I miss multiband processing. It sounds like a singleband compressor/limiter with only attack, release and treshold. I don't hear the quality of StereoTool or Breakaway processing to name a view, on this stream.
There is multiband band working on the Quasar stream, I can hear the treble/high end being compressed at times.
I do hope Quasar are successful in creating and sustaining an album music station. I have been listening to some presenter and recorded programs and the music format is similar to Caroline which is good news as there is certainly room for another competitor to Caroline (and Seagull). It will be interesting to listen when the station is finally up to speed with presenter programs.
On a personal note, I am pleased to see that there are some very good ex Caroline presenters who have joined Quasar. Caroline plays great music but there are some presenters and programs which are pretty dire and if Quasar can create and sustain a fresh vibe to their programs then Caroline may lose listeners and since they don’t have too many anyway, it can only be bad news for the somewhat seemingly complacent Caroline.
This thread is sorry reading all these posters singing the praises of a station that has been around for 5 minutes over a station that has been with us for 50 years and changed the shape of UK radio. I wonder if we will be celebrating 50 years of Quasar in 2064 somehow I doubt it very much. I doubt it will be here by this time next year.
I have been listening to Caroline since 1964 and am disgusted at the way the station is is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health.
If Quasar can create and sustain a fresh vibe to their programs then Caroline may lose listeners and since they don’t have too many anyway, it can only be bad news for the somewhat seemingly complacent Caroline.
There's 508 connected streams to Caroline at the moment, some with more than one listener. As people tune in and out all the time and don't listen 24 hours a day the audience is at least well into four figures. That's higher than I've seen them until recently, I would think they've gained listeners through all the 50th anniversary events the volunteers have been involved with.
Quasar has 19 connected streams. Problem for new internet stations with a music format is not IMO the presenters/music format it's that there's thousands of them and they've no marketing budget so unless they are tied in with/get publicity from specialist music magazines or similar most people don't know they exist.
The vast majority of Caroline's audience don't read radio anorak messageboards, Nor do radio listeners who might want something different to the AM/FM/DAB stations they listen to. They might in increasing numbers start using RadioPlayer and come across Caroline, one of the few, if not only, internet station on there.
This thread is sorry reading all these posters singing the praises of a station that has been around for 5 minutes over a station that has been with us for 50 years and changed the shape of UK radio. I wonder if we will be celebrating 50 years of Quasar in 2064 somehow I doubt it very much. I doubt it will be here by this time next year.
I have been listening to Caroline since 1964 and am disgusted at the way the station is is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health.
Get real!
These ex volunteer internet Caroline presenters have left f or a reason. They do it for nothing hence, "volunteer"!
They can do what they want and join or start a new station!
Offshore Caroline ceased transmissions in the early 90s - 1990/1.
I do hope Quasar are successful in creating and sustaining an album music station. I have been listening to some presenter and recorded programs and the music format is similar to Caroline which is good news as there is certainly room for another competitor to Caroline (and Seagull). It will be interesting to listen when the station is finally up to speed with presenter programs.
On a personal note, I am pleased to see that there are some very good ex Caroline presenters who have joined Quasar. Caroline plays great music but there are some presenters and programs which are pretty dire and if Quasar can create and sustain a fresh vibe to their programs then Caroline may lose listeners and since they don’t have too many anyway, it can only be bad news for the somewhat seemingly complacent Caroline.
Agree! I flip flop between them and Quasar. But Caroline is complacent and to a large extent just dines out on its name. There are a number of presenters on there that sound poor and there are very some good ones. It's great to have the choice now of switching over to Quasar and continue to enjoy great album music when a poor show is on Caroline. Don't get me wrong. I love Caroline BUT if there's a poor show why continue to suffer that particular programme? All peronal choice I know but I'm convinced that if Caroline played out a test tone 24/7 some people would still listen....because it's Caroline.
Sorry, you don't know what soundprocessing is about.
