2008/5/15 Simon Cross <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > The biggest part of the story though is the final processing of the R1 > output before transmission. This is done with an broadcast-grade audio > processor. There are a few around, but the industry standard is called an > Orban Optimod. Again, they essentially apply multiband compression, > expansion, and frequency manipulation to make radio stations sound all loud > and compressed, like, well, a radio station. Its these boxes that make it > sound like the DJ is ducking the music, even if they aren't. Like any > compressor which makes the output a near-uniform volume, more louder sounds > on the input side repress the quieter sounds by the time it gets to the > output. So a loud DJ talking uniformally over music, once processed will > seem to sound like the music is changing volume as they start and stop > talking. >
I presume that this isn't used on BBC Radio 3, where it is 'normal' for music to have a large range of different volumes and is used on 1Xtra to ruin drum and bass tracks? > > > So, its a combination of clever mic processing pre-desk, setting this above > the normalised level of the music playout system, and letting the Optimods > in the transmission chain do the dirty work. Hey presto, DJ's sound great, > no matter what they do with the desk. That's why Optimod's can cost > 10k. > > -- Brian Butterworth http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
