07/18/2008 11:17:56 AM EST

Podcast and stream quality

posted by grogger

Why is the audio on the stream/podcast so poor?

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I have been a listener to TYT since the beginning and a paying member for a year and a half. I love the show but out of 28 podcast that I subscribe to,TYT has by far the worst sound quality! I can't even listen to it sometimes! I thought It was just a "low Budget" thing. I know that streaming video has poorer quality sound and I assumed the podcast is just the audio from the video. TYT is now recording the show for Sirius and I'm sure their not getting the garbage audio that we get as a podcast. I don't mind contributing to the show by paying for a podcast. I subscribe to 27 free podcast of far superior audio (and some with video) quality. Is it money, technology or a lack of technical expertise? Whatever it is, TYT can not go to the next level without improving the technical quality of their product
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Podcast and stream quality | 17 comments (17 topical, 0 hidden)
This hasn't been an issue for me (none / 0)
the sound quality I mean.

But obviously I don't represent all listeners.

by Tom Hanc on 07/18/2008 11:52:44 AM EST

Yes, upgrade (none / 0)
I've always thought that TYT was pretty marginal technically in some areas. Audio can be distorted. Sometimes you hear thumping noises from Cenk's clip-on microphone (they should try an overhead mic, like Edward R. Murrow used to use, which would look cool as well). Between-segments music drops a channel (so you hear Jimi Hendrix' guitar but not his voice). Little things. Maybe if it were slicker, it would seem less "authentic"...nah !

by ashbul on 07/18/2008 05:16:04 PM EST

What's your frame of reference? (none / 0)
I've podcasted several progressive talk shows and I don't find TYT to be especially worse in terms of technical quality.

Every once in a while Cenk or Ben get a little loud into the mics but other than that it's fine.

Again, fine relative to what I hear when I download other progressive shows. I'm sure radio juggernauts (Stern, Limbaugh) have higher quality but I wouldn't hold them to that standard as they don't have the same resources.

by Tom Hanc on 07/18/2008 06:09:17 PM EST

[ Parent ]
My frame is from listening to other prog podcasts. (none / 0)

I used to get most of the AAR podcasts and they were all better.

So is Stephanie Miller.  Imagine if TYT sounded like SM but wasn't stupid and trying too hard like SM does. As much as I loathe that show they have great production values.

 

 

 

 

 

by etrnlrvr on 07/18/2008 06:45:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
So did I (none / 0)
but honestly, I didn't notice a difference.

I mean, they don't use nearly as many goofy sound effects and impersonations as SM so maybe I never noticed.

by Tom Hanc on 07/18/2008 06:50:17 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Well... (none / 0)

I don't mean the goofy sound effects or the Mickey Mouse pacing of Stephanie Miller just to clarify :)  Just the general lack of thing being wrong.

Some people don't notice these things in the same way  that some people can be perfectly happy with  cheap earbuds and 128 bit music while others (me included) think it sounds like crap.  But I am not a snob either.  Especially when it comes to spoken word all I want is proper sound levels and no distortion.

I don't ever think about the sound quality of most shows but TYT always zings my ears with the too hot garbled audio. 

Not priority number one but maybe it should the 1st pan to get looked at on the back burner of the stove.  It's needed to shake off that last bit  of "Cable Access" still clinging to the show.

But if I am in the very small minority who notices so be it.  I will happily wince along if everyone else thinks its fine.  The content is still there even with the wonky audio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by etrnlrvr on 07/18/2008 07:07:16 PM EST

[ Parent ]
frame of reference (none / 0)

How about Rachel Madow. The sound is Perfect!

I'm not being a dick. I love tyt. I've paid for 2 memberships!

I understand that you can record and stream better qaulity than you can stream live. Why do they have to stream live? They don't take calls, read traffic or anything like that. Record the show and then post it as a videocast, stream it 24hrs, whatever you want and it will look like the MEET THE PRESS video cast. Go to iTunes and play some video casts, they look like TV. I don't understand why TYT is still such low quality. It doesn't have to be. I've turned friends on to TYT who say they can't get beyond the poor audio. When Cenk gets exited all you hear is distortion. I think it's their software. Not the hardware. I can put together a higher quality vidoecast in my basement with less than a $1000.00 worth of equipment

by grogger on 07/19/2008 09:17:30 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I agree (none / 0)

I love the show and have been listening from the beginning and a member for awhile now.  NOTHING could make me stop listening to the show  but I think it has to improve to get to the next level.

