Old-Timey Radio Filter at DVinfo.net

C. Byrne · November 8th, 2006, 10:32 AM

Does anyone have any suggestions for a cackle/crackley old-timey radio filter for FCP 4.5? I'm currently working on a soundscape for a theatrical production and they want their music to sound like it's coming from an old radio. My budget is very small (under $30). Or even if its a fliter in FCP I can adjust to get the same results. Any thoughts?

Greg Boston · November 8th, 2006, 10:48 AM

The old timey radio filter would be amplitude modulation and have a maximum frequency of 9 khz. The original channel spacing on the AM broadcast band was every 10khz with a 1 khz guard band.

So, the first thing you need to apply to your audio is a low pass filter with a 9khz upper cut-off. Next thing you'll need are the random pops and static crashes. Best bet there if you don't already have some of that is to take an AM radio set to an unused channel, preferably at night, and record as much dead air as you can.

A lesser used artifact of weak AM reception is phase shifting. A long slow phase shift can help sell it as well.

There is a plug-in from a company called Isotope called Vinyl that will introduce various pops, scratch, and dust effects from turntables. It can help, but it won't replicate the tell tale static crashes (like you get from lightning and other atmospheric disturbances).

Good luck...

-gb-

C. Byrne · November 8th, 2006, 11:43 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! I used Izotope's vinyl plug-in and it did the trick (especially since it was free!). Thanks

November 8th, 2006, 10:32 AM	#1
C. Byrne Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 65	Old-Timey Radio Filter Does anyone have any suggestions for a cackle/crackley old-timey radio filter for FCP 4.5? I'm currently working on a soundscape for a theatrical production and they want their music to sound like it's coming from an old radio. My budget is very small (under $30). Or even if its a fliter in FCP I can adjust to get the same results. Any thoughts? __________________ www.axiomadvertising.com

November 8th, 2006, 11:43 AM	#3
C. Byrne Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 65	Thanks for the suggestions! I used Izotope's vinyl plug-in and it did the trick (especially since it was free!). Thanks __________________ www.axiomadvertising.com

November 8th, 2006, 10:48 AM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	The old timey radio filter would be amplitude modulation and have a maximum frequency of 9 khz. The original channel spacing on the AM broadcast band was every 10khz with a 1 khz guard band. So, the first thing you need to apply to your audio is a low pass filter with a 9khz upper cut-off. Next thing you'll need are the random pops and static crashes. Best bet there if you don't already have some of that is to take an AM radio set to an unused channel, preferably at night, and record as much dead air as you can. A lesser used artifact of weak AM reception is phase shifting. A long slow phase shift can help sell it as well. There is a plug-in from a company called Isotope called Vinyl that will introduce various pops, scratch, and dust effects from turntables. It can help, but it won't replicate the tell tale static crashes (like you get from lightning and other atmospheric disturbances). Good luck... -gb-