Re: New Format, Audio Quality

["Kaimbridge M. GoldChild" <kaimbridge@my-dejanews.com>]

On Sun-27-Dec-1998@19:44:57, Larry Weil <kc1ih@mediaone.net> wrote,

> Hi WPLM Staff,

       <snip>

> However, one thing you do need to address is your audio quality.  For
> starters, you have way too much audio compression, you need to turn the
> compression level way down, or better yet, completely off.

All right Larry, you had to get me started, didn't you!?!   P=)   P=) 
P=)
At this point anyways, unless they pre-compress individual tracks (I've
heard a few that *may* have been "juiced up" a bit), others possess
little, if any, notable processing (e.g., Diamond's "Hello"), at least
in terms of true, thunderous, horn/string (especially piano)/decay
exploding "hypnogogic" type compression--they seemed to have used a bit
of the "hypnogogic" type when they first switched over to "smooth jazz"
(were using phone lines?), but appear to have since dropped it.
The closest Boston FM-er to true, heavy compression is probably the
Eagle (particularly Barry Scott's "Lost 45s"?), as well as--believe it
or not--91.9 WUMB!
A few years ago--Presidents' Day Weekend, Feb'95--105.7 (then) W*C*LB
was using *real* "hypnogogic", "canyon-effect" type compression:  The
Real McCoy, like 101.3 WKCG and 97.9 WJBQ (circa early '80s) from ME and
Springfield's 102.1 WAQY ("Wacky-102") used to use (also the old *98.5*
WROR used "hypnogogic" compression instead of reverb on their
alternate-?-xmtr)!
As for the AM band, 1.170 WWVA *has* been the best,though they've seemed
to have cut back on the "hypnogogic" edge, in the last month or so
(hopefully only temporary!).
Locally, 1.090 WILD and 0.680 WRKO (at least the network feeds) appear
the best, as well as Bob's 'JIB (at least with certain
cuts--pre-compressed?):  Before they dumped it when they went $tereo,
1.030 WBZ had *THE BEST* processing (including the reverb mixed in)--I
used to like a/b-ing the AM-FM (106.7) morning newscasts (the FM sounded
as bland and flat as a pancake, in comparison).
Bringing 1.560 into the fray, a good a/b comparison is Radio Disney's
1.260 vs. 1.560:  1.260 sounds like an old fashion AM Top 40 station
(though I think it could *still* use a little more of a hypnogogic
edge!), whereas 1.560 is pretty much "bland and flat as a pancake".

     ~Kaimbridge~

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