Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:6456 rec.audio:13296
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!strong
From: strong@tc.fluke.COM (Norm Strong)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.audio
Subject: Re: Any suggestions for building a limiter for my stereo?
Message-ID: <8828@fluke.COM>
Date: 5 Jun 89 18:16:43 GMT
References: <376@greek.UUCP> <679@uvicctr.UVic.ca.UUCP> <788@happym.wa.com>
Sender: news@tc.fluke.COM
Distribution: usa
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 37

In article <788@happym.wa.com> irv@happym.UUCP (0000-Irving Wolfe) writes:

}It's absolutely a fact.  We don't want dynamic range most of the time.  It IS
}real harmful (not just useless) in background music and car music, and that's
}most of my listening and probably the same is true for others.
}
}If and when I can buy another CD player, you can be darned sure it will be a
}model that has adjustable dynamic range (built in variable compression) so I
}can have a real concert when I want one, but can have a pleasant experience
}the rest of the time too.

This question come up frequently.  I know of 5 ways to solve this problem:

	1. Manually ride the gain control while making your copy.  This is
the best way, but it requires that you familiarize yourself with the music
beforehand.  You'll probably need a practice run or two.

	2. Buy a professional compander.  These sell for at least $500,
which generally sinks that idea.  

	3. Buy a dbx CD player.  dbx puts a compander in each of their CD
players for just the purpose we're talking about.  I know of no other
consumer CD player with this feature.

	4. Make all your tapes off the FM radio.  All FM signals are
severely compressed in order to increase the area of signal coverage.
(Yuk!)

control.  This is the method I use.  If your CD player has a volume
control, turn it up to maximum before making the copy.  The VCR will cut
the dynamic range by at least 20, probably 40db, and it will sound just
fine in your car.  The AGC circuit will probably be "blinded" from time to
time by tympani and trombones, but nothing's perfect.  

-- 

Norm   (strong@tc.fluke.com)