Optimod 8585
Circuit Research Labs, Inc. (OTCBB: CRLI.OB), parent company of Orban/CRL a worldwide leader in audio processing for AM, FM, TV, and Internet broadcasting introduces the Optimod 8585 Digital Surround Audio Processor. Starting with the technology of Orban's popular Optimod 6300 two-channel processor for digital transmission media, the 8585 takes this technology to the next level by incorporating multichannel processing that reflects the latest psychoacoustic research into loudness perception.
"For many years our television customers have been asking for a solution to the processing demands of surround sound 5.1 and 7.1, along with the need for local insertion for news, weather and sports. This next generation Optimod will provide the function and control necessary for up to eight channels simultaneously, giving the television station or internet streaming station full control of their processing requirements," commented C. Jayson Brentlinger Orban / CRL President, CEO, Chairman.
The 8585 features Optimod-quality two-band and five-band audio processing for surround sound broadcasting, netcasting and mastering. Thanks to versatile compression ratio controls and a mastering-quality look-ahead peak limiter, the 8585 is ideal for mastering audio in broadcast productions as well as productions intended for media such as DVD and BluRay.
The 8585 is built on Orban's flagship hardware platform. This features a GUI displayed on a quarter-VGA active matrix color LCD, making it easy to do all setup and adjustment from the 8585's front panel.
A new third-generation CBS Loudness Controller™ helps retain audiences by controlling both subjective loudness and annoyance. The controller works in both two-band and five-band modes. Earlier generations of the CBS algorithm have proven their effectiveness by processing millions of hours of on-air programming since the mid 1980s. The loudness controller smoothly limits subjectively perceived loudness to a broadcaster-set threshold, preventing audience irritation. The controller measures subjective loudness (as perceived by an average listener) and then closes a feedback loop to limit loudness to a preset level. It effectively controls loud commercials, which are the primary irritant in sound-for-picture applications. Third generation improvements reduce annoyance better than simple loudness control alone, doing so without audible gain pumping. Attack time is fast enough to prevent audible loudness overshoots, so the control is always smooth and unobtrusive.
The 8585 can be two processors in one, offering surround processing for either 7.1 channels or 5.1 channels plus an independent 2.0 channel processor (equivalent to Optimod 6300 processing) that can operate stand-alone with its own CBS Loudness Controller. Additionally, the 2.0 processor's output can be mixed into the left and right front channels of the surround processing so that the surround processing's Loudness Controller and look-ahead limiters control the loudness and peak level of the mix. Built-in CBS Loudness Meters indicate the subjective loudness of the surround and 2.0 channel processing. RS485 serial connections can accept and emit Dolby Digital® metadata.
The multichannel and 2.0 processors can operate with separate audio processing parameters like release times. For example, the 2.0 processing could be set up for relatively heavy processing to make a newsroom feed more consistent, while the main processing was set up more conservatively to correct network material and commercials unobtrusively. Moreover, the 8585's 2.0 processing offers a dual-mono mode that allows two separate mono programs to be processed, facilitating multiple-language operation.
The 8585 includes Orban's PreCode™ technology. This manipulates several aspects of the audio to minimize artifacts caused by low bitrate codecs, ensuring consistent loudness and texture from one source to the next. It is particularly useful when processing for netcasts or mastering for any low bit rate channel. PreCode includes special audio band detection algorithms that are energy and spectrum aware. This can improve codec performance on some codecs by reducing audio processing induced codec artifacts, even with program material that has been preprocessed or mastered by other processing than Optimod.
To minimize latency and to achieve highest reliability, the 8585 uses a dual hardware architecture. Motorola 24-bit DSP chips do all audio processing while a separate microcontroller supports the GUI and control functions. Even if this controller malfunctions, the 8585 will continue to process audio normally.
Minimum latency of the fully processed signal is 21 milliseconds, which can be padded to exactly one frame delay for any video standard. The low latency headphone feed (containing all processing except for peak limiting) has a latency of approximately 6 milliseconds.
The 8585 offers five AES3id digital inputs and six AES3id outputs, The digital inputs and digital outputs have sample-rate converters and can operate at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz sample rates. The 8585's AES3id inputs and outputs are highly configurable via remote-controllable internal routing switchers. Additionally, the outputs of the multichannel and 2.0 processing chains can be independently configured to emit the output of the AGC or the output of the multiband compressor/limiter, all configurable to use or bypass look-ahead limiting. So an 8585 can be configured to drive an STL with a peak limited output from the AGC while also providing a fully processed digital television/netcast feed and a low delay, multiband compressed talent headphone feed. Via the routing switcher, a given output signal can be applied to more than one hardware output. This allows using the 8585 as an AES splitter.
The 8585 can be remote controlled via eight GPI ports, via its RS232 serial port (using a modem or a direct cable connection to a computer), and via Ethernet. Included PC Remote software for Windows® allows the user to access all 8585 features 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.). Additionally, an API provides remote administration over TCP/IP via the RS232 serial or Ethernet ports. The 8585 hosts a TCP/IP terminal server to allow external control of the 8585 from either a Telnet/SSH client or a custom third party application. All API commands are simple text strings.
A stereo analog monitor output appears on XLR connectors on the rear panel. It can be configured to emit any 8585 output signal, including a downmix of the multichannel audio. Additionally, a stereo headphone jack is available on the front panel. It can be configured to emit any 8585 output signal and is independent of the stereo analog monitor output.
The New Optimod 8585 Digital Surround Audio Processor will be on display at The National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas April 14th-17th, 2008 in Orban/CRL booth #N8536.
