You may have noticed that most radio stations sound brighter and maintain a more consistent volume compared to original CD recordings. There are fewer dips in volume, and the overall sound feels more lively. This is the result of sound processing, a technique used to fine-tune audio so it sounds good even on small speakers.
But it’s not just about making it work on compact devices. On high-quality speakers, processed audio often sounds even fresher and clearer than the original. Another important reason is consistency. Most stations aim for a steady volume so listeners don’t need to keep adjusting their radios.
Sound processing, also known as signal processing, has been around since the early 1950s. In the United States, networks like CBS and NBC began using it on AM stations to reduce signal noise and improve audio quality. Without it, broadcasts could become too loud and distorted. This led to the development of limiting and compression.
Today, advanced processing can be done entirely with software. At Radio Crescendo, we use Stereo Tool, a powerful application that runs our sound through more than ten processing stages. We’ve been using it for years, but finding the right settings took a lot of work. Not every computer sounds the same, and not every music genre needs the same treatment. A classical music station requires a very different setup than a pop station like Radio Crescendo.
In 2023, after lots of testing and fine-tuning, we launched a brand new preset. It’s the best one we’ve ever had. We believe the audio quality at Radio Crescendo is now better than that of some major national and international stations. The goal was to enhance the sound while respecting the original intentions of the artists and producers.
Listen for yourself and enjoy the greatest music of all time in outstanding audio quality.
