The clarity and punch of OPTIMOD 8600 audio processing, now available in a compact package as 8600Si Audio Processor
The OPTIMOD 8600 Audio Processor was a hit as soon as it was introduced. The 8600 had a dramatically improved MX peak limiter technology which decreased distortion while increasing transient punch and high frequency power handling capacity. A significant number of broadcasters have asked us to make the 8600’s sound available in a compact package at a lower price. Orban’s response is the OPTIMOD 8600Si, which offers 8600-class sound in a single rack unit. An efficient, switching power supply ensures that the 8600Si runs cool even in a crowded rack. The 8600Si includes simultaneous processing for FM and for digital transmissions like netcasts, DAB+ and HD Radio.
The 8600Si Audio Processor provides stereo enhancement, equalization, AGC, multiband compression, low-IM peak limiting, stereo encoding, and composite limiting — everything that even the most competitive major market station needs to stand out on the dial. More than 20 excellent sounding, format specific factory presets get you started. Although the factory presets are fully competent “out of the box”, you can adjust them with easy one-knob LESS-MORE control. With the option Full Control you can customize your audio even further. Orban’s Quick setup, which is a guided sequence of screens through the 8600Si‘s setup, is the easiest way to have your station On Air quickly.
Quick Setup
This features provides a guided, systematic procedure for setting up the 8600Si.
Factory Presets & LESS-MORE Control
The OPTIMOD 8600Si comes with a variety of factory presets which you can use as basis to create your own signature sound. Orban is happy to help you find the perfect setup for your station.
Six Processing Structures
You can select between six processing structures that are 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. Additionally, the 8600Si has two “MX” processing structures – one Five-Band and one Two-Band – which include the exclusive, advanced MX peak limiting technology to decrease distortion while achieving substantial improvements in transient punch and high frequency clarity.
“True Peak” Control
“True Peak” Control is available for the digital radio processing with an accuracy of better than 0.5 dB. For typical program material, accuracy is 0.2 dB.
ITU BS-412 Multiplex Power Control
An improved BS-412 Multiplex Power Controller provides a new user-adjustable, program-adaptive algorithm to make operation smoother and more subtle. ITU-R BS.1770-3+ Loudness Control is available for digital radio and analog radio processing chains in countries that enforce a BS.1770 loudness limit on digital and/or analog radio broadcasts.
ITU-R BS.1770-4 Loudness Control
Loudness Control is available for digital radio and analog radio processing chains in countries that enforce a BS.1770 loudness limit on digital and/or analog radio broadcasts.
Low-Delay DJ Monitor Output
Features like the MX limiter add delay that makes it impractical for talent to monitor all of the processing structures off-air with headphones. Therefore, the 8600Si 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 8600Si 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.
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
The 8600Si can be configured and operated comfortably via the supplied Windows PC Software using your local network or the Internet. Alternatively, you can chose to operate the unit via the front panel.
Frequency Response (Bypass Mode): Follows standard 50μs or 75μs pre-emphasis curve ±0.10 dB, 2.0 Hz–15 kHz. Analog left/right output and digital output can be user-configured for flat or pre-emphasized output.
Noise: Output noise floor will depend upon how much gain the processor is set for (Limit Drive, AGC Drive, Two-Band Drive, and/or Multi-Band Drive), gating level, equalization, noise reduction, etc. The dynamic range of the A/D Converter, which has a specified overload-to–noise ratio of 110 dB, primarily governs it. The dynamic range of the digital signal processing is 144 dB.
Total System Distortion (de-emphasized, 100% modulation): <0.01% THD, 20 Hz–1 kHz, rising to <0.05% at 15 kHz. <0.02% SMPTE IM Distortion.
Total System L/R Channel Separation: >50 dB, 20 Hz – 15 kHz; 60 dB typical.
Polarity (Two-Band and Bypass Modes): Absolute polarity maintained. Positive-going signal on input will result in positive-going signal on output when HD Polarity and FM polarity controls are set to POSITIVE.