Well Inkblot does have a point though, the level of compression most stations on the higher fidelity platforms does detract from the music considerably, removing most of expression leaving a sound that is bland and fatiguing. I can understand why it is done on AM, to help the program cut through the static, but on FM and digital platforms surely only limiting is needed to prevent distortion?
Well Inkblot does have a point though, the level of compression most stations on the higher fidelity platforms does detract from the music considerably, removing most of expression leaving a sound that is bland and fatiguing. I can understand why it is done on AM, to help the program cut through the static, but on FM and digital platforms surely only limiting is needed to prevent distortion?
Limiting is not enough sufficient for streaming. To compare: Caroline sounds nice without pumping, the overall level sounds the same and that's good. The Optimod Caroline is using is well tweaked. Quasar use less compression at the moment and you hear that on softer tracks. They are softer, and louder tracks are too loud. B.t.w. processing limiting/compression is also needed for give the sound his own 'tone color'.
When is Quasar officially launched b.t.w.? I only hear so called 'launch preperation programs', I don't know what that means so I hear no progression or tweaking and testing. So why are they waiting for an official launch? If everything is ok, why waiting so long? Tomorrow the first of october, perfect day to get this show on the road!
This thread is sorry reading all these posters singing the praises of a station that has been around for 5 minutes over a station that has been with us for 50 years and changed the shape of UK radio. I wonder if we will be celebrating 50 years of Quasar in 2064 somehow I doubt it very much. I doubt it will be here by this time next year.
I have been listening to Caroline since 1964 and am disgusted at the way the station is is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health.
Amara, have real long hard think about what you are saying. 50 years, YES!!! 50 years and where is Caroline now in 2014?
In its glory years it had 20 million listeners YES!!! 20 million listeners. Now in 2014 it has a few hundred, perhaps a few thousand.
I have been a loyal listener to Caroline since the 60’s and I too am pretty disgusted with the way the station is being treated but I suspect for very different reasons to your good self.
Caroline has seen its audience decline by 20 million. That’s not my fault. Who’s fault is it? I’ve continued to listen for decades but in 2014 the Ross is silent and lifeless, she sits alone in the middle of the Blackwater and for what purpose and to who’s benefit. There is no AM (let alone FM or DAB).
One thing that I do agree with you about and that is as you said: “am disgusted at the way the station is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health”.
I wonder how Ronan feels about Caroline on her 50th anniversary.
Amara, have real long hard think about what you are saying. 50 years, YES!!! 50 years and where is Caroline now in 2014?
In its glory years it had 20 million listeners YES!!! 20 million listeners. Now in 2014 it has a few hundred, perhaps a few thousand.
I have been a loyal listener to Caroline since the 60’s and I too am pretty disgusted with the way the station is being treated but I suspect for very different reasons to your good self.
Caroline has seen its audience decline by 20 million. That’s not my fault. Who’s fault is it? I’ve continued to listen for decades but in 2014 the Ross is silent and lifeless, she sits alone in the middle of the Blackwater and for what purpose and to who’s benefit. There is no AM (let alone FM or DAB).
One thing that I do agree with you about and that is as you said: “am disgusted at the way the station is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health”.
I wonder how Ronan feels about Caroline on her 50th anniversary.
As its impossible for Caroline to still be an offshore station its not surprising that the listeners via the internet are in the hundreds rather than the millions.
Caroline should have been offered a broadcast licence for either AM or FM of a regional type many years ago but no government has ever seen fit to do so.
Like you I am not sure about the Ross being in the River Blackwater I had always thought that when she left Tilbury she would be moored somewhere with AC power supply and access for presenters & visitors.
Yes changes are long overdue to the stations output but jumping ship will not bring these about. Caroline has needed stronger management for many years sadly everyone has been left to do there own thing within a very loose format under a number of different so called programme controllers which is not good for getting listeners although it does have many more than other UK internet only stations.
Caroline needs better management and a business strategy for the future not deserting presenters setting up alternative album stations.
Although Radio Caroline is 50 years old, don't forget that for almost half that time she has not been an offshore radio station stuck miles out at sea outside of the law and it's staff having to hide from the public eye for the fear of prosecution.
