[sdiy] Overcompression

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Tuesday 28 June 2005 07:05 pm, KA4HJH wrote:
> >you guys are WAY off the mark on overcompression.
> >
> >There are some VERY good reasons for overcompressing
> >a radio signal.
>
> Sorry Harry, but you've missed my point. I don't listen to radio.

I used to have a radio on all the time,  but not any more...

> When I *buy* an overpriced CD I expect some reasonable dynamic behavior, not
> something that sounds like it's already been run through the radio station
> compressor from Hell. It's like this straight off the disc? Why bother to
> use all 16 bits? If I want to hear that I'll listen to the radio!

Anyway!

> I'm NOT paying for sound like that to listen to on my stereo.
>
> >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.
>
> Yes our cable system is like that as well. One channel you can barely hear,
> the next is so loud it's plainly distorting, and of course all the
> commercials are worse.

Of course they are.  One thing I've wondered about for a long time is if  it 
would be possible to build some sort of a circuit that would sense that,  
that there was no dynamic range to speak of,  and mute the damn thing.  
Although how you'd get it to not respond to program material with loud 
passages I'm not sure.

> >(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 ???)
>
> I wonder if his argument that none of today's music will have any staying
> power because of this will work out? I guess we'll see.

He also had some interesting things to say about the music business,  on other 
pages in there,  and points out that the record companies don't necessarily 
*care* if it does or not.

The business ain't like it used to be!