Orban Optimod-PC 1101 User manual

Operating Manual
OPTIMOD-PC
1101
Digital Audio Processor PCI Sound Card
Manual for Software Version 3.4

IMPORTANT NOTE: Refer to the unit’s rear panel for your Model #.
Model Number: Description:
1101
1101e
OPTIMOD-PC Digital Audio Processor and Loudness Controller on a PCI (1101) or PCIe
(1101e) Sound Card.
OPTIMOD-PC is a broadcast-quality audio processor and loudness controller offering
gain-riding AGC, parametric equalization, multiband compression, subjective loud-
ness control, and look-ahead peak limiting.
1101/CBLXLR Pre-wired cable option for 1101 I/O Interface, terminated in XLR connectors except
for the sync input, which is female BNC.
CAUTION
hRISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN I
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
hThis symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to
the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage
inside the enclosure ⎯voltage that may be
sufficient to constitute a risk of shock.
IThis symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important
operating and maintenance instructions in the accompa-
nying literature. Read the manual.
In accordance to the WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) direc-
tive of the European Parliament, this product must not be discarded into the
municipal waste stream in any of the Member States. This product may be
sent back to your Orban dealer at end of life where it will be reused or recy-
cled at no cost to you.
If this product is discarded into an approved municipal WEEE collection site or
turned over to an approved WEEE recycler at end of life, your Orban dealer
must be notified and supplied with model, serial number and the name and
location of site/facility.
Please contact your Orban dealer for further assistance.
www.orban.com

PLEASE READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Manual
Please review the Manual, especially the installation section, before installing the unit in your computer.
Trial Period Precautions
If your unit has been provided on a trial basis:
You should observe the following precautions to avoid reconditioning charges in case you later wish to return the unit to
your dealer.
(1) Note the packing technique and save all packing materials. It is not wise to ship in other than the factory carton. (Re-
placements cost $35.00).
(2) Avoid scratching the plating. Set the unit on soft, clean surfaces.
(4) Use care and proper tools in removing and tightening screws to avoid burring the heads.
Packing
When you pack the unit for shipping:
(1) Wrap the unit in its original plastic bag to avoid marring the unit.
(2) Seal the carton with tape.
If you are returning the unit permanently (for credit), be sure to enclose:
The Manual(s)
The Registration/Warranty Card
Your dealer may charge you for any missing items.
If you are returning a unit for repair, do not enclose any of the above items.
Further advice on proper packing and shipping is included in the Manual (see Table of Contents).
Trouble
If you have problems with installation or operation:
(1) Check everything you have done so far against the instructions in the Manual. The information contained therein is
based on our years of experience with OPTIMOD and broadcast stations.
(2) Check the other sections of the Manual (consult the Table of Contents) and search the text to see if there might be
some suggestions regarding your problem.
(3) After reading the section on Factory Assistance, you may call Orban Customer Service for advice during normal Ari-
zona business hours. The number is +1 480.403.8300.

Operating Manual
OPTIMOD-PC
1101
Digital Audio Processor PCI Sound Card
Manual for Software Version 3.4

I
WARNING
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy. If it is not installed
and used as directed by this manual, it may cause interference to radio communication. This
equipment complies with the limits for a Class A computing device, as specified by FCC
Rules, Part 15, subject J, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such
interference when this type of equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation
of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference. If it does, the user will be
required to eliminate the interference at the user’s expense.
I
WARNING
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digi-
tal apparatus set out in the radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of
Communications. (Le present appareil numerique n’emet pas de bruits radioelectriques de-
passant les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques [de las class A] prescrites dans le
Reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le ministere des Communications du
Canada.)
I
IMPORTANT
Perform the installation under static control conditions. Simply walking across a rug can gen-
erate a static charge of 20,000 volts. This is the spark or shock you may have felt when
touching a doorknob or some other conductive surface. A much smaller static discharge is
likely to destroy one or more of the CMOS semiconductors employed in OPTIMOD-FM. Static
damage will not be covered under warranty.
There are many common sources of static. Most involve some type of friction between two
dissimilar materials. Some examples are combing your hair, sliding across a seat cover or
rolling a cart across the floor. Since the threshold of human perception for a static discharge
is 3000 volts, you will not even notice many damaging discharges.
Basic damage prevention consists of minimizing generation, discharging any accumulated
static charge on your body or workstation, and preventing that discharge from being sent to or
through an electronic component. You should use a static grounding strap (grounded through
a protective resistor) and a static safe workbench with a conductive surface. This will prevent
any buildup of damaging static.
All firmware and software © Orban.
Orban is a registered trademark.
All trademarks are property of their respective companies.
This manual for v 3.4.2 software was published October 2017.
© Copyright Orban. This document may be freely printed and distributed by Orban’s customers, but its text may not be
incorporated into derivative works.
Orban Labs Inc., 7209 Browning Road, Pennsauken NJ 08110 USA
Phone: [phone]; E-Mail: [e-mail]; Site: www.orban.com

