[cma-l] AM for CR

[Alex Gray, Two Lochs Radio]

Sure enough, it’ quite funny, but I don’t see a big contradiction.

 

The public was sold DAB initially on a promise of “CD quality sound” (which of course was an unpunished act of wilful misrepresentation), and it is still sold on a promise of freedom from hissing, fading, crackling and other interference,  so it’s fair to assume that a good proportion of those buying DAB radios are factoring in expectations of high-quality interference-free sounds, and will rightly be satisfied by 80kbps mono MP2.

 

And it’s also apparent that there are quite a few people who have a nostalgic affection for AM sound ‘quality’, and even some for whom it actually provides the best reception option away from mainstream VHF coverage. Unfortunately, no broadcaster is going to be too keen to keep shelling out for expensive maintenance and electricity to keep such systems going for the few in return for no extra income. (In contrast to what has happened with the huge revival in vinyl records, where there is money to be made.)

 

It does occur to me thought that with the increased capacity on a national DAB+ multiplex, if there is unsold space maybe there is scope for an oldies station to provide an alternative service that has a simulcast of its main programme reprocessed into lo-fi AM soundalike, complete with 4.5kHz roll-off, fading and phasing, interference at night….

 

:)

 

Alex

 

 

 

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of David Duffy
Sent: 17 February 2016 23:39
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] AM for CR

 

It's funny really because, here we have expressions of a romantic attachment to crackly AM. Yet elsewhere I hear an indictment of DAB multiplex operators who broadcast music stations at 80kbps mono. There's a strange, contradictory and unsatisfiable constituency out there.

 

On a pragmatic note, an illicit love affair with AM holds us back. An intransigence to sacrifice digital bit rate to introduce more variety and choice of services holds us back. We need to move forward and that sometimes means taking a leap of faith. Embracing the less certain. 

 

The future of radio lies not in the past but in the road ahead.

 

David

www.theradiopeople.co.uk <http://www.theradiopeople.co.uk>  


On 17 Feb 2016, at 12:04, Canalside's The Thread <office at thethread.org.uk <mailto:office at thethread.org.uk> > wrote:

Another good point                    Radio Luxembourg 208 metres in 1975 when I was 16, under my bed sheets on a cold winters night listening to Bob Stewart playing Ms Grace by the Tymes        oh the memories

 

Wrighty

 



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