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From: dale@wucs.UUCP (Dale Frye)
Newsgroups: net.audio,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Turntable Controversy (and Radio stations)
Message-ID: <1038@wucs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 15:20:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: wucs.1038
Posted: Tue Jul 16 15:20:44 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Jul-85 05:06:08 EDT
References: <496@leadsv.UUCP> <430@enmasse.UUCP> <9281@Glacier.ARPA> <2714@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: Washington U. in St. Louis, CS Dept.
Lines: 41
Xref: watmath net.audio:5313 net.consumers:2642

In article <2714@topaz.ARPA>, trudel@topaz.ARPA (Jonathan D.) writes:
> >>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

When I worked at WREK (Ga. Tech) we used broadcast carts for the new regular
stuff (usually about 100-150 songs). We also had two 15" Sculleys and a 10 1/2"
Revox for the oldies with 30 tapes per machine. It took about 3-4 weeks
to go through our entire play list. The turntables were used on the air
for the request show on Friday nights but mostly for recording and previewing.
I forget what brand they were but I'm pretty certain they were direct drive.
I do know that they wore out in 4-5 years (maybe less).

Dale Frye @ Washington University in St. Louis

P.S. To any WREK staffers: Happy 20th (well almost) and say 'HELLO' to 'Rat'
for me. It's been ten years since I slept on the couch. I don't miss it
but I do miss George P. and his music.