Elecraft

K3 EQ settings?

Classic

List

Threaded

6 messages Options

Mike Markowski-2

K3 EQ settings?

I just finished writing a python program to make it easier to control
the K3 internal EQs. The impetus is to easily adjust in response to
on-air reports, or to adjust when using MON to listen to myself in
headphones.

One of the things I've done is to include a file of presets drawing from
recommendations of knowledgeable hams. An example is shown at:

http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/elecraft/python/

Are there are other recommendations from anyone? I'm especially looking
for recommendations coming from those with substantial audio background.
The idea is for us audio neophytes to steal, er, learn from the learned!

I'm restoring a Heathkit line of DX-60B xmtr, HR-10G vfo, and HR10 rcvr.
The DX-60B is cw or am, so I've become interested in AM settings of
late. :-)

Tnx es 73!
Mike ab3ap
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

k6dgw

Re: K3 EQ settings?

I got mine from Jim, K9YC, a retired audio professional designer and
consultant in large venues. They are:

1 -14
2 -10
3 -6
4 -2
5 0
6 +4
7 +6
8 +10

I don't frequent phone much but when I do [like in an NAQP SSB or SS], I
usually get one or two "great audio" comments. While most of that is
undoubtedly due to superior DNA, I think the K3 TX EQ has something to
do with it. [:-) Close-talking some mics tends to boost the lows too,
sometimes significantly.

Jim points out that there is no value to power in the low frequencies,
they carry almost no information. Watching the P3 waterfall with a
narrow span demonstrates dramatically how many SSB signals have all the
power in the lows, crammed up against the suppressed carrier, and next
to nothing out where it would be beneficial.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 5/6/2018 12:55 PM, Mike Markowski wrote:

> I just finished writing a python program to make it easier to control
> the K3 internal EQs. The impetus is to easily adjust in response to
> on-air reports, or to adjust when using MON to listen to myself in
> headphones.
>
> One of the things I've done is to include a file of presets drawing
> from recommendations of knowledgeable hams. An example is shown at:
>
> http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/elecraft/python/
>
> Are there are other recommendations from anyone? I'm especially
> looking for recommendations coming from those with substantial audio
> background. The idea is for us audio neophytes to steal, er, learn
> from the learned!
>
> I'm restoring a Heathkit line of DX-60B xmtr, HR-10G vfo, and HR10
> rcvr. The DX-60B is cw or am, so I've become interested in AM
> settings of late. :-)
>
> Tnx es 73!
> Mike ab3ap

Mike Markowski-2

Re: K3 EQ settings?

Congrats on the DNA, Skip. :-) And thanks for the EQ info. With info
sent to me off-list by a few as well on your info on-list, I see
variations by Jim k9yc and Bob Heil k9eid, likely due I assume to
different mics & on-air advice for different op voices - unique for each
environment.

Tnx es 73,
Mike ab3ap

On 05/06/2018 06:37 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> I got mine from Jim, K9YC, a retired audio professional designer and
> consultant in large venues. They are:
>
> 1 -14
> 2 -10
> 3 -6
> 4 -2
> 5 0
> 6 +4
> 7 +6
> 8 +10
>
> I don't frequent phone much but when I do [like in an NAQP SSB or SS], I
> usually get one or two "great audio" comments. While most of that is
> undoubtedly due to superior DNA, I think the K3 TX EQ has something to
> do with it. [:-) Close-talking some mics tends to boost the lows too,
> sometimes significantly.
>
> Jim points out that there is no value to power in the low frequencies,
> they carry almost no information. Watching the P3 waterfall with a
> narrow span demonstrates dramatically how many SSB signals have all the
> power in the lows, crammed up against the suppressed carrier, and next
> to nothing out where it would be beneficial.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> On 5/6/2018 12:55 PM, Mike Markowski wrote:
>> I just finished writing a python program to make it easier to control
>> the K3 internal EQs. The impetus is to easily adjust in response to
>> on-air reports, or to adjust when using MON to listen to myself in
>> headphones.
>>
>> One of the things I've done is to include a file of presets drawing
>> from recommendations of knowledgeable hams. An example is shown at:
>>
>> http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/elecraft/python/
>>
>> Are there are other recommendations from anyone? I'm especially
>> looking for recommendations coming from those with substantial audio
>> background. The idea is for us audio neophytes to steal, er, learn
>> from the learned!
>>
>> I'm restoring a Heathkit line of DX-60B xmtr, HR-10G vfo, and HR10
>> rcvr. The DX-60B is cw or am, so I've become interested in AM
>> settings of late. :-)
>>
>> Tnx es 73!
>> Mike ab3ap
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 EQ settings?

