Orban Announces OPTIMOD-TV 8382
Las Vegas, Nev. — 2004, April 19 — Orban®/CRL (NASDAQ: CRLI.OB), the worldwide leader in audio processing for broadcasting and the Internet, today (Monday) reminded the industry that it will not forget the analog broadcaster in this increasing digital world. The company observed this in connection with the release of the new OPTIMOD-TV 8382, which will redefine the industry standard for digital transmission processors for analog television. The network-ready, digital OPTIMOD-TV 8382 will ship in the second quarter of 2004.
Intended for FM aural carriers using 50 or 75µs pre-emphasis, the 8382 replaces both of Orban’s current processors for analog television audio (the 8182 and 8282) with a compact 2U package containing more features than the top-of-the-line 8282, at a more attractive price.
The programmable OPTIMOD-TV 8382 digital audio processor meets all requirements of the various mono, stereo and dual-language analog television transmission systems in use around the world. The 8382 controls program dynamics to maintain a comfortable range for the typical home viewer, and, using its built-in CBS Loudness Controller™, it tames subjective loudness to prevent commercials from becoming overly obtrusive. The 8382 replaces the “Hilbert-transform clipper” peak limiter used in the 8182 and 8282 with a lower distortion look-ahead peak limiting technology first developed for Orban’s flagship FM processor, the 8400. This ensures the cleanest possible processing of speech.
OPTIMOD-TV 8382 is fully compatible with all monaural and stereo broadcast systems: BTSC, NICAM, EIAJ, and IEC dual carrier. In addition to its usual stereo mode, it can be operated in dual-mono mode to accommodate dual-language programming and it can switch between stereo and dual-mono modes without mutes or interruptions in the program.
Both analog and AES3 digital inputs and outputs are supplied standard; the digital I/O can accept and emit sample rates between 32 and 96 kHz and the output sample rate can be synchronized to the 8382’s internal clock, to its digital input or to an AES11 signal appearing at its sync input. An internal stereo generator is not included; the 8382 is well matched to BTSC stereo generators from Orban (model 8185) and CRL (model TVS-3003).
The 8382 is remote controllable via eight programmable GPI ports, which can be used to recall presets and change operating modes. It is also equipped for remote control via RS232 serial or Ethernet ports, and it comes with a full-featured remote control application that runs on Windows 2000 or XP and allows many processors to be controlled from one central location via any TCP/IP network. Finally, the 8382 features the ability to have its input AES3 “channel mode” bits determine its operating mode (stereo or dual-mono), and it can send this information to downstream equipment via the AES3 connection.
The 8382 can also be controlled via its built-in clock-based automation, which can be programmed to change presets and operating modes at preset times. The internal clock can be synchronized automatically to NIST-based time references via the Internet. It can also be reset to the hour via GPI contact closure to ensure that it remains accurately synchronized with the facility’s master clock.
Orban/CRL’s President and CEO, Jay Brentlinger, commented: “While digital television is getting all of the press lately, analog television is still, by far, the dominant revenue generator for television broadcasters. The new 8382 complements our 6200 processor for digital television, allowing Orban/CRL to offer a television audio processing package that is exactly matched to any given customer’s needs.”
About Orban
Founded in 1970 by Bob Orban, the world's foremost expert in transmission audio processing for broadcast, Orban leads the industry in the design and manufacture of audio processors for radio, television and Internet broadcasting. Recognized for its standard-setting Optimod ® digital audio processors and the Audicy digital audio workstation, the Orban name has become synonymous with reliable, high performance products. Today, its versatile audio processing equipment, editing tools and codecs are the products of choice in fast-paced production environments worldwide. In 2000, Orban ® was acquired by Circuit Research Labs — a manufacturer of high-quality digital and analog audio processing, transmission encoding, and noise reduction equipment. Orban/CRL Systems now accounts for the majority of the global market for radio, TV and Internet audio processing. As technology evolves, Orban/CRL continues to innovate with state-of-the-art audio processing products for DAB, DTV and streaming media.
Orban/CRL Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's anticipation of future events is based upon assumptions regarding levels of competition, research and development results, raw material markets, the markets in which the company operates, and stability of the regulatory environment. Any of these assumptions could prove inaccurate, and therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Orban/Circuit Research Labs, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets electronic audio processing, transmission encoding and noise reduction equipment for the worldwide radio, television, cable, Internet and professional audio markets. The Orban division manufactures and markets audio processing equipment, primarily using digital technology. Orban Europe is a worldwide leader in ISO/MPEG, audio, ISDN, satellite transmission, networking, and storage. More information is available at www.orban.com and www.orban-europe.com.