I listen to almost 40 podcasts and TYT always has the worst sound.   I'm not talking about the bitrate they use to save bandwith, which I can live with, it's everything else. 

I am not an audio engineer or anything but it appears they aren't using any  compressors in their setup. Cenk coming back super hot and distorted from breaks the bumper music often being too hot and having distorted bass lines.  The thumping and scratching from Cenk's mic.

It's ok but it's been the way it's been for a LOOONNNNGGG TIME.  I know they have a lot going on as far as mics and cameras go but there are plenty of one and two man podcasts with far better quality.

I think they need to find an Abby Tonsing equivalent with some serious audio skills  and have that person hang around to help the Turks make love to our ears.:)

 

 

by etrnlrvr on 07/18/2008 06:34:26 PM EST

I used to be a radio producer... (none / 0)

Not saying anything.

But seriously, I think Jayar does fine.

by ProfRich on 07/18/2008 07:18:24 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't think it's Jayar at all. (none / 0)

It seems like it's an equipment issue.  You don't think compressors would reduce most of the too hot audio issues?

Jayay fixes the levels as fast as he can but he isn't psychic nor is he a little chip that makes the lows softer and the highs quieter automatically.

 

by etrnlrvr on 07/18/2008 07:25:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Err (none / 0)
That was supposed to say lows louder and the highs softer.  Jayar instead of Jayay too ;)

by etrnlrvr on 07/18/2008 07:28:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't necessarily blame Jayar. (none / 0)

I don't necessarily let him off the hook either.

But Professor, what say you to this? 

turks waveform

 (It's a waveform from an actual TYT podcast - yesterday's - unmodified and naked to the world. Those raggedy-ass torn off humps and bumps represent ugly, tooth-grinding distortion.

To be fair - this is Cenk doing one of his goofy horse laughs. It's not all like this. But I thought I'd share it anyway because that's just the kind of dweeby guy I am.) 

by ashbul on 07/18/2008 09:27:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't necessarily blame Jayar (none / 0)

But.......

I sometimes clean up the podcast myself in CoolEditPro

If I can, can't some TYT intern? I'm not saying anything, I'm just sayin'. or just give us the Sirius recording, I'll take 2 clean hours over what we get now. Did I mention we pay for this? Should it not sound at least as good as free podcasts?

by grogger on 07/19/2008 12:12:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I have to disagree... (none / 0)
I listen to several podcasts, progressive and otherwise and IMHO, TYT is one of the better ones. The quality is consistently good but what I'm most interested in is the content and that's simply the best. Woot!

by toosinbeymen on 07/19/2008 07:43:13 PM EST

I have to disagree... (none / 0)
Really???  Listen to any NPR, BBC, or even Rachal Maddows Podcast, then listen to TYT. The CONTENT is the best, but the audio sucks! If your listening on ear buds off an iPod, then you really can't tell. But on a good car stereo or a home system it's all distorted. I LOVE TYT, I've been there from the begining, all I'm saying is they can improve their sound and should!  Maybe they are unaware. I can show  you a print out of TYT compared to other podcast, It's not subjective. It looks like a wave form of a mic turned up too high and the master volume turned down to compensate.

by grogger on 07/20/2008 07:14:11 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Why I'm bringing this up now (none / 0)
The reason I'm bringing this up now is that the audio on Sirius is perfect! Where does it come from and why can't we get that quality audio. It is not a technical impossibility.  I think it's O.K. to ask.

by grogger on 07/20/2008 07:20:07 AM EST

I just watched Meet The Bloggers (none / 0)

I just watched Meet The Bloggers. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Why can't TYT look and sound like that!!

http://meetthebloggers.org/

Watch it !

If they need more cash to do it, I say they hold a NPR style fundraiser with the promise that all the money will go into making them look like "Meet The Bloggers"! I'll man phones! If TYT looked and sounded like  "Meet The Bloggers" There would be no stopping them!

by grogger on 07/20/2008 07:49:56 AM EST

Podcast and stream quality | 17 comments (17 topical, 0 hidden)
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