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- Gordon S. Carter, CPBE, CBNT
- Chief Engineer
- WFMT
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- Levels too high
- Electronic overload of equipment
- Saturation or overload of recording media
- Over-modulation of transmitters
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- Levels too low
- Audio disappears into electronic noise
- Audio disappears into acoustical noise
- With digital devices, low level audio can become distorted
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- Levels inconsistent
- Listeners have to adjust volume repeatedly, resulting in “tune-out”
- Unpredictable results with audio processing
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- Affects the “sound” of your station
- Automation systems typically do not have means to adjust levels on
playback
- Ultimately bad levels will lose listeners
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- Careful operator
- Requires constant attention
- Prone to errors
- High cost (salary plus benefits)
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- Automatic processing
- Low, one-time cost
- Can produce undesirable audible effects
- Only works over limited range
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- Accurately determine audio level
- Assure proper operating parameters
- Prevent distortion
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- VU Meters
- Slow (average) responding
- Must be properly calibrated to be meaningful
- Does not show perceived loudness of the audio
- Most popular in the U.S.
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- PPM (Peak Program Meter)
- Fast responding
- Must be properly calibrated to be meaningful
- Does not show perceived loudness of the audio
- Most popular in Europe, but has some following in the U.S.
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- Peak meter
- Very fast responding
- Must be calibrated to 0 dbfs
- Does not show perceived loudness of the audio
- Necessary on all digital devices to prevent abrupt, catastrophic,
overload
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- Modulation meter (as defined by FCC)
- Quasi-peak responding
- Calibrated to 100% modulation
- Does not show perceived loudness of programming
- Peaks may exceed 100% with little or no adverse affect
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- Loudness meter
- No standard
- To be totally accurate, it must be calibrated to the listening
(acoustic) level
- No standard listening level in broadcasting
- Most closely related to what we hear
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- No “universal” meter
- Each type of meter has its own use
- Each type of meter responds differently
- More than one meter may be needed to accurately show the audio
- Be sure to know the accuracy of your meter – not all meters are what
they claim to be
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- Establish level standards and adhere to them
- Suggest -15 dbfs for average audio levels with peak meters
- Peaks to stay no higher than -3 dbfs for protection from unexpected
peaks
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- Remember your audience (broadcast)
- Limited signal to noise ratio
- Final broadcast may be processed
- Listeners don’t like to play with the volume control
- Excessive volume control fiddling may lead to tune-out
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- Set up work areas properly
- Good monitor speakers
- Calibrated listening levels
- Good metering that the operator understands
- LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!!!!
- There is no substitute for experience!
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- The audience is listening!
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- Personal email – gordon@gcarter.us
- Work email – gcarter@wfmt.com
- Web site – www.gcarter.us
- Work phone – 773 279-2071
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