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From: trudel@topaz.ARPA (Jonathan D.)
Newsgroups: net.audio,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Turntable Controversy
Message-ID: <2714@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 14-Jul-85 17:37:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.2714
Posted: Sun Jul 14 17:37:31 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Jul-85 05:38:17 EDT
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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Xref: watmath net.audio:5296 net.consumers:2622

>>Radio stations use direct-drive turntables because they can be "cued" better
>>A radio station DJ needs to be able to accomplish very tight timing. Dead
>>air is bad. So the DJ puts the needle on the turntable, manually spins the
>>platter until the song begins, then backs off the platter...
>>	...
>> In general, radio stations do not care very much about the audio quality
>> of their turntables.

>I heard one of the local DJs mention that all their music was really on
>cartridges, no "Discs" at all.  How common is this becomming?


I can tell you from experience that this is NOT becomming common.  First of 
all, cartridges are a continuous loop of audio tape that can only hold 
about 5-10 minutes of music material.  I used to work at several radio 
stations, and the use of cartridges was only for commercials, public service
announcements and also for frequently played songs.  In general, these carts
wear down after repeated use, physically, and audially (ie their sound
quality dropped).  In their defense, let me say that I did like think their
convenience was a big plus (it was ready-to-play once you plugged it in).  I
think at any radio station, there is a balance between carts and other
material (CDs, records, and regular tapes), and the scales are tipped in
favor to non-cartridge material.
-- 

					   Jonathan D. Trudel
					arpa:trudel@ru-blue.arpa
	 			uucp:{seismo,allegra,ihnp4}!topaz!trudel
		   	    "You can't fight in here, this is the WAR ROOM!"