An LCD and full-time LED meters make setup, adjustment and programming of OPTIMOD-FM easy — you can always see the metering while you are adjusting the processor. Navigation is by dedicated buttons, soft buttons (whose functions are context-sensitive), and a large rotary knob. The LEDs show all metering functions of the processing structure (Two-Band or Five-Band) in use.
Absolute Control of Peak Modulation
The 8600S provides universal transmitter protection and audio processing for FM broadcast. It can be configured to interface ideally with any commonly found transmission system in the world, analog or digital.
The 8600S provides pre-emphasis limiting for the internationally used pre-emphasis curves of 50µs and 75µs. Compared to its predecessor, its new clipping/preemphasis-control technology preserves 2.5 to 3 dB more frequency energy while significantly reducing audible clipping distortion at all frequencies. This produces a clean, open sound whose subjective brightness more closely matches the original program.
The 8600S achieves extremely tight peak control at all its outputs—analog, AES3 (for both the analog FM and HD channels), and composite baseband.
The stereo encoder has two outputs with independent level controls, each capable of driving 75Ω in parallel with 47,000pF, (100ft / 30m of coaxial cable).
By integrating the stereo encoder with the audio processing, the 8600S eliminates the overshoot problems that waste valuable modulation in traditional external encoders.
The 8600S prevents aliasing distortion in subsequent stereo encoders or transmission links by providing bandwidth limiting and overshoot compensated 15 kHz low-pass filters ahead of the 8600S’s audio outputs and stereo encoder.
The 8600S has an internal, DSP-based stereo encoder (with a patented “half-cosine interpolation” composite limiter operating at 512 kHz sample rate) to generate the pilot tone stereo baseband signal and control its peak level. The composite limiter is a unique, “you can only do this in DSP” process that beats composite clippers by preserving stereo imaging while fully protectingthe stereo pilot tone, RDS/RBDS, and subcarriers.
The stereo encoder’s stereo subchannel modulator can operate in normal double sideband mode and in an experimental compatiblesingle sideband mode that is offered to enable users to compare and assess the two modes.
The Digital Radio processing chain offers an ITU-R BS.1770-2 Loudness Meter and Safety Limiter for use in countries that enforce a BS.1770 loudness limit on digital radio broadcasts.
The 8600S/HD implements “true peak” control in its HD processing chain by oversampling the HD peak limiter’s sidechain at 256 kHz. This allows the 8600 to prevent clipping in a playback device’s analog signal path by predicting and controlling the analog peak level following the playback device’s reconstruction filter to an accuracy of better than 0.5 dB. For typical program material, accuracy is 0.2 dB Without true peak control, analog clipping can occur even if all peak values of the digital samples are below 0 dBFS. This phenomenon has also been termed “0 dBFS+.”
Thanks to true peak control, sample rate conversion, unless it removes high frequency program energy or introduces group delay distortion, cannot cause sample peaks to increase more than 0.5 dB. For example, sample rate conversion from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz is highly unlikely to cause sample peak clipping in the 44.1 kHz audio data.
Flexible Configuration
OPTIMOD-FM 8600S is supplied with analog and AES3 digital inputs and outputs. The digital input and the two digital outputs are equipped with sample-rate converters and can operate at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.1 kHz, and 96 kHz sample rates. The preemphasis status and output levels are separately adjustable for the analog and digital outputs. Each output can emit the analog FM processed signal, the analog FM processed signal with diversity delay applied, the digital radio processed signal, or the low-delay monitor signal.
Failsafe switching detects loss of audio on the primary input, which you can assign to be the analog or digital input. If audio is lost on the primary input, the 8600S can switch automatically to the secondary input.
A loop-through connection is provided to enable a ratings encoder (such as Arbitron®) to be inserted between the output of the audio processing and the input to the stereo encoder. In “ratings encoder loop-through mode,” the second digital output drives the ratings encoder from the output of the FM processing.
The 8600S/HD has two independent equalizers, multiband compressors, and peak limiters for the FM analog and digital media processing channels, allowing you to separately optimize the processing for each.
An AES3id sync input allows you to synchronize the output sample rate of either (or both) AES3 outputs to an AES3id or AES11id signal appearing at this input. You can also synchronize the outputs to the AES3 digital input or to 8600S’s internal clock. The sync source of each AES3 output is independently selectable.
In “ratings encoder loop-through mode,” this input accepts the output of the ratings encoder and uses it to drive the 8600S’s stereo encoder.
A Wordclock/10 MHz Sync Reference Input can be used to lock the stereo pilot tone to a high-precision external reference like a GPS-based frequency standard. This facilitates using the 8600S in single-frequency network applications.
A defeatable diversitydelay can delay the FM analog processing output up to 16.2 seconds. Delay can be trimmed in intervals of one sample of 64 kHz to match the analog and digital paths in the HD Radio system, eliminating the need to use the delay built into the HD Radio exciter and permitting the 8600S’s internal stereo encoder and composite limiter to drive the analog FM excite. Both the 8600S and 8600SFM offer this feature, making it convenient to use the 8600SFM in dual-processor HD installations where the digital channel receives independent processing from a processor like Orban’s Optimod-DAB or Optimod-PC. Each output (Analog, Digital 1, Digital 2, Composite) can be configuredindependently to emit the delayed or undelayed signal.