Table of Contents
PLEASE READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!-------------------------------------------------------- 0-3
Table of Contents --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0-1
--------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-1
ABOUT THIS MANUAL------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-1
AUDIO PROCESSING FOR CONSISTENCY ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1-1
Audio Processing: Making Broadcasts/Netcasts Sound Professional ------------------------- 1-1
Figure 1-1: Unprocessed Audio-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-3
Figure 1-2: Same Audio Processed Through OPTIMOD-PC-------------------------------------- 1-3
Audio Processing for Netcasts --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-4
Controlling Program Levels in a Playout System before OPTIMOD-PC---------------------- 1-5
Measuring Studio and Transmission Levels---------------------------------------------------------- 1-6
Figure 1-3: Absolute Peak Level, VU and PPM Reading------------------------------------------ 1-6
Level and Subjective Loudness Metering in the 1101 -------------------------------------------- 1-7
THE OPTIMOD-PC DIGITAL AUDIO PROCESSOR----------------------------------------------------1-10
General Features----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-11
Adaptability through Multiple Audio Processing Structures ------------------------1-14
PRESETS IN OPTIMOD-PC-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1-16
Factory Processing Presets ---------------------------------------------------------------------1-16
User Processing Presets -------------------------------------------------------------------------1-17
INPUT/OUTPUT CONFIGURATION-----------------------------------------------------------------------1-18
Figure 1-4: OPTIMOD-PC Signal Flow and I/O----------------------------------------------------- 1-19
Digital AES3 Left/Right Input/Output ------------------------------------------------------1-20
Analog Left/Right Input/Output -------------------------------------------------------------1-20
The Orban I/O Mixer-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1-21
OVERVIEW OF AN OPTIMOD-PC INSTALLATION----------------------------------------------------1-22
Figure 1-5: Typical I/O mixer---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-24
Simple Operation in One Host Computer -------------------------------------------------1-25
Security ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-25
Networking OPTIMOD-PC Cards: Overview ----------------------------------------------1-27
LOCATION OF OPTIMOD-PC FOR NETCASTING -----------------------------------------------------1-28
Genlocking OPTIMOD-PC Cards to a Reference Sample Frequency ---------------1-29
STUDIO-TRANSMITTER LINK IN DIGITAL BROADCASTING --------------------------------------------1-30
Transmission from Studio to Transmitter -------------------------------------------------1-30
Digital links -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-30
Microwave STLs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-32
Analog Telephone/Landline (PTT/Post Office Line) --------------------------------------------- 1-33
LOCATION OF OPTIMOD-PC IN DIGITAL RADIO SERVICE ------------------------------------------1-33
At the Transmitter is Best ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-33
Where Access to the Transmitter is not Possible------------------------------------------------- 1-33
OPTIMOD-PC at the Transmitter: Gain Control before the STL ----------------------------- 1-34
USING LOSSY DATA REDUCTION IN THE AUDIO CHAIN BEFORE OPTIMOD-PC------------------1-34
INTERFACING TO THE TRANSMITTER -------------------------------------------------------------------1-35
Sync Input ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-35
Sample Rate and Audio Bandwidth------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-35
Subframe Delay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-36
SETTING OUTPUT/MODULATION LEVELS --------------------------------------------------------------1-36
MONITORING ON LOUDSPEAKERS AND HEADPHONES -----------------------------------------------1-37
STREAMING AND NETCASTING APPLICATIONS --------------------------------------------------------1-38

