FM Broadcasting

[KenL_MCSE]

Not sure where I read about using a compressor between the PC and the FM transmitter. Does anyone compress their sound? If so what are you using?

I read that if you compress the sound with something like a Behringer compressor that the sound quality is better to the FM stereo - Less highs and lows distortion?

[Dennis Cherry]

KenL_MCSE wrote:

Not sure where I read about using a compressor between the PC and the FM transmitter. Does anyone compress their sound? If so what are you using?

I read that if you compress the sound with something like a Behringer compressor that the sound quality is better to the FM stereo - Less highs and lows distortion?

Very true on some transmitters, but one was found a couple of years ago and used by many of use in our Christmas displays that really does not need it compress option.

That is the EDM transmitter. This is the best buy for the buck and gives you everything needed for quality sound, range and price, bar none.

http://www.edmdesign.com/orders.html

Either the :
EDM-TX-LCD-EP or the EDM-LCD-RDS-EP units.

[Greg]

I compress my audio before transmission. I am using a ramsey 30 my compressor is the alesis 3630 compressor here is a link http://www.alesis.com/3630

I am also passing through an eq alesis m-eq 30, I experimanted with this last year and found it sounded better using this in conjuction with the compressor.

greg

[KenL_MCSE]

Thanks! Did you pick this over the Behringer one or just saw it and bought it?

Also I read the the signal actually goes further with the compressed signal - any truth?

[Dennis Cherry]

KenL_MCSE wrote:

Thanks! Did you pick this over the Behringer one or just saw it and bought it?

Also I read the the signal actually goes further with the compressed signal - any truth?

No it will not, but if you overdrive the audio input to your transmitter it will reduce your range.

[Greg]

Not really a preference over Behringer, in fact they make some nice stuff I have used in the past. I used this because my brother runs sound for a band and had an extra one lying around so I permently borrowed it along with the EQ. As far as tranmission range, I haven't noticed a difference with or without it. In my opinion it simply cleans up the sound a bit.

greg

[Randy]

I have used the Behringer DSP1424 Maximizer Pro for a couple of years, and would recommend it highly. The biggest benefit I think it brings to the table is making sure that every song and announcement is comparable in volume and therefore easier to hear on the outdoor speakers for our visitors.

I run the volume on the speakers to try and help out our neighbors by keeping it reasonable. So people can listen in their cars on the radio and that works well. But for those visitors who come to our display in person, I want them to be able to hear the music but I don't want to make it so loud that our neighbors are annoyed. I use 4 decent outdoor speakers as my sound sources.

Prior to using this box, even though I manually adjusted the overall gain for each song and announcement before using them, there were discrepancies in how well each could be heard outside. Some songs that had a slightly higher average level were easier to hear, while others seemed a tad low and forced me to adjust the volume, etc.

But with the DSP1424, it manages that very well for me and produces a higher quality, more refined sound for both the speakers and radio. It's hard to explain, but I have actually received several compliments on my sound quality since adding this box. I don't have to use very drastic settings on the box because I have done some volume and eq adjustments prior in the editing process to get things in the ballpark. But there's something about playing the songs through the box that makes them sound great!

I also use .wav files for maximum sound quality as well...So to answer your question, I love the DSP1424 and would recommend it highly...

Randy

Attached files

[pdowns]

The quality of the sound I transmit over the radio is important to me. Last year (my second year) I tried several things to improve my sound quality and I made good progress.

1) Coming out of my show laptop I send the sound over USB to a XITEL MP-3 streamer. This is a poorly named product. It has NOTHING to do with MP-3. But think of it as a better sound card for your PC. After all, the sound starts there. This was a good investment and not expensive. Laptops tend to have poor sound cards.

2) From there I send the signal to a Yamaha MG12/4 mixer. I find the mixer is a useful component in my audio path to the transmitter.

a) It's much better at controlling sound levels than I have from the PC.

It's a convenient way for me to connect headphones and listen to the sound that's being sent to the transmitter.

c) It has "sends and receives" that I used to send the audio signal to a compressor.

3) I purchased a SAMSON Scom 4 compressor. I was happy with it. The biggest value I think it provides is that it permits me to send as strong a signal as possible to the transmitter and yet avoid over modulation.

4) The signal comes back to the mixer from the compressor and then on to the transmitter. Last year I purchased an EDM. It was much better than the Ramsey I used my first year but I still don't like it. Everyone else on this forum would disagree! It's definitely the weakest link in my signal chain.

My brother uses a BW Broadcast TX1 Stereo FM Transmitter. He compliments it for having a very clean sound. It is commercial quality. It has a built in compressor. But it costs $745 and I've been balking at the expense. It's also a 1 watt transmitter so you should definitely use an attenuator.

5) Use a good antenna. I'm happy with my Ramsey TM100.


So this may seem too much or too expensive. But for all that we spend on this hobby, what percent of that do you spend on the audio?

[KenL_MCSE]

Thanks guys! You explained things very well. Whatever article or post I read last year someone was saying their signal went further because of the compressor. While most things I read said the same as you guys, cleaner, more stable highs and lows.

Apparently Behringer doesn't make that model any more but I see Musicians Friend still has the Alesis. Maybe before I buy I will run it through my DigiTech guitar processor to see how it sound. If nothing else I can have fun with Reverb.