Not quite what I recommend. My "starting point for typical ham mics
like the Yamaha CM500 headset is:

Bands 1, 2, and 3: Maximum cut (-18)
Band 4: -6
Bands 5, 6: 0
Band 7: +6
Band 8 +6

Set Mic Gain and CMP for indicated Gain Reduction of 10 dB on peaks.

Then, get signal reports from trained listeners who have their IF
bandwidth set for 2.7-2.8 kHz. These are settings for maximum audio
"punch" to get through QRM and noise. They get rid of un-needed bass
which makes no contribution to speech intelligibility and boosts highs a
bit because they DO contribute a lot. Ignore reports that tell you that
you lack bass -- you don't want it, because it wastes TX power.

These settings increase the effective voice power by about 13 dB
(multiplying power by 20).

73, Jim K9YC

On 5/6/2018 6:23 PM, Mike Markowski wrote:

> On 05/06/2018 06:37 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
>> I got mine from Jim, K9YC, a retired audio professional designer and
>> consultant in large venues. They are:
>>
>> 1 -14
>> 2 -10
>> 3 -6
>> 4 -2
>> 5 0
>> 6 +4
>> 7 +6
>> 8 +10

Clay Autery-2

Re: K3 EQ settings?

I did a lot of A-B testing on my K3s TX EQ settings, using Jim's base settings vs flat EQ, high base, flat mid/treb, et al. settings in various conditions on multiple bands.
Mostly for fun, because the science is well established...
Yes, I got more "you sound good, full, et al." with flat or boosted bass from stations that could copy on both settings...
BUT, I was able to demonstrate conclusively that more stations in "fringe" reception conditions copied when using full cut base, flat mid, and boosted highs. I actually mapped it out.
Now I use a customized version of Jim's base rec that fits MY specific mic best. (I don't need to boost the highs as much).
Win4K3 Suite allows me to store different settings based on purpose...
73,Clay, KY5G

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]> Date: 5/7/18 12:52 (GMT-06:00) To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 EQ settings?
Not quite what I recommend. My "starting point for typical ham mics
like the Yamaha CM500 headset is:

Bands 1, 2, and 3: Maximum cut (-18)
Band 4: -6
Bands 5, 6: 0
Band 7: +6
Band 8 +6

Set Mic Gain and CMP for indicated Gain Reduction of 10 dB on peaks.

Then, get signal reports from trained listeners who have their IF
bandwidth set for 2.7-2.8 kHz. These are settings for maximum audio
"punch" to get through QRM and noise. They get rid of un-needed bass
which makes no contribution to speech intelligibility and boosts highs a
bit because they DO contribute a lot. Ignore reports that tell you that
you lack bass -- you don't want it, because it wastes TX power.

These settings increase the effective voice power by about 13 dB
(multiplying power by 20).

73, Jim K9YC

On 5/6/2018 6:23 PM, Mike Markowski wrote:

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 EQ settings?

In reply to this post by Mike Markowski-2

On 5/7/2018 3:16 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
> Now I use a customized version of Jim's base rec that fits MY specific mic best.

Right -- and that fits your voice. Some voices need more bass cut,
others may not need the boosted highs. Like I've always said, my
suggested settings are a starting point.

73, Jim K9YC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]