The station has had nearly 23 years to develop itself into something a lot more accessible and successful than it is now.
Major backers should have been sought by now at least, instead of having to rely on listener donations and pathetic sounding sponsored programmes.
Although Radio Caroline is 50 years old, don't forget that for almost half that time she has not been an offshore radio station stuck miles out at sea outside of the law and it's staff having to hide from the public eye for the fear of prosecution.
The station has had nearly 23 years to develop itself into something a lot more accessible and successful than it is now.
Major backers should have been sought by now at least, instead of having to rely on listener donations and pathetic sounding sponsored programmes.
I see where you're coming from re major backers and yes the sponsored shows are awful. But had it gone down that route it's possible that one of the few big players in commercial radio would have gobbled it up by now and completely destroyed it's ethos.
Although Radio Caroline is 50 years old, don't forget that for almost half that time she has not been an offshore radio station stuck miles out at sea outside of the law and it's staff having to hide from the public eye for the fear of prosecution.
The station has had nearly 23 years to develop itself into something a lot more accessible and successful than it is now.
Major backers should have been sought by now at least, instead of having to rely on listener donations and pathetic sounding sponsored programmes.
The sponsored programmes you often mention are enjoyed by many, the Rock N Roll programme is paid for by its listeners themselves, so your comments are the opinion of one person.
You are right about the sacrifices made by many when it was stuck out at sea for 23 years, with two breaks, after the MOA. Radio Caroline then had an audience of zero when it came into Dover thanks to British and Dutch Government action, particularly from Euroseige onwards. Nor did Caroline ever have an audience of 20/25 million, a statistical fallacy that keeps being repeated here, there and everywhere. http://www.anoraknation.com/discussion/messages/3006604
I have no idea where these major backers are to be found, nor are advertisers are not interested in independent stations on the internet, Caroline does have four which is more than most. People are also perfectly entitled to donate money, their time to maintain the Ross Revenge, their time week after week to present programmes and do all the other jobs needed to keep the station on the air without taking account of advice offered on the internet by a small number of people just as they have done for years.
The thread is about Quasar, many supporters will remember that Cliff Osborne wrote in Horizon about the nature of advice to Radio Caroline given on the internet, some of which he was not that complimentary about.
I see where you're coming from re major backers and yes the sponsored shows are awful. But had it gone down that route it's possible that one of the few big players in commercial radio would have gobbled it up by now and completely destroyed it's ethos.
I see where you're coming from re major backers and yes the sponsored shows are awful. But had it gone down that route it's possible that one of the few big players in commercial radio would have gobbled it up by now and completely destroyed it's ethos.
I doubt the Caroline management would allow to happen.
Radio Jackie was once a small pirate station and has had a London FM licence for quite a few years now. Caroline has had 23 years to make progress in that direction, instead it is just sitting on the internet sounding sorry for itself.
I doubt the Caroline management would allow to happen.
Radio Jackie was once a small pirate station and has had a London FM licence for quite a few years now. Caroline has had 23 years to make progress in that direction, instead it is just sitting on the internet sounding sorry for itself.
Financial reality shows us that it more than likely would have happened. Nor is there any evidence that Ronan wanted a terrestrial UK licence in the post Dover period, the somewhat convoluted history of which people tend to forget.
Radio Jackie has a small audience in one particular area of SW London so I've no idea what point you are trying to make.
Radio Caroline doesn't sound sorry for itself to me or thousands of others who enjoy the shows, music, buy things from the webshop and if they have any concerns/suggestions write using their real name to the station directly rather than constantly posts using pseudonyms on messageboards.
MikeBr. Are you able to back up your claim that Radio Caroline has thousands of listeners ?
I did so at 1131 today by quoting actual connected streams, which have increased recently, and have quoted streaming hours published in Horizon by Cliff Osborne and by Peter Moore on the messageboard he uses, which are the best statistic to take as everyone realises no-one listens for 24 hours a day, many times on this forum.
