The OPTIMOD 5500i – Competitive OPTIMOD audio processing in a compact package at the most affordable price ever
OPTIMOD 5500i puts competitive five- and two-band OPTIMOD audio processing into a single rack unit and brings it to you at the most affordable price ever. Quality sound is what 5500i is all about – sound that attracts audiences by providing a polished, professional presentation regardless of format and source material.
The 5500i can also be used as a superb stand-alone stereo encoder with latency as low as 2 ms and full overshoot limiting in both the left/right and composite baseband domains. When used in this mode, the 5500i must be driven (usually via an STL) by a full-featured FM audio processor (like Orban’s 8700i) that incorporates pre-emphasis-aware HF limiting and peak control.
The 5500i is the ideal choice for network broadcasters who process with Orban’s flagship OPTIMOD 8700i at the network origination point and who need a processor at every transmitter to eliminate STL overshoots (using the 5500i’s stand-alone stereo encoder mode) and/or to process local insertions while also eliminating network STL overshoots (using the 5500i’s audio processor / stereo encoder mode). Moreover, the 5500i’s two modes make it easy for large government and network broadcasters to manage its inventory of spares because any 5500i can be used as a stereo encoder with or without audio processing. Available in both modes, the built-in,vdefeatable ITU BS412 multiplex power controller allows the 5500i’s output to meet even the most stringent European government regulations.
The 5500i includes a full-featured RBS/RBDS generator at no additional charge. The generator supports dynamic PS. It can be controlled via the 5500i presets and an ASCII terminal server that can be connected to automation to support displaying title and artist.
The 5500i has a 10 MHz frequency reference input allows the stereo pilot tone frequency to be locked to GPS or another high-accuracy frequency standard. This improves the performance of single-frequency networks in areas where coverage of the transmitters overlaps.
With the 5500i, your signature sound is just a preset away. An easy, one-knob Less/More adjustment allows you to customize any factory preset, trading cleanliness against processing artifacts according to the requirements of your market and competitive environment. Full Control gives you the versatility to customize your audio further.
This versatility makes the 5500i a superb choice for any format. Its five-band processing is ideal for any pop music format, while phase-linear two-band processing yields ultra-transparent sound for classical, classic jazz, and fine arts formats.
Unlike many lesser processors, the 5500i handles speech particularly well – it’s always clean, even when you process for loudness. If you’re concerned about latency because you need to feed live talent headphones off air, be assured that the 5500i’s ultra-low-latency (5 ms delay) processing will keep the most finicky talent happy. Or use optimum latency (15 ms delay) processing for the most competitive sound with delay that’s still low enough to satisfy most any talent.
The 5500i’s built-in stereo encoder, AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs, and analog I/O permit hassle free interfacing to any broadcast plant, whether the 5500i is located at the studio or the transmitter. Tight band limiting to 15 kHz means you can use any uncompressed digital STL to pass 5500i – processed audio from studio to transmitter without compromising on-air loudness – there’s no need to use STL’s having 44.1 or 48 kHz sample-rate.
The stereo encoder’s stereo sub-channel modulator can operate in normal double sideband mode and in an experimental compatible single sideband mode (SSB/VSB) that is offered to enable users to compare and assess the two modes.
Analog Fallback to digital control that allows Silence Sense to switch the active input from analog to digital if silence is detected in the analog input signal but not on the digital input signal. This function works vice versa as well on both analog and digital AES input. The silence sense parameters apply to both simultaneously and both detectors are available to drive the 5500i’s tally outputs and sending SNMP Traps/Alerts.
Quick Setup
Like the other OPTIMODs, the 5500i provides a guided setup procedure that helps you installing your unit.
Factory Presets & LESS-MORE Control
With a selection of factory presets and the simple LESS-MORE Control you can easily create your own signature sound. Orban is happy to help you find the perfect setup for your station.
Four Processing Structures
The 5500i features four processing structures which are Stand-Alone Stereo Encoder, Optimum Five-Band (or “Multiband”; 15 ms delay) for a consistent, “processed” sound, free from undesirable side effects, Ultra-Low-Latency Five-Band (5 ms delay), and Two-Band for a transparent sound that preserves the frequency balance of the original program material. The Optimum Five-Band and the Two-Band structures can be switched via a mute-free cross-fade. Please note that switching to or from the Ultra- Low Latency Five-Band structure causes the audio to mute for about two seconds because the DSP code must be reloaded.
ITU BS-412 Multiplex Power Control
A defeatable, programadaptive multiplex power limiter can unobtrusively control the multiplex power according to ITU-R BS412 standards.
Low-Delay DJ Monitor Output
The 5500i offers a low-delay monitor output which takes the audio from multiband compressor output and has an approximate delay of 4 ms. This allows the talent/DJ to comfortably monitor the processed audio off-air with headphones.
10 MHz Reference Input
A 10 MHz reference input allows the stereo pilot tone frequency and digital composite output sample rate to be locked to a 10 MHz reference signal (like GPS), facilitating single-frequency-network (SFN) and near-single-frequency-network (N-SFN) operation.
RDS
The 5500i has a built-in full-featured RDS/RBDS generator that supports static and dynamic RDS values.
