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General discussion

weird digital distortion in some podcasts.

by minimalist Mar 5, 2008 5:00AM PST

Whenever Jason isn?t around to run the boards there is often an odd, garbled sound overlaying speech in podcasts (almost like someone is speaking through a fast moving box fan but more random). I am guessing it is some sort of a compression issue. It?s really noticeable when listening with headphones. I?ve noticed it numerous times on BOL (although I can?t point an episode number) but it also happened on Tom?s most recent Real Deal (episode 100).

Has anyone else noticed this?

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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No
by PressAnyKey Mar 5, 2008 8:54AM PST

No distortion that I can detect. How are you playing it back?

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via iTunes through a pair of Shure E2C's.
by minimalist Mar 5, 2008 9:19AM PST

When Jason is on the show it never happens (I am assuming because he is running the boards). When he is gone the entire episode sounds kind of watery or mushy, almost like the audio equivalent of artifacting on an overly compressed video signal.

Its not a huge deal but it is distracting.

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Real Deal episode...
by raygun01 Mar 5, 2008 1:36PM PST

Yeah I hear it. I think possibly the project file Tom used had a stereo file in it which, when you use Audacity, makes the output file export in stereo. What the heck does that have to do with anything you ask?

We encode to 80kps MP3 MONO... if a stereo file is in the project, then Audacity (without asking you either way) exports still at 80kps, but STEREO... which basically means same bandwidth, but spread over two channels instead of just one.

Therefor, the quality per channel is actually HALF of what it would be with one mono channel using up the entire bandwidth... therefor, you end up hearing higher compression artifacts... thus, the watery sounds.

(why did I totally spell that out?)

Anyways, I'll check the project to be sure and get it back in order. Thanks!

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(NT) Thanks! I knew I wasn't crazy.
by minimalist Mar 5, 2008 9:51PM PST
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can you fix and re-up?
by mementh Mar 7, 2008 10:27AM PST

that way those of us that are behind can get the better file?

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