The current sponsored programme, recently criticised and run by someone well respected by rock n roll enthusiasts, who are ill served by the mainstream stations, has an audience in excess of 373, the number of connected streams. They don't think it sounds awful or pathetic. Dell has broadcast since 1996, Geoff Barker had him on his shown to celebrate Caroline's 50th birthday and Bernie Keith is always happy to give the show a plug.
not taking sides....holds hands up in defence...but i'm sure Radio Jackie has more listeners than Caroline. Strange, when Caroline used to be Nationwide, and Jackie used to cover maybe a 20 mile radius in SW London.......
Comments
Nothing special is it. If it didn't have ex Caroline people nobody would give it a second look. I'll stick with Caroline.
Each to their own. :)I rather like it.
There is multiband band working on the Quasar stream, I can hear the treble/high end being compressed at times.
But by far enough. It's too clean. You hear that with softer parts in music. Less compression to put it on one level.
Er, what? Music's meant to have more than one level.
On a personal note, I am pleased to see that there are some very good ex Caroline presenters who have joined Quasar. Caroline plays great music but there are some presenters and programs which are pretty dire and if Quasar can create and sustain a fresh vibe to their programs then Caroline may lose listeners and since they don’t have too many anyway, it can only be bad news for the somewhat seemingly complacent Caroline.
I have been listening to Caroline since 1964 and am disgusted at the way the station is is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health.
There's 508 connected streams to Caroline at the moment, some with more than one listener. As people tune in and out all the time and don't listen 24 hours a day the audience is at least well into four figures. That's higher than I've seen them until recently, I would think they've gained listeners through all the 50th anniversary events the volunteers have been involved with.
Quasar has 19 connected streams. Problem for new internet stations with a music format is not IMO the presenters/music format it's that there's thousands of them and they've no marketing budget so unless they are tied in with/get publicity from specialist music magazines or similar most people don't know they exist.
The vast majority of Caroline's audience don't read radio anorak messageboards, Nor do radio listeners who might want something different to the AM/FM/DAB stations they listen to. They might in increasing numbers start using RadioPlayer and come across Caroline, one of the few, if not only, internet station on there.
Get real!
These ex volunteer internet Caroline presenters have left f or a reason. They do it for nothing hence, "volunteer"!
They can do what they want and join or start a new station!
Offshore Caroline ceased transmissions in the early 90s - 1990/1.
Sorry, you don't know what soundprocessing is about.
Agree! I flip flop between them and Quasar. But Caroline is complacent and to a large extent just dines out on its name. There are a number of presenters on there that sound poor and there are very some good ones. It's great to have the choice now of switching over to Quasar and continue to enjoy great album music when a poor show is on Caroline. Don't get me wrong. I love Caroline BUT if there's a poor show why continue to suffer that particular programme? All peronal choice I know but I'm convinced that if Caroline played out a test tone 24/7 some people would still listen....because it's Caroline.
Well Inkblot does have a point though, the level of compression most stations on the higher fidelity platforms does detract from the music considerably, removing most of expression leaving a sound that is bland and fatiguing. I can understand why it is done on AM, to help the program cut through the static, but on FM and digital platforms surely only limiting is needed to prevent distortion?
Limiting is not enough sufficient for streaming. To compare: Caroline sounds nice without pumping, the overall level sounds the same and that's good. The Optimod Caroline is using is well tweaked. Quasar use less compression at the moment and you hear that on softer tracks. They are softer, and louder tracks are too loud. B.t.w. processing limiting/compression is also needed for give the sound his own 'tone color'.
Amara, have real long hard think about what you are saying. 50 years, YES!!! 50 years and where is Caroline now in 2014?
In its glory years it had 20 million listeners YES!!! 20 million listeners. Now in 2014 it has a few hundred, perhaps a few thousand.
I have been a loyal listener to Caroline since the 60’s and I too am pretty disgusted with the way the station is being treated but I suspect for very different reasons to your good self.
