The Monitor's Control.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 13, 12 October 1928, Page 27

The Monitor's Control.

n interesting correspondence is at present proceeding in "Wireless World" concerning the B.B. Co.’s monitoring of musical items from London

station, 2LO. One correspondent complains that all the light and shade is taken out of musical items on account of the suppression of "forte" passages and the extra amplification of soft, or ‘"niano" passages, giving a too-even effect over all. This monitoring is, of course, carried out chiefly in the interests of the average listener’s receiver. Suppression of the heavy passages prevents unpleasant "blasting" in receivers that are being run to the limit as so many are, and amplification of soft passages prevents undue weakening in distant receivers, so that these portions of the item are not missed. This correspondent states that he would prefer an occasional "blast" to excessive control. Another correspondent, writing in support of the above views, says :- "As it stands the gramophone electrically reproduced through a really good amplifier and loudspeaker system seems able to give a truer musical result than is possible from a B.B.C. transmission of the same thing, simply because in the case of the gramophone one finds recorded the full contrasts between fortissimo and pianissimo, with a result that is alive as compared with the deadness or flatness of the ‘controlled’ and mutilated B.B.C. transmission. "It would seem almost axiomatic that, the optimum mean modulation adjustment for a given musical transmission having been ascertained, that adjustment should be left severely alone during the performance of the piece." . The above appears to be rather hard eriticism of one of the high-grade broadeast stations of the world, but it goes to emphasise the fact that gramophone recitals are now of very high quality, and in many instances more pleasing than studio items.