[sdiy] Overcompression

[Harry Bissell Jr]

you guys are WAY off the mark on overcompression.

There are some VERY good reasons for overcompressing
a radio signal.

One:

The 'rock' stations have to compete with the hip-hop
bass. This is the bass from the car three lanes over.
You know, the one that sounds like a barrel of loose
bolts hit with a rubber mallet.  What ? you haven't
heard it... WHAT ???  WHAT ???

Two:  They want the signal to be louder than the open
pipe headers since your muffler fell off the car.
Cadillac drivers do not buy rock and roll albums...
those sissys prefer people like Yanni and Tomita
etc... probably because their cars are quiet enough on
the inside to HEAR it.  You need to think "beater"...
Kids in junk cars buy 99% of recorded music.  

Three:  The radio stations need to compete with their
own overcompressed COMMERCIALS !!! Doesn't it piss you
off when you listen to that fade out on DSOTM... then
have ROCK FINANCIAL BLAST YOU A MORTGAGE OFFER -
EVERYONE IS APPROVED !!!   c'mon.  If the music and
they hype are at the same level its a lot less wear
and tear on your elbow (from cranking the volume).

I use an old DBX compressor on our TV. I set it to
hard limit just about everything. So it sounds like
sh!t but at least I don't have to beat the wife (much)
anymore for changing channels past an overcompressed
infomercial.

(I did see the sonograms that were in the link posted
earlier. I totally agree that dynamic range is one of
the most powerful elements of music... If anyone is in
doubt of how cool this is, may I suggest a listen to
"Shout" by Otis Day and the Knights.  Or rent Animal
House this weekend, eh ???)

H^) harry (just a little bit softer now...)