[BC] Balancing processing from analog to digital

[Dana Puopolo]

No, you are not biased, Mark. It is one of the "standout" ststions I commented
on. In fact, with but two exceptions, HD above 92 mHz on the Philadelphia FM
dial sounds pretty bad...

-D

------ Original Message ------
Received: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:21:21 AM EST
From: "Mark Humphrey" <mark3xy at gmail.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Subject: Re: [BC] Balancing processing from analog to digital

On 12/21/06, Dana  Puopolo <dpuopolo at usa.net> wrote:

> That beng the case, why even bother woth limting and clipping?
> I have no problem with broadband and/or multi band AGC/compression. It's
just the limiting and clipping that I have issues with.

Two years ago, I helped Jay Goldman of WXPN here in Philadelphia
install his HD gear at the transmitter site in Roxborough.  We had no
money available for new processing (the station had spent it all on
the showcase "World Cafe" studios!)  so we simply fed the HD codec
directly from the AES output of his digital STL (a Harris CD Link),
which is protected from overload by an Aphex Compellor at the studio.
 Jay has the Compellor set for a moderate amount of compression,
enough to compensate for sloppy board levels, but no other processing
ahead of the STL.

The existing FM processor, an 8200 purchased 14 years ago, remained in
line between the STL and analog exciter.

Everyone seemed pleased with this "low budget" arrangement, and AFAIK
it's still set up that way.

During blending, it's apparent that WXPN's HD sounds more "open" that
the analog, but the loudness difference is not objectionable.  Of
course it helps that they are running a "triple A" format and they
keep the analog processing at a moderate level.  Perhaps I'm biased,
but I think it's the best sounding HD audio in the market.

Mark
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