Bypass Test Mode and Tone Generator
A Bypass Test Mode can be invoked locally, by remote control or by automation to perform a broadcast system test or to compare easily original and processed sound. A built-in line-up tone generator facilitates quick and accurate level setting.
Diversity Delay
A maximum delay of 16 seconds can be used as the diversity delay in HD Radio/DAB+ installations, which allows the 5500i’s stereo encoder (including composite limiter) to be used in an HD Radio/DAB+ installation.
SNMP Support
The SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) feature allows you to monitor your OPTIMOD’s status and to send alarm notifications via your OPTIMOD’s Ethernet connection to your network.
Remote Control or front panel operation
You can operate and configure the 5500i comfortably via the supplied Windows PC Software. Control is possible over your local network or the internet. It can also be operated easily by using its front panel and display.
Stereo Encoder functionality
The OPTIMOD 5500i allows changing between normal two-band and five-band audio processor modes and stand-alone stereo encoder modes via a smooth cross-fade. This facilitates switching between pre-processed network feeds (where only overshoot limiting is needed) and local origination (where full audio processing is required).
NEW: Kantar Option
A Kantar Encoder functionality is now available for the OPTIMOD 5500i. Kantar is a watermarking solution used for measuring radio audiences across different devices and different platforms. Kantar is a fee-based option for the OPTIMOD 5500i.
Configuration: Stereo.
Impedance: >10kΩ load impedance, electronically balanced
Nominal Input Level: Software adjustable from –9.0 to +13.0 dBu (VU).
Connectors: Two XLR-type, female, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, Pins 2 (+) and 3 electronically balanced, floating and symmetrical.
A/D Conversion: 24 bit 128x oversampled delta sigma converter with linear-phase anti- aliasing filter. Converter outputs 64 kHz sample rate, which the 5500i then decimates to 32 kHz in DSP using an ultra-high-quality image-free synchronous sample rate converter. In strand-alone stereo encoder mode, 64 kHz output of converter is not down- sampled.
Filtering: RFI filtered.
Configuration: Stereo. Flat or pre-emphasized (at 50μs or 75μs), software-selectable.
Source Impedance: 50Ω, electronically balanced and floating.
Load Impedance: 600Ω or greater, balanced or unbalanced. Termination not required or recommended.
Output Level (100% peak modulation): Adjustable from –6 dBu to +24 dBu peak, into 600Ω or greater load, software-adjustable.
Signal-to-Noise: >= 90 dB unweighted (Bypass mode, de-emphasized, 20 Hz–15 kHz bandwidth, referenced to 100% modulation).
L/R Crosstalk: <= –70 dB, 20 Hz–15 kHz.
Distortion: <= 0.01% THD (Bypass mode, de-emphasized) 20 Hz–15 kHz bandwidth.
Connectors: Two XLR-type, male, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, Pins 2 (+) and 3 electronically balanced, floating and symmetrical.
D/A Conversion: 24 bit 128x oversampled, with high-pass filter at 0.15 Hz (–3 dB).
Filtering: RFI filtered.
Configuration: Stereo per AES3 standard, 24 bit resolution, software selection of stereo, mono from left, mono from right or mono from sum.
Sampling Rate: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz, automatically selected.
Connector: XLR-type, female, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, pins 2 and 3 transformer balanced and floating, 110Ω impedance.
Input Reference Level: Variable within the range of –30 dBFS to –10 dBFS.
J.17 De-emphasis: Software-selectable.
Filtering: RFI filtered.
Configuration: Stereo per AES3 standard. Output configured in software as flat or pre- emphasized to the chosen processing pre-emphasis (50μs or 75μs), with or without J.17 pre-emphasis.
Sample Rate: Internal free running at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz, selected in software. Can also be synced to the AES3 digital input at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz, as configured in software.
Word Length: Software selected for 24, 20, 18, 16 or 14-bit resolution. First-order high-pass noise-shaped dither can be optionally added, dither level automatically adjusted appropriately for the word length.
Connector: XLR-type, male, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, pins 2 and 3 trans- former balanced and floating, 110Ω impedance.
Output Level (100% peak modulation): –20.0 to 0.0 dBFS software controlled. Filtering: RFI filtered.
Configuration: Accepts 1 x wordclock or 10 MHz reference signals, automatically selected. The DSP master clock can be phase-locked to these signals, which in turn phase-locks the 19 kHz pilot tone frequency, facilitating singe-frequency network operation. The digital output sample frequency can also be locked to these signals.
Level: Unit will lock to 1 x wordclock and 10 MHz squarewaves and sinewaves having a peak value of 0.5 V to 5.0 V.
Connector: BNC female, grounded to chassis, non-terminating to allow reference signals to be looped through via an external BNC “tee” connector (not supplied).
Configuration: Two outputs, each with an independent software-controlled output level control, output amplifier and connector.
Source Impedance: 0Ω voltage source or 75Ω, jumper-selectable.
Load Impedance: 37Ω or greater. Termination not required or recommended.
Maximum Output Level: +16.0 dBu (13.82Vp-p).
Pilot Level: Adjustable from 6.0% to 12.0%, software controlled.
