3-16 Operation
PROTECTION-0DB: PROTECTION-0DB is a two-band preset with a high amount of band coupling. It is intended for
use below threshold most of the time (i.e., with 0 dB gain reduction), to provide protection limiting in the highest
quality applications such as serious classical music intended for an attentive audience. Its LESS-MORE control
determines the normal amount of gain reduction but does not increase distortion or other processing artifacts
when turned up.
COUNTRY: The COUNTRY-MEDIUM preset uses the ROCK-SMOOTH source preset. It has a gentle bass lift and a
mellow, easy-to-listen-to high end, along with enough presence energy to help vocals to stand out. The COUNTRY-
LIGHT preset uses the ROCK-LIGHT source preset. Modern country stations might also find ROCK-MEDIUM or
ROCK-OPEN useful if they want a brighter, more up-front sound.
Measured in third-octaves, the two presets typically produce less than 3 dB of difference with program material, so
either preset will work OK (although not ideally) with all radios.
DANCE ENERGY: This 8500 preset is designed to preserve the punch and slam in dance music percussion (such as
the beater click in kick drums). It uses HARD bass clipping, is loud, and has a bright high frequency texture. It was
designed for 50 µs preemphasis and many user will find it to be too distorted when used at 75 µs. As LESS-MORE is
turned down, this preset get quieter, yet punchier.
FOLK-TRADITIONAL: FOLK-TRADITIONAL is an alias for the ROCK-SOFT preset. It assumes that the recordings are of
relatively recent vintage and require relatively subtle processing.
If the recordings you play are inconsistent in texture and equalization, you may prefer the ROCK-SMOOTH preset.
GOLD: GOLD is loud and “hi-fi”-sounding while still respecting the limitations and basic flavor of the recordings
from the era of the 1950s through 1970s.
x For example, we do not attempt to exaggerate high frequency energy in the GOLD preset. The highs in
recordings of this era are often noisy, disorted, or have other technical problems that make them unpleasant
sounding when the processor over-equalizes them in an attempt to emulate the high frequency balance of
recently recorded material.
x GOLD OPEN: is least sensitive to source material and is appropriate for “oldies” from the earliest rock and roll
era (ca. 1954) to the late 1970s. This preset has no counterpart among the “8500-style” presets. It is a relaxed,
clean, easysounding preset that does not attempt to emulate the audio processing of radio stations back in
the day when this music is current.
x GOLD HEAVY: is appropriate for music from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s. It produces a denser sound than
GOLD OPEN with more of a “classic Top-40” processing flavor.
x GOLD HEAVY BASS: is appropriate for carefully produced music from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s. This
preset can increase the bass centered broadly around 60 Hz by as much as 6 dB, which provides “bass thump”
for material whose bass was originally weak. Because GOLD HEAVY BASS can amplify bass by a large amount, it
can also amplify rumble and AC line frequency hum (often from guitar amplifiers in the era before noise gating
was used routinely on instrument inputs when records were mixed). Stations using GOLD HEAVY BASS should
therefore make sure that their source material is cleaned up to be free from rumble and hum.
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