[Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 167, Issue 26

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Richard:

I agree with Don, W3FPR and Jim, K9YC on the EQ issues.    I do think 
the +3, +9, & +12  values are excessive, unless the mike you are using 
is lacking in high end for some reason, or is a dynamic mike which may 
be heavy in low end due to proximity effect.

Regarding mikes and proximity effect, back away from the mike about a 
"fist" distance.  I find this to be more effective than trying to EQ 
something.  Mike technique is much more critical to good / great 
sounding audio than many hams realize or have been taught 
incorrectly.    Don't EAT the mike!      I have and use some really good 
professional mikes as well as some $19 el-cheap-o dynamic mikes.   For 
ham purposes they are all about the same. The key to making them "all 
sound the same" is mike technique.

I agree that there is little to no articulate information in the human 
voice below 200 Hz.  "Down there" is room rumble, HVAC noise, amp fan 
noise, of which none contribute to good / great sounding audio and sucks 
up transmitter power.  And yes, the typical SSB filter begins to 
attenuate anything above 2.7 kHz to 3 kHz or so.   Excluding ESSB 
modes.  "Up there" is nasal whistles, lip smacks, sibilant sounds and 
such.    Again, none of these contribute to good / great sounding 
audio.    If you hear an operator inhale between words or 
sentences.......he needs to take steps to improve his audio.  Either 
adjust the mike gain correctly, adjust the speech processing correctly 
or improve his mike technique.

Agreed, it is always better to use an EQ to attenuate as opposed to 
boost a frequency or band, as in-band phase shift is usually less.  That 
makes the audio sound "less EQ'd" and thus more natural.  The general 
thinking, and usually most incorrect, is "you need more of this or more 
of that".   When correctly it should be "you need less of this and less 
of that".  Why is it we always seem to want more?

I do not agree with Bob Heil where he suggests using a 2nd receiver and 
headphones to listen to your signal.  Reason: a significant part your 
voice sound is transmitted to the ears via internal bone conductivity in 
ones head.  This is not accounted for in the simultaneous transmitting 
and listening process with headphones.   Likewise, same for the Monitor 
function in most radios.    It is much better is use free software such 
as AUDICITY to record from the 2nd receiver and then listen to the 
recording to get a more accurate evaluation of how it sounds.

Just an old retired recording engineer's thoughts.............based on 
years and years of experience. With today's radios, there is no reason 
not to have great sounding audio.    However, getting someone on the 
other end to give you an accurate and composite audio report is a real 
challenge.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 3/18/2018 10:03 PM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
> Richard,
>
> Remove the boost on the high end.
> You can reduce all bands if you want to maintain the same curve.
> It is better not to boost, but cut instead.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/18/2018 1:09 PM, Richard wrote:
>> Bill,
>>
>> Tx EQ:
>> 50  =  -16
>> 100  =  -12
>> 200  =  -6
>> 400  =  0
>> 800  =  0
>> 1200  =  +3
>> 2400  =  +9
>> 3200  =  +12
>>
>> This works well for me.
>>
>> Richard - W4KBX