Dynamic Range Compression/Fader Fiddling on iPlayer/Sounds

[Dave2002]

In fact the BBC technical requirements for programme delivery are publicly available and the sound delivery requirements haven’t changed that much.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/delivery/technical-requirements

There may well be more, but the document you linked to seems to refer to TV - which is not the same. Of course I see no reason why TV shouldn't have high quality sound, and since all BBC TV is now digital in the UK that might be possible, though there isn't too much evidence that sound quality features very highly in the minds of the upper echelons of the BBC.

[Dave2002]

Regarding the playing 'old' vinyl discs on Radio 3, I recall when the Le Roux recording of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie was played on, I think CD Masters, they got one of the engineers to carefully transfer the (French) DECCA double LP re-issue to digital for the broadcast, all commercial CD issues of the recording being pretty dire in comparison to the DECCA LPs. I never did get a decent pressing of the original Vega LPs, despite returning them for exchange several times. Fortunately, I also got the DECCA LP double album when it came out. As far as I know, there is still no decent commercial CD issue of the recording, despite several releases on an individual disc or in a boxed set.

It is/was indeed the case that some CD transfers were not as good as the LPs which used to be available, though on the whole nowadays the CDs are as good or better. Where the recordings were made from tapes the tapes - if they still exist - are now often in a very bad state so if there was ever a half way decent LP it makes more sense to digitise from that if possible. However in my earlier comment I did specifically refer to the sound of a pickup being pushed lifted etc. across a disc, which I believe either some announcers had to do on occasions, or maybe they had to contact the engineers to nudge the kit. Clearly there was a time when that was the technology used - but it's long gone now - hasn't it?

Re transfers from older discs for specific broadcasts - yes - I'm sure that can be done - though it might take a bit of time and organisation in advance to set up. Do we know if the BBC still has any decent kit for "record playing" - or would operations to recover old recordings now be outsourced?

[Bryn]

It is/was indeed the case that some CD transfers were not as good as the LPs which used to be available, though on the whole nowadays the CDs are as good or better. Where the recordings were made from tapes the tapes - if they still exist - are now often in a very bad state so if there was ever a half way decent LP it makes more sense to digitise from that if possible. However in my earlier comment I did specifically refer to the sound of a pickup being pushed lifted etc. across a disc, which I believe either some announcers had to do on occasions, or maybe they had to contact the engineers to nudge the kit. Clearly there was a time when that was the technology used - but it's long gone now - hasn't it?

Re transfers from older discs for specific broadcasts - yes - I'm sure that can be done - though it might take a bit of time and organisation in advance to set up. Do we know if the BBC still has any decent kit for "record playing" - or would operations to recover old recordings now be outsourced?

In the case I was referring to, the introduction to the broadcast explained the reason for that particular transfer being made. I don't think it was a normal practice when a commercial CD was available. I think it was Rob Cowan who introduced it, though it may have been Jonathan Swain. It would have been in the earliest years of this century.

[Ein Heldenleben]

There may well be more, but the document you linked to seems to refer to TV - which is not the same. Of course I see no reason why TV shouldn't have high quality sound, and since all BBC TV is now digital in the UK that might be possible, though there isn't too much evidence that sound quality features very highly in the minds of the upper echelons of the BBC.

Believe me the sound quality on Radio is better than tv(as it should be ) . Given how much of R3 is live it’s incredible what they achieve particularly on live relays . I haven’t worked in radio for thirty -five years but from what I hear on-air I have maximum respect for what they do technically.

[Another Howard]

Cannot find the exact place in thread, but it's on-topic: want to say I am so very grateful to Jayne Lee Wilson for her tip last week about online AAC. Heard it on radio for first time ever, and simply via iPhone plugged to hifi. The live Afternoon Concert today (Rachmaninov piano and a violin solo) on R3 was a revelation! Bright, clean, fresh. Astounded! Away with FM squash and DAB mush: both a dismay - not to mention an insult to the performers. How grateful we should be to people at the Beeb who still treasure music. I've dropped a positive feedback message to the broadcaster.

[jayne lee wilson]

Cannot find the exact place in thread, but it's on-topic: want to say I am so very grateful to Jayne Lee Wilson for her tip last week about online AAC. Heard it on radio for first time ever, and simply via iPhone plugged to hifi. The live Afternoon Concert today (Rachmaninov piano and a violin solo) on R3 was a revelation! Bright, clean, fresh. Astounded! Away with FM squash and DAB mush: both a dismay - not to mention an insult to the performers. How grateful we should be to people at the Beeb who still treasure music.

Great to hear, Howard!

Unless your amp has an integrated one, do consider getting a DAC to go between the iphone and the hifi - even better music that way!...
Lots of good ones around at all price levels, if you need something miniature take a look at the Audioquest Dragonfly range....long-established company, great design pedigree and backup....

If you want to go a bit further look at the Cambridge DacMagic. Excellent long-developed design, very flexible connectivity. I lived with the 2009 model for four happy years....always reviews very well.
(Probably won't do much for your DAB tuner, but its worth a shot...)

[Another Howard]

Hello jayne lee wilson. Thank you for your further tip about AAC. I had no idea an extra, better, DAC could be connected between my iPhone and the amps. Will explore! Might get a second dedicated phone, too. Starting now to sense whispers from my much-loved old Quad valve stuff, for too many years silent in the attic.

[Frances_iom]

... Starting now to sense whispers from my much-loved old Quad valve stuff, for too many years silent in the attic.

The whispers might well be the sound of the last dying escape of the dregs of the electrolyte in the large capacitors - these have a long but still finite life and temperature swings in attics can be fatal.

[Another Howard]

Oh help Frances! I had better find a cosier spot... and apply power gradually using a Variac. Found one in a skip: useful at last.

[Frances_iom]

Oh help Frances! I had better find a cosier spot... and apply power gradually using a Variac. Found one in a skip: useful at last.

I was going to suggest that as it is a common approach for old transistor amplifiers - but not sure for valves (they need the filament to be hot) but suspect it would be advisable - but thought mentioning a variac would be too nerdy for this forum. I have a collection of such now outmoded but at one time well appreciated equipment in my attic/computer playroom including a Revox A77 not used for decades - I know one enthusiast who replaced all electrolytics in his A77.