HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation => Topic started by: ThaDood on September 04, 2024, 1847 UTC
-
https://www.tompolk.com/hobbies/automaticvolumeleveler/avc.html Looks very doable to me. However, I wonder if you could use LM386 audio amp IC's in there? They would be easier to power, and are more readily available. https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm386.pdf
-
That's interesting, I missed it before. But I notice at the beginning of the article he says "There's one by Terk (Audiovox) for about $25 on line.." But he needed 3 so he built them.
Terk doesn't make the Audiovox TERK Vr1 Automatic TV Volume Controller anymore but the defunct Amazon page describes:
Automatically Adjusts Volume for Normal Listening Levels / Compatible with any Television using RCA Composite Connectors. Do you find your self repeatedly adjusting the volume on your TV and home-theater sound system? TERK VR-1 Volume Regulator is a fully automatic device that automatically adjusts loudness to proper listening levels. Also works with MP3 play through audio and computer systems 3.8 High x 3.2 Wide x 1.4 Deep
I see them on ebay for around $30.. So, is it even a reasonable consideration as a budget option as a compressor for a part 15 AM station? -- or would using some free plugin virtual compressor be better?
-
It's not really doing anything is it? I mean besides keeping volume constant. It's just adjust along a single band channel? - if I'm saying that right.. it's not adjusting frequencies seperately or anything.. right?
-
Looks like a very basic single-band compressor. Should suffice for its intended purpose of keep rather constant volume. The input side allows for tweaking to tailor dynamics, but dynamic compression and eventual hard clipping can (and likely will) become an issue if driving the circuit hard enough.
The thing with music is the potential for huge variations across the audio spectrum. A multi-band compressor and/or clipper to separate out lows, mids, and highs into various bands with their own characteristics tends to be preferable for the commercial "broadcast" sound; assuming one is looking for that type of sound.
If you want a mostly point-and-click software solution, the JB Broadcast VST plugin used to be popular for streaming, local low-power broadcasting, etc. It has a few presets that tend to work decent for many situations.
I prefer StereoTool for my local audio processing. There are lots of presets, but many require extra paid features for optimum sound. Deeper configuration can get into hundreds of settings if really determined to fine tune a custom sound profile. One can easily spend hours tweaking various settings if desired. Been there, done that.... and what I find sounds good another might find to sound horrid. So YMMV of course.
Admittedly I use ST largely for declipping and restoring some dynamics, which tends to be the opposite of commercial broadcasting. ;)