Punch --was-- Re: [BC] Digital Intgerference (was AM Interference)

[DANA PUOPOLO]

In Los Angeles there is a resurgence of AM stations using reconditioned DAP
310's.  The people who put them in like the sound.

See, I read marketing 101. In that course, you're told the best way to go
bankrupt is to make the best possible product you can. If you do this, why
would the customer ever have a need to replace it?

Bob Orban's company learned this well. The 8000A was a revolution in FM audio,
yet it wasn't the best it could be by a long shot. Also, it's performance
began to degrade slowly from day one (due to component aging). Five years
later the 8100 comes out - another breakthrough BUT one with 100% new parts.
People put it in and hear a BIG difference so they buy it. Half the reason it
sounds better isn't due to better design, but to newer parts.

Same thing with their other processors.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not putting Orban down, I'm COMPLIMENTING them!
They get how marketing should be done. The approach they use is the proper one
for the long term viability of a company.

-D





------ Original Message ------
Received: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 07:32:46 AM PST
From: Cowboy <curt at spam-o-matic.net>
To: Broadcast Radio Mailing List <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Subject: Punch --was-- Re: [BC] Digital Intgerference (was AM Interference)

On Sunday 18 December 2005 04:24 pm, Robert Orban wrote:

>I think that punch is a huge positive and I can't understand the mentality 
>of anyone who thinks that making their radio station sound punchier is 
>going to risk their position. Punchy sound (i.e., sound that has lots of 
>transients and a high peak-to-average ratio) makes a listener want to turn 
>up the radio when a favorite song comes along. 

 THANK YOU !

 I thought so, too.

 Back when I became ( forceably ) the GM of a small, local 1kw AM,
 and being an injuneer of sorts, I very carefully tweeked the processing
 for minimal compression, but a whole lot of ( relatively ) slow AGC.
 ( something like 40db slow gain riding, and about 2db compress, maybe
 1db hard limit. About 2db high end boost, 'cause I like a little sparkle )
 Did it that way to preserve as much dynamic range as possible, without
 low stuff disappearing into the noise completely.
 "Average" mod level around 60-80 percent, peaks to 115.

 Got MANY calls about how GREAT my station sounded, even in the
 fringe, where I KNOW it was noisy ! It was a nice ego-kick.
 When I got tired of playing GM, and refused to do it anymore, I was replaced
 with Old Golden Ears who immediately scrapped my processing chain, and
 replaced it with an Optimod AM, set pretty standard.
 "Average" mod around 98% and peaks to 126%

 Got calls about what was *I* doing, and why ? Sounds like sh*&^ !
 Made me feel good, but isn't worth much, I suppose.
 It seems conventional wisdom is that "punch" dynamics, clarity, don't
 matter. Only a battery-powered mod monitor meter movement will
 draw listeners.

 What do I know ? I'm "just" an engineer, with poor hearing !

 ( but I really do appreciate the likes of Bob Orban saying something
 that I've thought true for a few decades now )

-- 
Cowboy

http://cowboys.homeip.net

A lack of leadership is no substitute for inaction.


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