Conception of a K2

[Brett gazdzinski-2]

I would say you want to EQ the available audio so it sounds
best for the bandwidth you have available.

You want to have as low distortion as possible, not add
tube type distortion.

Some audio compression and limiting, and maybe a bit of noise
gate if done gently.

Berrenger makes a box that does everything, the ultra voice
VX 2000.
It works quite well for the (low) price.

Keep in mind, you need to consider the receiver at the other end.
A fantastic sounding signal can sound bad in a narrow receiver
as it may sound bassy and stuffy.
In a wide receiver a narrow signal can sound thin and hard.

In ssb, the most nasty aspects are vox and heavy compression,
with loud blower noise in the background.

With AM, you have the carrier to quiet the frequency and can
speak normally, pauses are quiet, compression can be much
less and sound more natural.


Brett
N2DTS

>
> I've wondered for a while how to achieve this.  By "this" I
> mean top-notch SSB audio without resorting to wide bandwidth.
>  
> Say we limit the bandwidth to 2.8 KHz.  What sorts of things
> should be done to make the audio as good as possible? I'm
> thinking a signal chain like this:
>  
>  - Good condensor mic (probably not a communications mic)
>  - Parametric EQ.
>  - Compresser running 6:1 or so (RNC?)
>  - Maybe a bit of overdrive (tube distortion, just a touch?)
>  - BBE Sonic Maximizer to put some sparkle into things.
>  
> Any other ideas?  I think a lot can be done without resorting
> to wide bandwidth.  I'm interested in clear audio that cuts
> through without sounding "like a contester".
>  
> - Keith N1AS -
> - K2 5411.ssb.100 -
>  
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[John Huggins]

Darwin, Keith wrote:

>I've wondered for a while how to achieve this.  By "this" I mean top-notch SSB audio without resorting to wide bandwidth.
>
>Say we limit the bandwidth to 2.8 KHz.  What sorts of things should be done to make the audio as good as possible? I'm thinking a signal chain like this:
>
> - Good condensor mic (probably not a communications mic)
> - Parametric EQ.
> - Compresser running 6:1 or so (RNC?)
> - Maybe a bit of overdrive (tube distortion, just a touch?)
>  
>

Hmmm well I think we know what you are after with the tube "overdrive."
You seek the rounded gain curve at the tube's input limits right?  This
is the same as a form of compression so I would just stick with a real
compressor chip or device to get what you want.

It should be noted since compression deviates from perfect translation
from input to output, it is distortion... at least a form of it.  So
your view of tube "distortion" is an interesting one and is a good
reminder that compression should be used gingerly.

> - BBE Sonic Maximizer to put some sparkle into things.
>
>Any other ideas?  I think a lot can be done without resorting to wide bandwidth.  I'm interested in clear audio that cuts through without sounding "like a contester".
>
>- Keith N1AS -
>- K2 5411.ssb.100 -
>
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>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>  
>

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[Darwin, Keith]

 

-----Original Message-----
>>I've wondered for a while how to achieve this.  By "this" I mean
top-notch SSB audio without resorting to
>> wide bandwidth.
>> - Maybe a bit of overdrive (tube distortion, just a touch?)
>>  
>
>Hmmm well I think we know what you are after with the tube "overdrive."

>You seek the rounded gain curve at the tube's input limits right?  This
is the same as a form of
>compression so I would just stick with a real compressor chip or device
to get what you want.

Actually, I wasn't thinking of compression at all.  I was thinking of
using some distortion to put the slightest "edge" on the audio to help
the highs to cut through.  You are right, that tube guitar amps from
years ago provide a level of compression as you reach their limit, but I
would be looking for my rack compressor to handle all of those duties.

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb.100 -
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