Barix Impedances

[sonic]

The audio chain for WITT is actually simple....mic/cd players at studio into analog mixer, then into Barix Instreamer....out of Barix Exstreamer at tower into M-Audio 192 (PC card) line-in. M-Audio line-in is 10K unbalanced - thus should match Exstreamer. M-Audio output is balanced 300/600 ohm into NiCom Jupiter Stereo Generator/Audio Processor and onto exciter/transmitter.  This allows live broadcast through Barix from studio or switch over to automated programming via tower PC.  Problem is the sibilance at the high end - we suspect Jupiter...as listening to Barix straight from headphone jack sounds perfect, sound via M-Audio monitor jack sounds perfect, sound over the radio - sibilance/distortion at high end.  Thoughts?

[BofH]

The audio chain for WITT is actually simple....mic/cd players at studio into analog mixer, then into Barix Instreamer....out of Barix Exstreamer at tower into M-Audio 192 (PC card) line-in. M-Audio line-in is 10K unbalanced - thus should match Exstreamer. M-Audio output is balanced 300/600 ohm into NiCom Jupiter Stereo Generator/Audio Processor and onto exciter/transmitter.  This allows live broadcast through Barix from studio or switch over to automated programming via tower PC.  Problem is the sibilance at the high end - we suspect Jupiter...as listening to Barix straight from headphone jack sounds perfect, sound via M-Audio monitor jack sounds perfect, sound over the radio - sibilance/distortion at high end.  Thoughts?

As you already have that PC in your airchain - try installing a copy of Breakaway Broadcast.
http://www.claessonedwards.com

It will completely replace your Stereo Generator/Audio Processor and you can literally feed the output of the M-Audio into your exciter/transmitter.  This will easily allow you to confirm if the fault lies in this part of your chain - also you will find Breakaway provides far better audio than your existing Stereo Generator/Audio Processor.

[RealityCheckr]

Typical engineers....the man asks the Exstreamer impedance, one poster says low output, high input - of course doesn't give a specific impedance...i.e., he doesn't know and is guessing....the other shows you the link to the manual (which, btw doesn't note the impedance).....thus doesn't know either and is guessing.....

<SNIP>
But, in my many years of doing this, and prior to AES and its impedance, we really were faced with only two choices for line level devices.  Low, meaning 600 ohm balanced, and high which was >10k ohm and unbalanced.  Mostly referred to in catalogs as home and professional connections.  I did state that the output was RCA connectors (Hi-Z and unbalanced).  That info alone should be enough for him to look at what he wants to connect it to and decide if he needs a matchbox or not. 

<SNIP>

"the output was RCA connectors (Hi-Z and unbalanced)"

I doubt very much the outputs are Hi Z. The information in my guess is far more likely.

From a practical perspective the input/output levels is far more likely to be useful (and was included in the info you provided).

Happy Independence day to all

G-

[sonic]

This Breakaway Broadcast software intrigues me - anyone use it? Is it easy to use/simple to set up? Most importantly is it good?

[RolfTaylor]

Check and make sure you do not have pre-emphasis happening twice. And NOT before the Barix.

The other thing that frequently helps with MPEG coding is a slight rolloff of the treble region. Just a slight change can make a difference.

Good Luck

Rolf Taylor
Applications Support Engineer
APT-Audemat

[ChiefEngineer]

It doesn't sound like double preemphasis on the air. Station is overmodulated according to the mod monitor on a whip antenna at your site.

The question I have is why use the headphone out of the barix instead of the rca outputs unless you have a level issue?

Most processors can accomodate multiple levels in. More things in line allow more problems.

Because you have essentially two studios (transmitter and Indianapolis) do both have the s distortion?  If so you have a limited point of possibility. Jupiter (set too high causing distortion because of overmodulation - which is what it sounds like based on mod levels compared to another nearby station using an Omnia5). Computer.

This apparently isn't a barix issue unless you have been operating from the Indianapolis studio since sign on.

You can't just expect the Jupiter to be as loud as an Onmia 5.

Another Non Com has been running the Omnia 5 with little changes in the setup. They play music that is contemporary. 

WITT plays eclectic music, if you call it that. One local called it 24 hours of fecal material. They apparently don't share the refined viewpoint that some might have. The obvious is that this music is a varied type, variety, and more importantly dynamic range.

It's almost as if someone thinks they can get a common and loud level compared to contemporary music which they cannot. Sounds loud but well overdriven. Look at it on a mod monitor and decide how much distortion is acceptable for the loudness.

[ChiefEngineer]

BTW You CAN expect Breakaway to be near as loud as the Omnia 5 but setup is a little more difficult as opposed to plug and play.

[Sgeirk]

It's off the main subject, but I really feel Breakaway is practically a quantum leap. I found it very easy to setup. As soon as they put out a full control version, I'll make it difficult to setup. 

[RealityCheckr]

Yeah, what he said:

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=148068.0

[LA_Guy]

Ask and you shall receive:

Input impedance: 10 k ohms
Output impedance: 10 ohms
Output will drive any load from 8 ohms upward (the output amp is a 120 milliwatt per channel stereo amplifier).

The headphone output comes off the same amplifier, but its output coupling caps are half the value of the main outputs (60 vs 120 uf). To get low end down below 50 hz, I'd suggest running the main outputs into a load impedance of 25 ohms or higher.