Caroline has seen its audience decline by 20 million. That’s not my fault. Who’s fault is it? I’ve continued to listen for decades but in 2014 the Ross is silent and lifeless, she sits alone in the middle of the Blackwater and for what purpose and to who’s benefit. There is no AM (let alone FM or DAB).
One thing that I do agree with you about and that is as you said: “am disgusted at the way the station is being treated in its 50th year a time in which its founder is sadly in increasingly bad health”.
I wonder how Ronan feels about Caroline on her 50th anniversary.
As its impossible for Caroline to still be an offshore station its not surprising that the listeners via the internet are in the hundreds rather than the millions.
Caroline should have been offered a broadcast licence for either AM or FM of a regional type many years ago but no government has ever seen fit to do so.
Like you I am not sure about the Ross being in the River Blackwater I had always thought that when she left Tilbury she would be moored somewhere with AC power supply and access for presenters & visitors.
Yes changes are long overdue to the stations output but jumping ship will not bring these about. Caroline has needed stronger management for many years sadly everyone has been left to do there own thing within a very loose format under a number of different so called programme controllers which is not good for getting listeners although it does have many more than other UK internet only stations.
Caroline needs better management and a business strategy for the future not deserting presenters setting up alternative album stations.
The station has had nearly 23 years to develop itself into something a lot more accessible and successful than it is now.
Major backers should have been sought by now at least, instead of having to rely on listener donations and pathetic sounding sponsored programmes.
I see where you're coming from re major backers and yes the sponsored shows are awful. But had it gone down that route it's possible that one of the few big players in commercial radio would have gobbled it up by now and completely destroyed it's ethos.
The sponsored programmes you often mention are enjoyed by many, the Rock N Roll programme is paid for by its listeners themselves, so your comments are the opinion of one person.
You are right about the sacrifices made by many when it was stuck out at sea for 23 years, with two breaks, after the MOA. Radio Caroline then had an audience of zero when it came into Dover thanks to British and Dutch Government action, particularly from Euroseige onwards. Nor did Caroline ever have an audience of 20/25 million, a statistical fallacy that keeps being repeated here, there and everywhere.
http://www.anoraknation.com/discussion/messages/3006604
I have no idea where these major backers are to be found, nor are advertisers are not interested in independent stations on the internet, Caroline does have four which is more than most. People are also perfectly entitled to donate money, their time to maintain the Ross Revenge, their time week after week to present programmes and do all the other jobs needed to keep the station on the air without taking account of advice offered on the internet by a small number of people just as they have done for years.
The thread is about Quasar, many supporters will remember that Cliff Osborne wrote in Horizon about the nature of advice to Radio Caroline given on the internet, some of which he was not that complimentary about.
Which is what happened to Veronica.
I doubt the Caroline management would allow to happen.
Radio Jackie was once a small pirate station and has had a London FM licence for quite a few years now. Caroline has had 23 years to make progress in that direction, instead it is just sitting on the internet sounding sorry for itself.
Financial reality shows us that it more than likely would have happened. Nor is there any evidence that Ronan wanted a terrestrial UK licence in the post Dover period, the somewhat convoluted history of which people tend to forget.
Radio Jackie has a small audience in one particular area of SW London so I've no idea what point you are trying to make.
Radio Caroline doesn't sound sorry for itself to me or thousands of others who enjoy the shows, music, buy things from the webshop and if they have any concerns/suggestions write using their real name to the station directly rather than constantly posts using pseudonyms on messageboards.
I did so at 1131 today by quoting actual connected streams, which have increased recently, and have quoted streaming hours published in Horizon by Cliff Osborne and by Peter Moore on the messageboard he uses, which are the best statistic to take as everyone realises no-one listens for 24 hours a day, many times on this forum.
The current sponsored programme, recently criticised and run by someone well respected by rock n roll enthusiasts, who are ill served by the mainstream stations, has an audience in excess of 373, the number of connected streams. They don't think it sounds awful or pathetic. Dell has broadcast since 1996, Geoff Barker had him on his shown to celebrate Caroline's 50th birthday and Bernie Keith is always happy to give the show a plug.