[BC] The Main trouble with radio..

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

I noticed the quiet carrier on some Saturday morning in May when I was going away for
the weekend in my airplane. On Sunday afternoon at about 4:00 PM when I returned,
it was still no audio, with just a carrier. When I got home about an hour later, there was
audio. However, I decided to call the station and got no answer, not even an answering
machine. I thought maybe it makes sense, maybe the phone lines were down -- but
then I figured they probably don't use phone lines for audio and remote control.

It's amazing what they've done to that station. First, they advertise it as "relaxing"
music, like elevator music. Dick Kaye is probably vomiting in his grave. Next
it is processed so that all music sounds like accordion music (seriously,
compressed and reedy). It's positively AWFUL.

Considering the heritage of this station, the pioneer station for FM Stereo,
its work with the NAB codifying the NAB transcription curve, etc., it's a real
shame. Before WCRB, turntables had a passive equalizer that was to be
set 78, 45, or 33 1/3 RPM. We (WCRB and me), changed all that. The
curve found in the GE Transistor Manual became the NAB equalization
curve (seriously).  It was slightly different than the RIAA curve in that
it could actually be implemented using two easy R/C time-constants plus
the roll-off of the terminating-resistor / series-inductance of a velocity
pickup. 

There were many other innovations including the first stereo broadcast
studio. I built it at the Hotel Sheraton Plaza. Plus even AT&T took notice
publishing our method of equalizing a stereo channel. 

Yep. The art of radio is all gone. Now, it's just billing national advertisers
that counts. As for the national accounts, WCRB probably even looks
better. It's no longer confined to the metro-Boston area, but now
stretches in the surrounding bedroom communities as well! Great! 

--
Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Read about my book
http://www.LymanSchool.org


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Rich Wood <richwood at pobox.com>
> ------ At 01:02 PM 10/1/2007, RichardBJohnson at comcast.net wrote: -------
> 
> >So, nobody knows if the transmitter is off-the-air. Several
> >months ago, WCRB was off the air for a whole day and
> >nobody knew. The carrier was on, fat dumb and happy.
> 
> That doesn't say much for the new WCRB audience compared to the old 
> one. If the old one went off the air the phones would tie up much of 
> the city's phone system. Isn't there a way to reach the station? 
> Certainly some listener must have tried to call.
> 
> I say that only half seriously since I tried to reach a major station 
> in Hartford when their IBUZ was running double spots on top of each 
> other. I called every number on their web site and got nothing but voicemail.
> 
> Rich  
>