Classic FM or BBC Radio 3?

[Altrincham]

I ask this question because for years in the car I have listened to Radio 3, as its output has been rather eclectic (classics as well as world music) and has on the whole been rather soothing to listen to.

I'm no expert but I do like the less frenetic pace of classical music, but just of late Radio 3 has somehow had more talking than music at the times that I have tuned in, and when music is played there's been a heavy emphasis on requiem-type music. (Maybe it's always been like that).

Just recently I have found myself tuning more often in to Classic FM, despite not being a fan of commercial stations, but the adverts do appear to be kept to a minimum, and the classical pieces played are mostly quite upbeat.

Is there anyone on here who listens to either station? If so, what's your preference?

 

[TheEdge]

I used to listen to Classic FM quite a lot, I always found it a more pleasant listen than Radio 3, mainly as Classic FM seems to play a lot more full orchestral stuff which I prefer. Also Classic FM at the Movies (which is good anyway) occasionally does music from games, as there is some amazing classical style music in games that tends to get ignored in a bit of a snobby kind of way, for example

[youtube]z0SAuvSghHo[/youtube]

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I listen to Radio 3 more often, but sometimes I switch over to Classic FM when I don't want to subject myself to what's on offer on Radio 3.
There's little doubt that Classic FM is less demanding and tends to favour easy listening if not actually lollipop repertoire. Sooner or later Classic FM begins to irritate because of the rather condescending introductions or the adverts.
Not sure what you mean by "Requiem type" music but there are certainly periods when a studio guest in Radio 3 is talking at length and I could do with some music instead.

 

[Altrincham]

I used to listen to Classic FM quite a lot, I always found it a more pleasant listen than Radio 3, mainly as Classic FM seems to play a lot more full orchestral stuff which I prefer. Also Classic FM at the Movies (which is good anyway) occasionally does music from games, as there is some amazing classical style music in games that tends to get ignored in a bit of a snobby kind of way, for example

[youtube]z0SAuvSghHo[/youtube]

Yes, I much prefer the full orchestral stuff. You're absolutely right about the film/games music, and that's a fabulous example right there.

 

[Altrincham]

I listen to Radio 3 more often, but sometimes I switch over to Classic FM when I don't want to subject myself to what's on offer on Radio 3.
There's little doubt that Classic FM is less demanding and tends to favour easy listening if not actually lollipop repertoire. Sooner or later Classic FM begins to irritate because of the rather condescending introductions or the adverts.
Not sure what you mean by "Requiem type" music but there are certainly periods when a studio guest in Radio 3 is talking at length and I could do with some music instead.

By "requiem" I mean the slow, complex and non-orchestral pieces which can be quite hard-going at times. I dont mind them but it seems to be that whenever I put Radio 3 on there's far less orchestral pieces than I prefer. Probably just me.

Either way, if there's too much yakking on one of them then I'll turn over and listen to the other. But I've found myself keeping Classic FM on for much longer these days.

 

[507021]

I prefer Classic FM out of the two, although I don't listen to it very much. It depends what mood I'm in at the time.

 

[pdq]

Never CFM. I just cringe all the time I hear it. Quite apart from their musical choices, on a technical level they use far too much compression, so when a loud climax comes up it sounds throttled because there's no dynamic range left. And musically and aesthetically, they forget that the silence after a piece of slow music is just as much a part of the performance as the notes themselves and crash in with speech or adverts.

Try In Tune on R3 'drivetime'. A witty presenter and loads of live music and interesting interviews. Of course no one's going to like everything that's played, but the eclectic mix from R3 is more likely to spark an interest in something new than the very limited playlist of CFM.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Never CFM. I just cringe all the time I hear it. Quite apart from their musical choices, on a technical level they use far too much compression, so when a loud climax comes up it sounds throttled because there's no dynamic range left. And musically and aesthetically, they forget that the silence after a piece of slow music is just as much a part of the performance as the notes themselves and crash in with speech or adverts.

Funny you should say that - this afternoon while driving I switched on Classic FM and caught the start 2nd movement of Haydn symphony 100 ('Military'). When the bass drum came in it triggered a limiter which reduced the rest of the orchestra to almost zero on every stroke - like club music sidechain gated from the bass drum.

 

[dgl]

I don't really listen to classic or radio 3 but supposedly classic has a lower dynamic range than radio 3 and although that makes classic more radio friendly (no loud surprises) it does affect the sound. It'll probably be something before the optimod fm processor, usually some form of compressor that causes the problems with loud sounds reducing the sound of the rest of the orchestra.

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