[BC] HD Alliance

[Steve]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich Wood" <richwood at pobox.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] HD Alliance


> ------ At 02:39 AM 1/15/2006, Robert Orban wrote: -------
>
> >So which is it, Rich? Does audio quality matter, or doesn't it? You
> >can't have this one both ways.
>
> No. Audio quality doesn't matter.

Sad but true.

> I haven't had anyone tell me they went with satellite because of the
> quality. Nor have I been told they left radio because of the quality.
> In my experience, bad quality affects TSL on a subconscious level,
> particularly with women. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see someone
> do a credible study and find that radio's loss of audience has less
> to do with competition than listener fatigue.

I totally agree with you Rich. Although this might sound a bit too
simplistic let me throw it out there anyway. I don't know if you've seen my
posts about audio issues but I honestly believe if you went on the air, AM
or FM and said you were broadcasting in HD people would believe it. Hey, the
terrestrials could have won this tug-o-war game IF (there's that word again)
they had put Howard on an SCA, (he doesn't need high quality audio) scramble
the signal, sold some cheap SCA receivers, charge maybe 12 bucks a year for
the unscrambling and VOILA...you have a new income stream and, like cable,
keep running the spots. You would have kept the listeners on the FM dial and
the costs down. Most of Howard's listeners were on FM (I would think) and we
have all those lonesome, unused SCA channels available. Is this so simple we
missed it or did the clamor for HD eclipse it? I'm sure Bob O. will have
some input on this one AND I, for one, would like to hear it.

> I would bet that, if everyone processed the way you suggest, radio
> would be as healthy as it ever was.

It would seem there is an undercurrent for the return to the "tube sound".
(tube stuff is selling for unbelievable prices...audiophile collectors...I
know) I have a Winamp Plug-In (it was like 20 bucks) that emulates tube type
limiting/compression. It's made by iZotrope and they call it Ozone. It gives
me the "light" limiting/compression I want for the format I'm developing
while allowing me to have the warm low end, rolled-off ear drum tearing
mid-range and a "sparkling" or "silky" high end.

Returning to what you said above:
The subliminal listener fatigue thing (especially with women) is real. I
would love to see an accurate study done. It would be tough to put together
because we'd have to separate the listener's programming needs/desires from
the audio aspects of it all. Hey, it's worth a try.

Stayed up REAL late and just got up so maybe I'm still in dream mode. :)

Steve
Steve Walker Productions