Re: Compander?

Michael A. Terrell is old radio station guy, maybe he'll know,

...Jim Thompson

The phrase "compander" seems to be out-of-style. I did a lot better surfing on "audio +compressor". Came up with many "audio compressor/gate".

Anyone have a brand/model recommendation for simply leveling TV and DVD-playback audio?

...Jim Thompson

At least on the analog side, how about a standard gain stage but parallel Rf with a resistor in series with 2 diodes back-to-back; adjust network for diode conductionover "loud" part of the dynamic range?

Found this off Google..

"Our engineers know audio like no one else in the world"

That's not a selling point! Even a messed up knowledge of audio is still like no one else in the world.

D from BC myrealaddress(at)comic(dot)com BC, Canada Posted to usenet sci.electronics.design

I noticed the Terk ad said some people adjust the volume up to 25 times an hour. Yep, that's me. I'd be interested in a circuit that could be put in the tv. It might be difficult to find the proper place to wire it in because often the demod/preamp/amp are all in one integrated circuit. So that leaves speaker level audio to work with. So attenuate then compress then amplify to drive speakers. Oh, stereo, damn, need two. I don't use a cable box or satelite tv, and don't want to use the vcr to watch tv. I think I'm stuck with putting a compressor inside tv. Mike

Although AGC IC's are abundant (I made a credible AGC with 4 diodes (transconductance bridge, not a clipper!) and an opamp decades ago for my ham radio) -

the "non invasive way" would be buying one of those cheap "do it all" remote controls, patch a microphone, integrator, window comparator to it, and electronically (bilateral switch?) push the volume up / dn buttons to keep the level in the zone.

..And if your wife starts talking, the TV would lower volume to accoodate the conversation. (is this a bug or a feature?)

If somebody makes money of this idea - I want royalties :-)

The audio processors for radio & TV broadcast start at several thousand dollars, and go up from there.

D from BC wrote: (snip) ...Jim Thompson

dbx makes some very impressive gear. I got to hear one of their second generation compressor expanders back in the days of vinyl. You could turn the audio all the way up, and during quiet passages, it sounded like all the air got sucked from the room.

Back in my audio days dbx set up a demo for me (in the Abbey Road studio no less). Pretty impressive on some music, but not good on piano. Difficult to describe the effect but I assume the attack/decay was introducing the very audible artifacts.

Ian