Using OPTIMOD-PC in Streaming Applications--------------------------------------------------- 1-38
Using OPTIMOD-PC to Prepare Audio Files-------------------------------------------------------- 1-39
Loudness------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-39
Choosing your Encoder ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-39
SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-40
WARRANTY,USER FEEDBACK ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-41
User Feedback------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-41
LIMITED WARRANTY---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-41
INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1-41
EXTENDED WARRANTY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-42
---------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION 2 INSTALLATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2-1
INSTALLING OPTIMOD-PC IN WINDOWS®COMPUTERS ----------------------------2-1
1. Unpack and inspect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2-1
Figure 2-1: OPTIMOD-PC Network Scenarios-------------------------------------------------------- 2-2
2. Mount OPTIMOD-PC in a free PCI slot in your computer.----------------------------- 2-3
3. Install driver and software. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-3
Figure 2-2: Wiring Diagram for the 1101 OPTIMOD-PC XLR Cable Assembly------------- 2-5
5. Plan your installation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-6
Figure 2-3: The Orban Control Application---------------------------------------------------------- 2-6
6. Connect hardware inputs and outputs. (optional)-------------------------------------- 2-6
7. Set up passwords and card names for cards in your computer. (optional) ------ 2-7
Figure 2-4: Card & Security Administration---------------------------------------------------------- 2-8
9. Edit the local OPTIMOD-PC server’s network accessibility, port numbers, and
Service Security Password. (optional)---------------------------------------------------------------- 2-11
11. Add remote cards to your list of available cards. (optional) ----------------------- 2-11
12. Connect to a remote card. (optional) ----------------------------------------------------- 2-13
13. Change passwords and card names over a network. (optional) ------------------ 2-13
14. Delete a remote computer’s profile. (optional)---------------------------------------- 2-14
16. Simple installations: Connecting to an OPTIMOD-PC card.------------------------- 2-14
17. Connect inputs and outputs. (optional) -------------------------------------------------- 2-15
ANALOG INPUT AND OUTPUT AUDIO CONNECTIONS---------------------------- 2-17
Cable ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-17
Connectors ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-17
Analog Audio Input ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-17
Analog Audio Monitor Output -------------------------------------------------------------- 2-18
DIGITAL INPUT AND OUTPUT AUDIO CONNECTIONS----------------------------- 2-18
GROUNDING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-19
Power Ground------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-20
SETUP:THE OPTIMOD-PC CONTROL APPLICATION------------------------------------------------ 2-20
1. From the Tools menu, bring up the I/O Mixer. ----------------------------------------- 2-20
2. Select the card you are setting up.--------------------------------------------------------- 2-20
3. Configure global audio processing parameters. --------------------------------------- 2-22
Figure 2-5: Configuration Page in the I/O Mixer------------------------------------------------- 2-22
4. Set Digital Output properties. (optional) ------------------------------------------------ 2-23
Figure 2-6: Direct Mixer 1 Page in I/O Mixer ----------------------------------------------------- 2-32

