By most accounts, the 2010 ACRAs were a huge success. The biggest turnout ever graced the most prestigious mega-venue in Australia as the cream of commercial radio rose to the top. So it pains us to pick a nit, but we’ve heard better sound at a surgical boot makers’ convention than what served up at the ACRAs last Saturday week. It may have been okay up the front for the high and mighty, but up back, where humble folk like us are assigned our seats, the sound was dreadful. The pictures were great. The gigantic cinema format hi-def screens that covered every wall of the Crown Palladium were stunning. If only they had been in sync with the sound, it may have helped us to understand what was being said on stage. But no, watching the screens proved to be counter-productive. Little wonder that many around us gave up on the presentations and started talking amongst themselves prompting some presenters, including Derryn Hinch, to call for, “A bit of sush.”

Why is it that the quality of sound at Radio functions remains one of the industry’s most enduring jokes? If we can get the noise that comes out of our transmitters to meet specs, why not in a closed auditorium?

How would you fix it?