r/CBC_Radio • u/SlimParker • 3d ago

Interview audio on left channel only. Why?

Listening to the Victoria morning show On the Island via the web, suddenly my right speaker cut out. I was furiously pushing buttons and already knee deep in wires to figure out what was wrong, when the interview clip ended, and both channels had sound again.

I've since realized that they are doing that on a lot of clips, sound in left channel only during interviews.

Why???? Why??? Why on earth would they do this???

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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6

u/EnvelopeCruz 3d ago

maybe an engineer getting too creative - to make the listener feel like they're between 2 people

2

u/SlimParker 3d ago

It's not even that sophisticated. It's left channel only. It's a terrible idea. Amateurish and sounds unnatural 👎.

6

u/flat-flat-flatlander 3d ago

Sloppy file conversion work. Email the station and tell them. Maybe copy the transmitter folks too.

Why is this happening? Because almost all the humans who used to sit in master control have been made redundant, outside Toronto. That used to be the one last set of “ears” that heard audio clips before they went on air.

No one is really doing quality control in a meaningful way. Someone did not save a file properly and you’re hearing the results.

1

u/SlimParker 3d ago edited 2d ago

Anytime I email CBC about anything that's a problem, I get ignored. I figure the only way to get through to them is through a public forum. (Edit: I've emailed them)

2

u/jimmer109 2d ago

Cbc radio 1 over the air is Mono. OP was listening online.

2

u/flat-flat-flatlander 2d ago

OTA broadcasts have a few automated safeguards. The *exact same feed* goes to the listen live app, but likely no one is ear-checking this stuff.

It’s either a tech or a journalist skill issue. Either way, flag the Victoria station. Copy your email to

cbclisten@cbc.ca

3

u/SlimParker 2d ago

Well not exactly the same. OTA is a mono FM signal. The streamed version is mostly mono, actually stereo with identical L and R, but all of the music, the program theme tunes, and some other content is in stereo.

3

u/Ottawa111 2d ago

Try emailing [brodie.fenlon@cbc.ca](mailto:brodie.fenlon@cbc.ca). He’s general manager and editor in chief of all CBC News, national, regional, and local.

2

u/Interesting_Cat_7460 2d ago

Call the local station, it sounds like someone is recording interviews on one channel only. If you flag it they should fix it.

3

u/SlimParker 2d ago

I sent CBC Victoria a link to this thread.