Why songs sound different on some TWC SD feeds compared to others

[Zach]

I am making a series of videos of select songs previously used on TWC that sound different on other peoples' feeds.

Here's the video:

Music Differences on TWC - Part One

Tell me what you think about the idea. Feedback is important to me. If no one likes it, I'll remove the videos.

[Localonthe8s]

Good tutorial.

[phw115wvwx]

It sounds like there is more treble sound when the right-side cable is unplugged compared to the left.

[wxntrafficfan]

I never understood why it sounds different between headends like that, thanks for clearing it up a little. I find it interesting that music sounds different only between 22840 and 22842.

[TWCToday]

Of course there are many other reasons for audio differences:

Unlike other channels the image you see of an Intellistar goes through quite a bit of hardware.

Satellite -> Satellite Receiver -> VideoCypher II -> WeatherSTAR -> Modulator -> Out to your home

Thats a lot of hardware and a lot of cables. All of that is made by different companies and varies in age. Certainly possible for differences in audio (and video)  I just find it hard to believe a cable company would do something like leave a cable unplugged

[Zach]

Before you posted that, I asked in a thread at TWCC to the STAR Team to see if there was a fix, and now after reading your post I guess there isn't.

EDIT: Like I said in the video, maybe the cable company doesn't realize that TWC SD regularly broadcasts in stereo now unlike in the past when it was mono.

[TWCToday]

Before you posted that, I asked in a thread at TWCC to the STAR Team to see if there was a fix, and now after reading your post I guess there isn't.

Well even if there is a problem its out of their control. The signal each cable company gets from TWC is the same, it would be a problem at a local headend if anything. Its possible there is a problem but you are unlikely to see a fix.

[Zach]

I have noticed some cable providers do broadcast their SD signals in stereo though.

Buckeye Cablesystem of Toledo, OH

Local Across the 48s #4 - 6/25/09 - 7:57PM

Verizon FiOS of Richmond, VA

REUPLOADED: Wake Up with Al Playlist 3

Verizon FiOS of Philadelphia, PA

IntelliSTAR on Verizon FiOS Philadelphia- Aug 28 3 of 3

[Zach]

The proper way this song should sound.

"Eminence Front" by The Who - January/February 2010 (The Proper Way the Song Should Sound!!!)

[wxntrafficfan]

The proper way this song should sound.

"Eminence Front" by The Who - January/February 2010 (The Proper Way the Song Should Sound!!!)

Wow, it definitely does not sound like that on 22840, but it does on the clip that a user in Davison uploaded... leading me to wonder how it sounds on 22842. I'll get a clip tomorrow evening.

[Zach]

The proper way this song should sound.

"Eminence Front" by The Who - January/February 2010 (The Proper Way the Song Should Sound!!!)

Wow, it definitely does not sound like that on 22840, but it does on the clip that a user in Davison uploaded... leading me to wonder how it sounds on 22842. I'll get a clip tomorrow evening.

To put it this way: It's actually both feeds combined.

[Mike M]

Some headends (mine included) broadcast only the left audio, while others (actually most) broadcast the right audio on the SD feed. Since intellistars can only broadcast in mono, it has to be one side or the other, or both sides in mono. Not sure why headends didn't just decide to broadcast TWC SD in mono. Would make the songs sound a heck of a lot better.

[Zach]

To basically summarize things, Mike, you've got it mixed up. More headends broadcast the left side compared to the right side.

What the STAR Team thinks is going on is that headends are pulling their audio from the TWC HD feed and not the SD feed.

[TWCToday]

What the STAR Team thinks is going on is that headends are pulling their audio from the TWC HD feed and not the SD feed.

Yes thats possible

[wxntrafficfan]

Here's a great example of your idea, Zach:

Intellistars 22840 and 22842- 10/31/09 LAT48's

Notice how in the E.L. recording, the portion of the song that airs during the sat/rad sounds much more pronounced and feminine than that same portion of the song sounds on 22840? Also note how the low piano notes between the sat/rad and the text based sound more connected on 22842 than that same portion sounds on 22840.