3 ms·

This sound is from excessive EQ and limiting held over from trying to get the most out of the limited bandwidth of broadcast radio.

• bunderbunder 8y ago
  My understanding is that, more specifically, it's a sound that's very carefully tailored to the acoustic environment in which NPR is typically consumed: a moving car. I once heard an interview with an NPR audio engineer where he related how he'd epoxy the studio microphones' bass roll-off switches in place because the setting that most people thought made their voices sound better also made them harder to understand over highway noise.
  • SyneRyder 8y ago
    I didn't see your reply before I posted, but I think I just linked to that interview in my comment above - it includes that anecdote.
  • 99052882514569 8y ago
    >the setting that most people thought made their voices sound better also made them harder to understand over highway noise. I'm looking at you, Roman Mars of '99% Invisible'.