Processing Sample Rate: The 8600Si is a “multirate” system, using internal rates from 64 kHz to 512 kHz as appropriate for the processing being performed. Audio clippers operate at 256 kHz (and are anti-aliased), while the composite limiter operates at 512 kHz.
Peak Control at HD/Digital Radio Output: The peak limiter is oversampled at 256 kHz, yielding a worst case overshoot of 0.4 dB at the analog output and for all output sample rates. (To achieve this performance at 32 kHz output sample rate, it is necessary to set the 8600Si’s HD lowpass filter cutoff frequency to 15 kHz.)
De-featable Analog FM Processing delay: 0.27 to 16.384 seconds, adjustable in one- sample increments at 64 kHz sample rate to allow the delays of the analog and digital paths in the HD Radio system to be matched at the receiver output.
Minimum Processing Delay: Processing structure dependent. Typically 17 ms for normal latency Five band, 13 ms for low-latency Five-band, 3.7 ms for ultra-low-latency Five- band, and 17 or 22 ms for two band, depending on crossover structure chosen. MX presets have approximately 270 ms delay.
Configuration: Stereo.
Impedance: >10kΩ load impedance, electronically balanced1.
Nominal Input Level: Software adjustable from –9.0 to +13.0 dBu (VU).
Maximum Input Level: +27 dBu.
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.
Filtering: RFI filtered, with high-pass filter at 0.15 Hz.
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: Two outputs, each stereo per the AES3 standard. The outputs can be independently set to emit the analog FM processed signal, the digital radio processed signal, or the low-delay monitor signal. The FM processed signal can be configured in software as flat or pre-emphasized to the chosen processing pre-emphasis (50μs or 75μs). The digital radio processing chain receives the output of the multiband limiter and processes it through a look-ahead peak limiter that operates in parallel with the main FM peak limiting system. The DR and FM signals are always simultaneously available. Each output can apply J.17 pre-emphasis if desired.
Sample Rate: Internal free running at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz, selected in software. (Use 44.1 kHz or higher for best peak control.) Can also be synced to the AES3 SYNC input or the AES3 digital input at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 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.
Frequency Response [Digital Audio Output (from Digital Radio Processing Chain)]: For output sample rates of 44.1 kHz and above, the frequency response from input to DR-configured output is ±0.10 dB, 2.0 Hz – 20 kHz; flat or with J.17 pre-emphasis applied. The user may specify lowpass filtering to constrain the bandwidth to 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 kHz.
Relative Time Delay between FM and HD Outputs: Depends on setting of analog processing channel diversity delay. Once set, this delay is constant regardless of processing preset in use.
Configuration: Accepts 1x 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 single-frequency network operation. The digital output sample frequency can also be locked to these signals.
Level: Unit will lock to 1x wordclock and 10 MHz square waves and sine waves 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: The Wordclock/10 MHz Sync Reference can also be configured as an AES3id digital audio input to drive the input of the stereo encoder. This facilitates a “ratings encoder loop-through” connection, where the input of the ratings encoder is driven from one of the 8600Si’s AES3 outputs and the encoder’s output is returned to the AES3id input. When not being used in ratings encoder loopthrough mode, this input can receive an AES3id or AES11id sample rate reference signal to which the 8600Si’s digital outputs can be locked.
Connector: BNC female, grounded to chassis, terminated with 75Ω. For short cable runs, there is usually no problem in driving this with an AES3 (110Ω) signal. If the cable is long enough to cause digital audio reception errors due to impedance mismatch, a 110Ω/75Ω transformer should be placed in-line.
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, 20 Hz – 15 kHz; 60 dB typical.
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; COMP X 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 8600Si’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® 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 provide for direct or modem connection to the 8600Si PC Remote application.
Ethernet Connector: Female RJ45 connector for 10 Mbps and higher networks using CAT5 cabling. Native rate is 100 Mbps. Provides for connection to the 8600Si 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.
Filtering: RFI filtered.
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.
Unit 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.
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