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.
[…] 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/ […]
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.,
Hello Ken. Apologies for the delay in response.
I think these XM8500’s are a steal for the price. I have considered bypassing my outboard EQ and just running it direct like you have to see how that performs, but I haven’t had a lot of time to play with things lately. Work is a bit crazy.
As far as the computer thing goes – that’s a great idea. Real-time EQ, VST plugins, and the like make the very thing you’re talking about possible. It means having a computer running during your QSO’s but at the same time, the possibilities are almost limitless when it comes to chaining effects, EQ’s, compressors, etc.
I haven’t looked into this at all, but you’ve got me thinking now!
Thank you for your kind words and I am happy you like the articles!
73, from AD5GG
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.
Hi Al,
I found this cable on DX Engineering…. https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/inr-m-i is that the part you’re using?
There is no capacitor mentioned in the cable, so I’m assuming you added your own.
I doubt whether the cable is defective, but you should be able to test that easily with a multimeter.
The IC-7300 hand mike is an electret mike, and so it’s amplified inside the mike by default. The XM8500 is not amplified, and so the level from the XM8500 will be much lower than the hand mic, requiring adjustment to your mic gain and compression settings.
Did you read Ken’s comment above, where he is using the XM8500 going direct into his IC-7300? He is running his mic gain and compression pretty high, he said: “I have my mic gain set at 75% and run between 7 and 10 on the compression.”
Good luck!
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.
Hey Rick! I like those Strykers! I’ll get one someday. That’s where I started on the radio – on the CB, then on “11 meters” sideband talking to Europe and the US from the UK. Happy times!
Unfortunately I don’t have any settings good to go for CB’s though. I’d like to think that one day I will though. Whenever I can get my hands on a Stryker!
Cheers and 73!