[Elecraft] Is DVR audio really getting equalized and compressed?

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Barry,

For the record, what I hear in the DVR is what I get. The DVR plus MON
output in the speakers is particularly good at telling how you will
sound.  And until now, that has been the only post-learning-curve
opinion of the DVR that I have ever heard.  That is why, taken with
your friends' over the air assessment (indicating that the DVR is
working properly), I suspect this has something to do with your
perception of how all the pieces work together.  Your friends' "taste"
in voice could simply vary from yours, you deem the same audio "soft"
and they don't.

But first try this procedure, and see what happens. This is designed
to get a contest voice at a contest operating level and shape it for
best effect.  It also steers around points where things can get messed
up.  If you want to get "in the neighborhood" with your CMP and TX EQ
settings using MON and listening in phones at the same time, go ahead.
 But finish off with the procedure below.

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Go into CONFIG:TX DVR and set it to "Ind". If you don't have the TX
DVR option, you will need to upgrade firmware.

Set MODE to LSB or USB on a band that currently has loud SSB signals.
Tune in a busy frequency. Set AGC to fast, RF gain to max and AF gain
to your normal listening level.  Leave this audio up and running
during the entire procedure.  If the frequency goes quiet, go find
another busy one.  This is to keep your speaking voice unconsciously
calibrated to "talking in a noisy cafeteria".

If the left lower bar is showing SWR & RF instead of CMP & ALC, do a
"hold" on METER to get CMP & ALC.

Do a "hold" on MON.  With TX DVR set to "Ind", this "hold" will be a
toggle between MON and DVR. Set DVR to 20 to start and MON to 0
(zero).

Tap SPEED/MIC to get MIC and tap CMP/PWR to get CMP. Set CMP to 10 to start.

"Hold" TEST to place rig in test mode.  Make SURE you get the flashing
TX, especially for this procedure.

Write down what you are going to say for the recording and put it in
front of you. Many people will speak better, with an un-self-conscious
full voice, when speaking from a script, better than they will
speaking without a script.  At this point do not worry about making
the recording with the right compression or TX equalizer settings.

Key the mike and read the script to match your speaking volume with
what you were hearing on the frequency.  During the reading advance
the MIC gain so that you get 5-7 segments on the ALC scale.  If you
cannot get 5-7 segments, it will be a mike settings issue of some
sort.  Come back to this procedure after you have remedied the
problem.  Repeat this while adjusting mic gain so that your reading
voice, at the same level as the radio conversation, gets 5-7 segments
on the ALC with your mic gain setting.

Write down this MIC setting. You should use it any time you are using
this microphone, and then use the ALC segments at 5-7 to keep your
voice at level.  Leave the MIC at this setting.  When you are
transmitting after this, raise or lower your voice to get the 5-7
segments on the ALC.

Listen to the chatter on frequency to recalibrate your hearing. Tap
REC, tap M1, read the memory text at a normal full voice using 5-7 ALC
segments to set your level. Tap M1 to end.  My MH2 and the K3 do not
require PTT to be asserted to record.  Recording begins with the first
tap on M1, ends with the second tap on M1.

Now replay the DVR by tapping M1. Use "hold" on MON to get to the DVR
setting. Adjust the DVR and repeat the playback so your voice playback
has the same volume as the SSB conversation.  This is important so
that your hearing of the playback is not biased by "loudness"
frequency response issues

Now repeat the record/playback cycle as many times as needed,
adjusting TX equalizer and CMP before recording to get your desired TX
voice sound. Remember to turn off the EQ display by tapping menu after
setting each time. You may find that it starts to sound louder. If so
reduce DVR to keep the playback at the same volume as the SSB on
frequency.  Note that the effects of MIC, CMP and TX EQ are ONLY
asserted in the recording.  These have no effect when playing back the
recording for transmit.  PWR will set the PEP output when transmitted.

CMP should be advanced until you hear something that sounds like fuzz
or distortion, then reduce it by 4 or 5 so you don't hear any fuzz or
distortion. Adjust TX equalizer settings until your voice sounds
"sharp" or brilliant while the lows are "moderate" to keep from
sounding "tinny".  Once you have this sound, leave MIC, CMP, DVR, and
TX EQ alone.

This will be a more accurate method than listening via MON in headsets
while you are talking, particularly in hearing the effects from too
much CMP, or too much high emphasis. You should be able to set your
processed voice for a rich high silibant content (brightness) with
just enough lows to "sound right" and CMP a bit lower than adds what
sounds like distortion to your signal.

When you have this, the MIC gain, CMP setting, TX equalizer should be
retained for regular operation.

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Done this way, the K3 processed voice is superior to RF clipping and
has maximum punch and power level without bandwidth problems.

If you are using the RX EQ to make the RX audio "extra sharp" to
improve hearing the syllibant portion of RX voice (I do), or to
compensate for hearing issues (that may be what I am actually doing),
the DVR playback will NOT have this added brightness.  This is done so
playback of an off-the-air DVR recording is played back to the sender
with NO ADJUSTMENTS WHATSOEVER, and is exactly what is received.

Hope this has helped some.

73, Guy.