Pilot Stability: 19 kHz, ±1.0 Hz (10 degrees to 40 degrees C).
D/A Conversion: 24-bit
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >= 85 dB (Bypass mode, de-emphasized, 20 Hz – 15 kHz band- width, referenced to 100% modulation, unweighted).
Distortion: <= 0.02% THD (Bypass mode, de-emphasized, 20 Hz – 15 kHz bandwidth, referenced to 100% modulation, unweighted).
Stereo Separation: > 50 dB, 30 Hz – 15 kHz. 60 dB typical at 400 Hz.
Crosstalk-Linear: <= –80 dB, main channel to sub-channel or sub-channel to main channel (referenced to 100% modulation).
Crosstalk-Non-Linear: <= –80 dB, main channel to sub-channel or sub-channel to main channel (referenced to 100% modulation).
38 kHz Suppression: >= 70 dB (referenced to 100% modulation).
76 kHz & Sideband Suppression: >= 80 dB (referenced to 100% modulation).
Pilot Protection: 60 dB relative to 9% pilot injection, ±250 Hz (up to 2 dB composite processing drive).
Subcarrier Protection (60-100 kHz): >= 70 dB (referenced to 100% modulation; with up to 2 dB composite limiting drive; measured with 800 line FFT analyzer using “maximum peak hold” display).
57 kHz (RDS/RBDS) Protection: 50 dB relative to 4% subcarrier injection, ±2.0 kHz (up to 2 dB composite processing drive).
Connectors: Two BNC, shell connected to chassis ground, EMI suppressed.
Maximum Load Capacitance: 0.047 microfarad (0Ω source impedance). Maximum cable length of 100 feet/30 meters RG–58A/U. Filtering: RFI filtered.
Configuration: Two subcarrier inputs sum directly into composite baseband outputs; COMPx LVL control settings have no effect on the absolute subcarrier levels.
Impedance: 600Ω
SCA Sensitivity: Variable from <100 mV p-p to >10 V p-p to produce 10% injection assuming 100% modulation = 4 V p-p at the 5500’s composite outputs. Rear-panel accessible PC-board-mounted trim pots allow user to adjust the sensitivities of the two SCA inputs.
Connectors: Two BNC, shell connected to chassis ground, EMI suppressed.
19 kHz Pilot Reference: SCA2 input can be re-jumpered to provide a 19 kHz pilot reference output.
Supported Computer and Operating System: IBM-compatible PC running Microsoft Windows® 2000 (SP3 or higher) or XP, ME vista 7, and 8, 8.1 and 10
Configuration: TCP/IP protocol via direct cable connect, modem, or Ethernet interface. Suitable null modem cable for direct connect is supplied. Modem and other external equipment is not supplied.
Serial Connector:> RS–232 on DB–9 male connector, EMI-suppressed. Uses PPP to pro- vide for direct or modem connection to the 5500i PC Remote application.
Ethernet Connector: Female RJ45 connector for 10-1000 Mbps networks using CAT5 cabling. Native rate is 100 Mbps. Provides for connection to the 5500i PC Remote application through either a network, or, using a crossover Ethernet cable, directly to a computer.
Ethernet Networking Standard: TCP/IP.
Configuration: Eight (8) inputs, opto-isolated and floating.
Voltage: 6–15V AC or DC, momentary or continuous. +12VDC provided to facilitate use with contact closure.
Connector: DB–25 male, EMI-suppressed.
Control: User-programmable for any eight of user presets, factory presets, bypass, test tone, stereo or mono modes, analog input, digital input.
Circuit Configuration: Two NPN open-collector outputs.
Voltage: +15 volts maximum. Do not apply negative voltage. When driving a relay or other inductive load, connect a diode in reverse polarity across the relay coil to protect the driver transistors from reverse voltage caused by inductive kickback.
Current: 30 mA maximum
Indications: Tally outputs can be programmed to indicate a number of different operational and fault conditions, including Input: Analog, Input: Digital, Analog Input Silent, AES Input Silent, and AES Input Error.
Voltage: 85–264 VAC, 50–60 Hz, 30 VA.
Connector: IEC, EMI-suppressed. Detachable 3-wire power cord supplied.
Fuse:> 2.5A 20mm Quick Acting HBC, mounted on the power supply circuit board.
Grounding: In order to meet EMI standards, circuit ground is hard-wired to chassis ground.
Safety Standards: ETL listed to UL standards, CE marked.
Operating Temperature: 32° to 122° F / 0° to 50° C for all operating voltage ranges.
Humidity: 0–95% RH, non-condensing.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 19” x 1.75” x 14.25” / 48.3 cm x 4.5 cm x 36.2 cm. One rack unit high.
Humidity: 0–95% RH, non-condensing.
RFI/EMI: Tested according to Cenelec procedures. FCC Part 15 Class A device.
Shipping Weight & Dimensions: 18 lbs / 8.2 kg – 23″ x 23″ x 6″
Five Years, Parts and Service: Subject to the limitations set forth in Orban’s Standard Warranty Agreement.
Because engineering improvements are ongoing, specifications are subject to change without notice.
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