The analog inputs are transformerless, balanced 10kΩ instrumentation-amplifier circuits. The analog outputs are transformerless balanced and floating (with 50Ω impedance) to ensure highest transparency and accurate pulse response.
The 8600S has two independent composite baseband outputs with digitally programmable output levels. Robust line drivers enable them to drive 100 feet of RG-59 coaxial cable without audible performance degradation.
Two subcarrier inputs are mixed with the output of OPTIMOD-FM’s stereo encoder before application to the composite output connectors. One input can be re-jumpered to provide a 19 kHz pilot reference output. Rear-panel accessible PC-board-mounted trim pots allow the user to adjust the sensitivities of the two SCA inputs, allowing both inputs to accommodate subcarrier generators with output levels as low as 100 mV p-p.
The 8600S precisely controls the audio bandwidth of its analog FM processing to 16.5 kHz. This prevents significant overshoots in uncompressed digital links operating at a 44.1 kHz-sample rate or higher and prevents interference to the pilot tone and RDS (or RBDS) subcarrier. The bandwidth of the 8600S’s digital radio output is adjustable in 1 kHz increments between 15 kHz and 20 kHz.
The 8600S has a defeatable multiplex power limiter that controls the multiplex power to ITU-R BS412 standards. In its most common configuration, it reduces clipper drive when it reduces power, simultaneously reducing clipping distortion. However, to accommodate customers who wish to use heavier clipping to achieve a certain sound, the MPX power controller can be configured to reduce gain after the clippers.
All input, output, and power connections are rigorously RFI-suppressed to Orban’s traditional exacting standards, ensuring trouble-free installation.
The 8600S is designed and certified to meet all applicable international safety and emissions standards.
Adaptability through Multiple Audio Processing Structures
A processing structure is a program that operates as a complete audio processing system. Only one processing structure can be on-air at a time. The 8600S realizes its processing structures as a series of high-speed mathematical computations made by Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips.
The 8600S features six processing structures. Four of these are the same as Optimod-FM 8500: Five-Band (or “Multiband”) for a consistent, “processed” sound with 17 ms delay (typical), free from undesirable side effects, Low-Latency Five-Band (12 ms delay), Ultra-Low-Latency Five-Band (3.7 ms delay), and Two-Band (17 or 22 ms delay) for a transparent sound that preserves the frequency balance of the original program material. A special Two-Band preset creates a no-compromise “Protect” function that is functionally similar to the “Protect” structures in earlier Orban digital processors.
The 8600S’s two “MX” structures (five-band and two-band) are similar to their 8500 counterparts except that they use the 8600’s MX peak limiting technology to decrease distortion while achieving substantial improvements in transient punch and high frequency clarity. This advanced technology requires more input-to-output delay than the older structures, so it is impractical for talent to monitor these structures off-air with headphones. The 8600S offers a special low-delay monitor output for this purpose.
The 8600S can increasethe density and loudness of the program material by multiband compression, limiting, and clipping—improving the consistency of the station’s sound and increasing loudness and definition remarkably, without producing unpleasant side effects.
The 8600S ridesgain over an adjustable range of up to 25 dB, compressing dynamic range and compensating for both operator gain-riding errors and gain inconsistencies in automated systems.
The 8600S’s Two-Band processing structures can be made phase-linear to maximize audible transparency.
Controllable
The 8600S can be remote-controlled by 5-12V pulses applied to eight programmable, optically-isolated “general-purpose interface” (GPI) ports available at the REMOTE INTERFACE connector on the rear panel.
8600SPC Remote software is a graphical application that runs under Windows XP/Vista/7/8. It communicates with a given 8600S via TCP/IP over modem, direct serial, and Ethernet connections. You can configure PC Remote to switch between many 8600Ss via a convenient organizer that supports giving any 8600S an alias and grouping multiple 8600Ss into folders. Clicking a 8600S’s icon causes PC Remote to connect to that 8600S through an Ethernet network, or initiates a Windows Dial-Up or Direct Cable Connection if appropriate. The PC Remote software allows the user to access all 8600S features (including advanced controls not available from the 8600S’s front panel), and allows the user to archive and restore presets, automation lists, and system setups (containing I/O levels, digital word lengths, GPI functional assignments, etc.).
The 8600S includes a Telnet client that allows presets to be recalled via batch files using the free PuTTY and Plink applications. The commands are simple ASCII strings, facilitating interface to automation systems that can emit such strings through an Ethernet or RS232 serial connection.
Through its Ethernet connection, the 8600S supports SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
OPTIMOD-FM contains a versatile real-time clock, which allows automation of various events (including recalling presets) at pre-programmed times. The clock can be set automatically from an Internet timeserver.
A Bypass Test Mode can be invoked locally, by remote control (from either the 8600S’s GPI port or the 8600S PC Remote application), or by automation to permit broadcast system test and alignment or “proof of performance” tests.
OPTIMOD-FM contains a built-in line-up tone generator, facilitating quick and accurate level setting in any system.
OPTIMOD-FM's software can beupgraded by running Orban-supplied downloadable upgrade software on a PC. The upgrade can occur remotely through the 8600S’s Ethernet port or serial port (connected to an external modem), or locally (by connecting a Windows® computer to the 8600S’s serial port through the supplied null modem cable).
Silence alarm and digital audio fault tally outputs are available.
