[Elecraft] more Bass in K3 with PR-40

Tue Jun 19 15:33:20 EDT 2012

There's a reason those low frequency ranges in the Human voice are called
the "drone". They carry virtually no information but are simply a background
sound. 

The problem is that the human vocal apparatus cannot modulate such low
frequencies effectively. They work on the higher-frequency harmonics of the
drone to produce what we call "speech". 

And, yet, those lower frequencies hog most of the audio energy in such
voices and, when transmitted, hog most of the RF power. 

That's why female voices tend to carry better through the air or on the air.

73, 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----

> I believe the vocal range for standard bass voices starts at about 87 
> Hz, "super" basses might get as low as 65 Hz (C2). Perhaps the key 
> point is that intelligibility is concentrated around 1-2K Hz. Yes?

The lowest fundamental on record was 81 Hz IIRC ... most are closer to ans
slightly above 100 HZ - particularly when the test subject is not making a
conscious effort to breathe from the diaphragm/use a "trained" voice.  From
the very beginning of voice communications AT&T determined that 300-2700 Hz
was more than adequate for "communications audio" - also known as "toll
grade audio".

Intelligibility is most important in the 1200-2400 Hz range - there is no
energy in the human voice between roughly 800 and 1200 Hz.  That's the
reason I recommend +3dB at 1600 and +5dB at 2400 Hz (a 6dB/octave rising
characteristic across the important spectrum).

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 6/19/2012 1:06 PM, Rich wrote:
> I'm not disagreeing with the recommendations at all, but it seems that 
> the rationale may be a bit off for some?  I believe the vocal range 
> for standard bass voices starts at about 87 Hz, "super" basses might 
> get as low as 65 Hz (C2).  Perhaps the key point is that 
> intelligibility is concentrated around 1-2K Hz.  Yes?
>
> Interesting to listen to recordings of low bass notes with "standard"
> microphones and then with mics that are sensitive to 50 Hz, and then 
> listen to background noise and A/C noise.
>
> Rich
> NU6T
>
>
> On 6/19/2012 8:54 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>> I would start at zero across the board, lowering the low end and 
>>> adjusting the mids and highs *slightly* upward until you get a good 
>>> balance of decent lows and good presence on the mid to high end. 
>>> With a little patience and a good ear, you'll get an excellent 
>>> sounding signal out of the K3. Of course, you'll want to use the "TEST"
>>> feature or a dummy load and listen to yourself with the TX monitor.
>> Most quality microphones sound best with a roll off at 50 (-16) and
>> 100 (-6 to -9) and a slight peaking at 1600 (+3) and 2400 (+5) bands.
>> If the microphone has some built-in peaking (e.g. Heil HC4/HC5) there 
>> is no need for the added peaking.
>>
>> The -200 Hz band can be increased slightly if your voice is "thin"
>> but that will not be necessary in most cases.  Except for a very few 
>> "super bass" voices there is no energy below about 100 Hz and rolling 
>> off those frequencies significantly reduces background noise/hum in 
>> the audio.
>>
>> If a PR-40 or other "studio" dynamic microphone sounds "thin" work 
>> closer to the mic to take advantage of the "presence" effect.  Most 
>> studio mics are designed to be worked closely so they pick up only 
>> intended sounds and reject sound from other instruments/vocalists in 
>> the room.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>       ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/19/2012 10:45 AM, Scott Manthe wrote:
>>> I don't know where Bob gets those settings. I've got a Gold LIne and 
>>> those setting will make it sound terrible.
>>>
>>> First of all, you probably don't need an external equalizer, because 
>>> the
>>> K3 has an 8 band equalizer built in. The standard 2.7 kHz filter can 
>>> be made to sound acceptably good, but you're not going to get ESSB 
>>> quality, because of the bandwidth. You'd need the 6 kHz filter for 
>>> that. I won't get into the "ESSB as good practice debate," other 
>>> than to say that most "ESSB" guys I hear on the air sound 
>>> ridiculous, and I was a professional broadcaster for years.
>>>
>>> I would start at zero across the board, lowering the low end and 
>>> adjusting the mids and highs *slightly* upward until you get a good 
>>> balance of decent lows and good presence on the mid to high end. 
>>> With a little patience and a good ear, you'll get an excellent 
>>> sounding signal out of the K3. Of course, you'll want to use the 
>>> "TEST" feature or a dummy load and listen to yourself with the TX
monitor.
>>>
>>> Good luck getting your audio the way you want it!
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Scott, N9AA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 6/19/12 8:18 AM, ac8jd wrote:
>>>> I have had this K3 up on the air for a few days now.  I would be 
>>>> curious to know how I can get more "lows" or "bass" out of the TX on
SSB with my PR-40.
>>>> The audio reports I get from other stations are that I have a lot of
"highs"
>>>> and they can't open up their filter to get enough bandwidth on my 
>>>> signal to make it sound "lower".
>>>>
>>>> I have the TC equalizer set according to Heil's website for the 
>>>> Pr-40 http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/dspsettings/all_elecraft.php
>>>>
>>>> I just don't know how to achieve getting and lower levels to come 
>>>> out of the rig.  I see in the manual to use the ESSB you have the 
>>>> 6khz filter.  Would that help my situation?
>>>>
>>>> TNX,
>>>> AC8JD
>>>>
>>>>
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