INPUT SETUP----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-32
About the Interaction between the OPTIMOD-PC Input Mixers and the Microsoft
Windows Mixer -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2-33
Figure 2-7----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-33
Figure 2-8: MS Mixer Output--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-33
Figure 2-9: MS Mixer Input ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-34
Input Setup Procedure --------------------------------------------------------------------------2-35
1. Adjust the Analog Input Reference Level control. ------------------------------------ 2-35
2. Adjust the Analog Output Level control. ------------------------------------------------ 2-35
3. Select the Stereo/Mono input mode for the analog input. ------------------------ 2-36
4. Adjust the Processor Mixer analog input fader. --------------------------------------- 2-36
5. Adjust the Analog L/R Input Balance Control. (optional) --------------------------- 2-38
6. Adjust the remaining input faders. (optional)------------------------------------------ 2-38
7. Set up the automatic backup feed function. (optional)----------------------------- 2-38
OUTPUT AND ROUTING SWITCHER SETUP -------------------------------------------------------------2-39
Figure 2-10: Output Levels Page in I/O Mixer ----------------------------------------------------- 2-40
Setting Output Loudness in Dolby Digital transmissions-------------------------------------- 2-41
Setting Preset Loudness Correctly in Dolby Digital Transmissions-------------------------- 2-42
THE DIRECT MIXER --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2-44
INTERFACING OPTIMOD-PC WITH WAVE APPLICATIONS-----------------------------------------2-44
Turning Off Windows Sounds ----------------------------------------------------------------2-44
Applying Output from WAVE Applications to OPTIMOD-PC------------------------2-45
Applying OPTIMOD-PC’s Output to WAVE Applications -----------------------------2-46
Enabling the Windows 2003 Server Audio Service ---------------------------------------------- 2-46
PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE CAUSES ---------------------------------------------------------------------2-48
When I first turn on my computer, the sound seems wrong.-------------------------------- 2-48
When I Launch the OPTIMOD-PC control application, the meters do not move and I
cannot control my card. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-49
I can’t connect to a given OPTIMOD-PC card from my network. --------------------------- 2-49
Shortly after powering-up your computer and opening the Optimod-PC 1101
application, a message appears saying that the OptimodPC Service has stopped. --- 2-49
I get clicks when I source my WAVE material from a CD. ------------------------------------- 2-49
I get clicks when I source my WAVE material from my computer’s hard drive.-------- 2-50
I am running Windows Server and I cannot get audio to pass through OPTIMOD-PC’s
WAVE inputs and outputs.------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2-50
Meters on OPTIMOD-PC Control Application freeze temporarily but audio continues to
be processed normally.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-50
RFI, hum, clicks, or buzzes------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-50
Poor peak level control ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-51
Loudness is unexpectedly low at output set to receive PROCESSOR MIXER POST LIMIT ---- 2-51
Audible distortion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-51
Audible noise in processed audio--------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-52
Shrill, harsh sound; excessive sibilance-------------------------------------------------------------- 2-53
Gain pumping when high frequency energy is present --------------------------------------- 2-53
System receiving OPTIMOD-PC’s AES digital output will not lock-------------------------- 2-53
System will not pass line-up tones at full output level/100% modulation -------------- 2-53
Dialog is muffled------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-54
Loudness Level Meter reads full-scale nearly all of the time--------------------------------- 2-54
General dissatisfaction with subjective sound quality ----------------------------------------- 2-54
Problems Specific to Dolby Digital Transmissions---------------------------------------2-55

Loudness incorrect compared to other Dolby Digital Transmissions ---------------------- 2-55
Loudness Controller reduces transient punch of programming ---------------------------- 2-55
Transient loudness events (like esses in speech) sound obtrusively loud----------------- 2-56
Commercials too loud in sound for picture applications-------------------------------------- 2-56
TECHNICAL SUPPORT------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2-56
ADDING A CUSTOM LOGO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-57
USING WINDOWS FIREWALL WITH OPTIMOD-PC ------------------------------------------------- 2-58
NAT (Network Address Translation) Firewalls------------------------------------------- 2-60
SNMP SUPPORT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-61
SNMP Software Installation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-61
Figure 2-11: SNMP Service Settings------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-61
SNMP Network Setup------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-62
SNMP mib File Location---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-62
SNMP Default Settings ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-62
SNMP Features---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-62
--------------------------------------------------------------------SECTION 3 OPERATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-1
Figure 3-1: The OPTIMOD-PC Control Application ------------------------------------------------ 3-1
THE OPTIMOD-PC CONTROL APPLICATION ----------------------------------------------------------3-2
INTRODUCTION TO PROCESSING -------------------------------------------------------------------------3-4
Some Audio Processing Concepts----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-4
Distortion in Processing------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3-5
Loudness and Distortion----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-5
Speech/Music Detector------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-6
Processing for Audio Codecs--------------------------------------------------------------------3-6
OPTIMOD-PC in Radio-Oriented Applications: From Bach to Rock -----------------3-7
Sound for Picture Applications: Controlling Dynamic Range-------------------------3-8
Protection Limiting --------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-9
Studio AGC-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-9
ABOUT OPTIMOD-PC’S SIGNAL PROCESSING FEATURES ------------------------------------------ 3-10
Dual-Mono Architecture ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-10
Audio Processing Signal Flow ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3-10
Figure 3-2: Simplified OPTIMOD-PC Digital Signal Processing Diagram ------------------ 3-11
Loudness Control ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3-14
Figure 3-3: Simplified Block Diagram of Dialnorm Control----------------------------------- 3-15
BS.1770 Safety Limiter ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-17
Two-Band Purist Processing------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-18
Input/output Delay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3-18
CUSTOMIZING OPTIMOD-PC’S SOUND ------------------------------------------------------------- 3-18
Basic Control--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-19
Gain Reduction Metering---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-20
Fundamental Requirements: High-Quality Source Material and Accurate
Monitoring----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-21
ABOUT THE PROCESSING STRUCTURES ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3-21
FACTORY PROGRAMMING PRESETS-------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-23
Protection and AGC Presets------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-24
Table 3-1: Protection and AGC Presets-------------------------------------------------------------- 3-24
Radio-Style Presets------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-26
Table 3-2: Radio-Style Presets-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-27
Sound for Picture Presets ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-32

