the 421's both JDX and KOR were using the RCA 77DX mics. This was in the early 70's.
When I was at JDX the 421's were processed with the Valley People Gain Brain Compressor with the Kepex Noise Gate and the onboard console EQ. I think the board was a Robbins Fairchild at the time but I may be wrong about that.

The coffee of choice at the time was Folgers. That's about the sum total of my equipment knowledge.

 

[SkinnyJohnny]

I don't recall the coffee maker, but I think it was a Mr. Coffee unit that had a noise reduction unit on the front end and the Inovonics multi band on the output. Bill Crews could probably tell us more about the "coffee chain"!

 

[Dr. Bob]

I’d like to keep this conversation on programming & broadcast equipment not the type of South American drug apparatus that was in use. ;D

 

[SkinnyJohnny]

I don't recall the coffee maker, but I think it was a Mr. Coffee unit that had a noise reduction unit on the front end and the Inovonics multi band on the output. Bill Crews could probably tell us more about the "coffee chain"!

Oh I almost forgot, it also used some sort of passive filter too!
Oh by the way, more airchecks are up on the sight. Most of these are from New Orleans and Monroe, LA.
More to come....

 

[tzbarber]

Oh,the pens were bic pens, I think,without logos,I think. Bunch in a cup by the speakerphone. Nelson Wiley:"exxcuse me,may I have a pen? Thank you, here..." Wait, we were supposed to use filters on the coffee maker? My bad!

 

[rfburns]

For those who may be interested...
Before going to the 421's both JDX and KOR were using the RCA 77DX mics. This was in the early 70's.
When I was at JDX the 421's were processed with the Valley People Gain Brain Compressor with the Kepex Noise Gate and the onboard console EQ. I think the board was a Robbins Fairchild at the time but I may be wrong about that.

You are correct. The frame of the old Robbins Fairchild board and a few of the modules were still in the storage building known as the "Lamar Life Building" when I was there in the late 80's.

RFB

 

[tbarber]

I think the Bunn o Matic was the machine of choice in 82.

Think the pens were still there. I know Nelson still was.