My IC-7300 TX Audio Setup

The IC-7300 has very good transmit audio out of the box, with the stock microphone. With a little tailoring to your voice tone, it can give excellent results. It seems though, I’m never happy with my transmit audio settings. Even though I am told I have a face for radio, maybe I’ve just not got a voice for radio?

I use a Behringer XM8500 microphone, which is then passed through a UR6QW 8-band EQ, noise gate, and compressor, before finally being delivered to the front microphone connector on the IC-7300. The only modification I did was to place a 10µF/16V electrolytic capacitor in line with the 3.5mm audio jack inside the UR6QW processor to remove any electret bias voltage from the dynamic microphone.

In the case that anyone does actually like what they hear on the air from me – here follows my transmit audio setup and settings.

Click to enlarge.

These settings don’t cause any issues when using a linear amplifier, provided it’s driven an appropriate level. My ALC is connected to the amplifier though, just in case, via an ARB-704.

You can hear the above settings in action in this audio file recorded by Peter, AG5DB on his IC-7300. I was talking with EA8OB in the Canary Islands.

I think that these settings are a good compromise between a ragchew audio and a DX audio. There is always room for further adjustment in the tone controls on the processor and in the IC-7300, but for now, I think I’ll stick with this.

I use a couple of microphone pop shields. Probably overkill, but I really want to avoid plosive sounds.

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AD5GG

AD5GG works in the real world as an RF design engineer. Occasionally, he posts articles on this very site. Sometimes they're even worth reading. Please feel free to comment on posts using the comment system at the end of each post, and use the discussion forum.

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5 years ago

[…] AD5GG, Gordon Hudson, and his partner in crime, Amy Sue – KG5PUF, are 2 of the 3 people in the World who hold an Amateur Radio License AND live on “Peter Pan Street” (the other one living in Tennessee).  Gordon blogs from time to time on things of interest to him, and honestly, I’ve never read one of his posts that I didn’t learn something! His latest post talks about his transmit audio setup for his IC-7300. You’d probably learn something here too! https://www.ad5gg.com/2018/04/10/my-ic-7300-tx-audio-setup/ […]

Ken Kayser
Ken Kayser
5 years ago

Hi Gordon. Great post as well as your others on the 7300 and audio. I am using the Behringer XM8500 microphone into my 7300 as well but I am going directly to the radio mic connector (through a blocking cap of course). I have my mic gain set at 75% and run between 7 and 10 on the compression. I also have an Ameritron amp (811h) which I usually run at around 500 watts. I get really excellent (unsolicited) audio reports but am interested in seeing if I can push it a bit. I am looking at another route though. Rather than adding external hardware, I am experimenting with digital audio processing. There are many PC programs that allow an incredible amount of processing – more than hams could every use). With the 7300, the output of the PC based processing can be fed directly to the radio’s sound card with no additional connections other than the usb CAT connection. I was wondering if you have looked into this at all? Thanks for the articles and keep them coming.,

AL
AL
5 years ago

I have the same mic, Behringer XM8500 and the same receiver, Icom-7300, with an Inrad M-I cable w/ capacitor, and I can not get it to work? I plugged back in the Icom mic to make sure I did not fry anything and the Icom mic works fine. I have to scream in the mike to get any sensitivity, or response, when trying to record anything. Maybe I have a defective cord? Any help would be helpful. Thanks & 73.

Rick
Rick
1 year ago

hi.just got the e5. would like to know if you have any settings for 11 meters. running a stryker sr 655. thanks in advance.

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