[BC] Optimod distortion?

[Dennis Cope]

At 10:00 PM 12/24/2005, you wrote:
>From: "Dennis Cope" <dcope at intercom.net>
>Subject: [BC] Optimod distortion?
>To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
>Message-ID: <FHEKLNBJMBMGGGEECFCJIEHBEDAA.dcope at intercom.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="US-ASCII"
>
>Need help with a little problem.
>
>I process many 45's and LP's to the hard drive.  Some (most) have clicks
and
>pops.
>I use Adobe Audition to record and de-noise.
>
>The result, although not the best but is acceptable.
>When put on the air some of the songs sound like they are running down a
>water pipe, sounds bad...
>
>In the studio I checked the output of the board,,,  acceptable
>Into the Optimod,,, acceptable
>Out of the Optimod,,, water pipe
>Into the analogue STL,,, water pipe
>Out of the STL,,, water pipe
>Into the exciter,,, water pipe
>My receiver output,,, water pipe
>
>What is the Optimod doing to the audio?

I can't say for sure, but (presuming that the Optimod is not broken) the
answer may lie in using a single-ended narrowband de-noise process. These
are notorious for adding these "water pipe" artifacts to the audio when
used too aggressively. If you have applied a process like this ahead of the
Optimod and then used a lot of multiband compression in the Optimod, it can
unmask de-noise artifacts that were there in the input.

Bob Orban


After setting up the input and output levels on the optimod, the only
setting I use is the "Punchy"
default with no parameter editing.

Other wise it sounds great but I can't use it as a ducker.

I still like the 8100 at WESR, we have never had to touch it, just keeps
working and working.
I know it's bad for business,, but is one of the reasons if I ever have to
replace it, it will be another optimod.

Dennis
WCTG, WESR