Prime on freeview HD sounds like an old stretched cassette tape

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#746648 18-Jan-2013 08:35

Taugee: Prime responded to my email saying I should talk to Freeview. Freeview responded saying they didn't deal with equipment issues.

That's standard issue right there. Read the questions to freeview threads and you'll see they don't really know what they are. They're an advertising front really from what I can tell. Any specifics and they say talk to the broadcasters, and they don't seem to care that their logo is on the front of the equipment. Equipment designed to their specs and approved by them...

I've heard the Prime sound and it's ridiculous. Something is clearly not configured correctly there.

tonyhughes

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#746653 18-Jan-2013 08:50

We have a cassette deck in the house that gets used weekly (old mix tapes and old album tapes), and the original cassette deck in the "Z" (83 Datsun Fairlady Targa 5 speed) which has got Def Leppard in it at the moment.

Love the 'tape' sound in those.

Have noticed it on Prime, and thought I was going crazy. I don't like it on Prime. It's not nostalgic, its just annoying.

robjg63

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#746693 18-Jan-2013 09:53

Have found their contact details on their website and reported the issue.
Should have done that earlier I guess - wanted to know it wasnt just me though!

Its got to the point where my wife and I laugh at it now.....

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Jaxson

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#746765 18-Jan-2013 11:45

tonyhughes: the "Z" (83 Datsun Fairlady Targa 5 speed)

Nice!

tonyhughes: Def Leppard in it at the moment.

Debatable, but in keeping with the period i guess.

kiwirock

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#746776 18-Jan-2013 12:04

From what you describe, it sounds very close to a sample rate issue somewhere. IE: feeding 32KHz media in to 48KHz encoders or something similar. The higher sample rate will make the pitch sound faster/playback quicker.

Unless they have a digital beta player or something crook they are using. At least it's changing the pitch and staying locked with the video, if it was sub-pro equipment it would end with really bad un-locked lip syncing.

I've noticed a few odd things lately with Sky stuff. At my daughter's place she watches Nick' and Disney. One of them half the local injected content such as music clips and promo's has been out of phase for a while. Sounds terrible and tiny, and I wouldn't imagine a lot of sound engineers at TV studios would notice in the transfer rooms if they've got new guys doing the tedious jobs. Somewhere in a studio hot/cold balanced lines have been reversed only on one channel, then when combined through a mono system somewhere... you get karaoke mode music (all mono content almost gone from nulling or common mode rejection).

But it could be many things. It's NZ and HD. I watch SD via satellite for that reason, sure older tech, but never had a prob with it.

kiwirock

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#746779 18-Jan-2013 12:16

Only crappy tapes !

Good tapes, recorded on a good machine and well looked after will probably out-last you.

I have numerous 30yo cassettes that sound as good as the day I made them.

That's really good going, I'm down to a few left which are metal that have lasted that long. Normally they start getting white fungus on them after 10 years and stretch after 4-5 depending on play.

I miss the old days of cleaning, adjusting azimuth weekly (usually by sliding off tape cover to reach adjustment screw) on the heads and replacing them before getting a lip on them. Then the tapes will survive until they get fungus.

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PassiveFever81

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#747118 18-Jan-2013 20:26

Watching American Idol on prime Prime with Freeview HD, every minute or so it's like there's a split second hickup with the sound, fine on all other channels, hmm. Also prime really needs to be in HD, looks like crap on my Full HD Plasma :P

PimpMyMagic

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#747166 18-Jan-2013 22:02

Does anyone know if Prime is available in HD on Sky?

robjg63

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#747384 19-Jan-2013 15:32

Jaxson:
Taugee: Prime responded to my email saying I should talk to Freeview. Freeview responded saying they didn't deal with equipment issues.

That's standard issue right there. Read the questions to freeview threads and you'll see they don't really know what they are. They're an advertising front really from what I can tell. Any specifics and they say talk to the broadcasters, and they don't seem to care that their logo is on the front of the equipment. Equipment designed to their specs and approved by them...

I've heard the Prime sound and it's ridiculous. Something is clearly not configured correctly there.

Reported the issue via the primetv website yesterday and got exactly the response above today - its a freeview problem - talk to them.

Un-freakin-believable!
'If' the problem lies with Freeview then you would think Sky would follow the issue up as 'Sky's' program is not being delivered properly to the viewer!
If I paid someone to host my website (for example) and there was a problem that users were experiencing them I would not be telling users to talk to my website host. I would be talking to them.

IDIOTS!!!!

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Deev8

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#747476 19-Jan-2013 18:19

robjg63: Reported the issue via the primetv website yesterday and got exactly the response above today - its a freeview problem - talk to them. IDIOTS!!!!

They aren't idiots, they just don't don't care too much that some viewers have this problem.

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#749521 23-Jan-2013 13:10

Just spoke to James at Kordia about the poor quality music soundtracks on Prime TV. He seems to think the problem is probably localised in Auckland. James asked me where I am receiving my transmission from and I told him it is Sky Tower via UHF (terrestrial). Anyone else getting their transmission from Sky Tower? He said Prime TV is aware of the problem and was doing something yesterday. I will have a look at Prime tonight and see if there is any change.

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tonyhughes

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#749525 23-Jan-2013 13:17

Hawkes Bay here (DVB-T Mt Erin).

Really noticeable especially on titles of every episode of Antiques Roadshow (one from my extensive collection of secret shames).

Satch

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#749551 23-Jan-2013 14:00

tonyhughes: Hawkes Bay here (DVB-T Mt Erin).

Really noticeable especially on titles of every episode of Antiques Roadshow (one from my extensive collection of secret shames).

Wouldn't it be cool if they did a highlights show of the last 30 seconds of each appraisal just showing the expert name the value and the reaction from the owner?

Oh and I experience the Prime warbling issue too (located in Auckland).

Virgo

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#750108 24-Jan-2013 12:19

I was only able to watch Prime TV for a short time last night, but the music soundtrack sounded OK to me. The real test will be Antiques Roadshow this Saturday night...

mm1352000

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#750176 24-Jan-2013 13:22

Does it for me too. Manawatu, Wharite.

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