The end of Freeview?

EEPhil said:
I guess that the addition of R3Unwind and the two R1 channels on DAB+ (but same multiplex) is the reason for cutting the bitrates for the rest of the output.As with TV we are trying to cram too much into the multiplexes using legacy encoding methods.
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I wasn't aware of R3Unwind or some new R1 channels. But if they are on DAB+ using AAC they've probably set the bit rate so low they're unlistenable. Classic FM at 128kbps DAB (MP2 codec) was just about OK and better than their MP3 internet stream at the same bit rate (bizarrely), but when Classic FM switched to 64kbps DAB+ (AAC codec) I couldn't listen to it and put some effort into improving my FM reception.
 
Owen Smith said:
And even Radio 3 is only 160kbps during the day. It usually changes to 192kbps in the evening.
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Last night (Monday) at 10pm R3 and R3Unwind simulcasting. R3 was 160kbps (mp2). Although I noticed some (unspecified) difference between R3 and R3U (32kbps AAC), R3U wasn't too shabby for my ears.
 
Could this be why sometimes (in my car) I notice the announcer on CFM go all echoey and the stereo image shifts around?
 
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Yes, I just abbreviated ClassicFM thinking (stupidly) everyone would realise in the context. And yes, obs I'm talking about DAB in the car (or DAB+, actually)! It would hardly be FM if we're talking about bit rates!!
 
Black Hole said:
Could this be why sometimes (in my car) I notice the announcer on CFM go all echoey and the stereo image shifts around?
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It could be yes. I've found DAB+ (using AAC) has a hard time encoding the announcer. On Scala the music sounds all dull, lifeless and lacking in detail but the announcer has horrible pops and clunks and volume changes. That's at 40kbps, Classic FM uses 64kbps. But they could be using different encoders and have different options enabled in AAC-HE (High Efficiency aka "make it sound awful").
 
Owen Smith said:
On Scala the music sounds all dull, lifeless and lacking in detail but the announcer has horrible pops and clunks and volume changes.
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When I used to listen (Saturday - Mark Kermode's Film Music thing) I was often walking about and so used the Scala App on my phone. The only problem I had.... problem I had was stuttering when... stuttering when I swapped between phone masts. No idea what the bitrate was.
Occasionally do the same now it's Magic Classical if I'm wandering about whilst Charles Nove is on. The changes and the partial U-turn since it became MC have put me off listening. I preferred the presenters they got rid of rather than the ones they have now.
 
EEPhil said:
When I used to listen (Saturday - Mark Kermode's Film Music thing) I was often walking about and so used the Scala App on my phone. The only problem I had.... problem I had was stuttering when... stuttering when I swapped between phone masts. No idea what the bitrate was.
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Scala live internet streaming on my home cinema amp is 128kbps AAC and sounds pretty decent, a massive improvement over their DAB channel. I suspect the App either uses the 128kbps AAC stream or something better. They're only using such low bit rates on DAB to squeeze into the multiplex.
EEPhil said:
Occasionally do the same now it's Magic Classical if I'm wandering about whilst Charles Nove is on. The changes and the partial U-turn since it became MC have put me off listening. I preferred the presenters they got rid of rather than the ones they have now.
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Which partial U-turn? I listened initially because they had Simon Mayo as a presenter.
 
Owen Smith said:
Which partial U-turn? I listened initially because they had Simon Mayo as a presenter.
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Before the change Charles Nove, Penny Smith, (can't remember), Richard Allinson
For a while weekdays were Charles Nove and Penny Smith, then automatic playlist until the next day.
Now it's Charles, Tim Smith (who?), Jo Cochrane (who?) and Fran Godfrey. But no Kermode's film music.
"Hold the Mayo" - not one of my favourites!
 
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