Table 3-3: Factory Programming Presets (Sound-for-picture)-------------------------------- 3-33
EQUALIZER CONTROLS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-35
Table 3-4: Equalizer Controls-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-37
STEREO ENHANCER CONTROLS -------------------------------------------------------------------------3-40
Table 3-5: Stereo Enhancer Controls----------------------------------------------------------------- 3-40
AGC CONTROLS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-41
Table 3-6: AGC Controls --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-42
DISTORTION CONTROL ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-46
Figure 3-4: Bass Clipper Input/Output Transfer Curves as Bass Clip Shape Control is
Varied from 0.0 (Hard) to 10.0 (Soft) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3-47
Table 3-7: Distortion Control Adjustments -------------------------------------------------------- 3-48
THE TWO-BAND STRUCTURE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------3-49
Customizing the Settings-----------------------------------------------------------------------3-49
The Two-Band Structure’s Full and Advanced Setup Controls ----------------------3-49
Table 3-8: Two-Band Controls ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-51
Figure 3-5: Output level in dB (y) for a given input level in dB (x) at various settings of
the KNEE and RATIO control------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3-54
THE FIVE-BAND STRUCTURE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------3-56
Table 3-9: Five-band Controls-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-56
Putting the Five-Band Structure on the Air-----------------------------------------------3-56
Customizing the Settings-----------------------------------------------------------------------3-57
The Five-Band Structure’s Full and Advanced Setup Controls ----------------------3-57
Table 3-10: Multiband Attack / Release Controls ------------------------------------------------ 3-58
Table 3-11: MB Band Mix Controls ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-59
IF THE HOST COMPUTER RESTARTS OR CRASHES… --------------------------------------------------3-64
USING OPTIMOD-PC FOR PRODUCTION AND MASTERING ----------------------------------------3-64
CREATING CUSTOM “FACTORY”PRESETS-------------------------------------------------------------3-69
Table 3-12: LESS-MORE Reference--------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-70
APPENDIX A: USING THE ITU BS.1770 AND CBS LOUDNESS METERS TO MEASURE LOUDNESS
CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------3-73
ITU-R BS.1770 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-73
CBS Loudness Meter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-73
Comparing the Meters ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-74
Figure 3-6: Unprocessed Input— Peak Output of the BS.1770 and CBS Loudness
Meters in each 10-second Interval as a Function of Time ------------------------------------- 3-75
Figure 3-7: Unprocessed Input— Histograms sorting loudness measurements into 0.25
dB bins.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-75
Figure 3-8: Loudness-Controlled Audio— Peak Output of the CBS and BS.1770
Loudness Meters in each 10-second Interval vs. Time ------------------------------------------ 3-76
Figure 3-9: Loudness-Controlled Audio— Histograms sorting loudness measurements
into 0.25 dB bins ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-76
Test Setup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-77
Results--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-78
Problems with Low Peak-to-RMS Ratio Material ------------------------------------------------ 3-79
Studies indicating that BS.1770 is inaccurate at very low frequencies-------------------- 3-81
Discussion and Conclusions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-82
------------------------------------------------------ SECTION 4 SOFTWARE SUMMARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-1
OPTIMOD-PC SOFTWARE SUMMARY ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4-1
Application Installation File ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4-1

Driver Files ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-1
Driver ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4-2
Service----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-2
Agent (Tray Icon) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-2
Control Application ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-3
Registry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-3
Firmware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-3
Hardware I/O and PCI Expansion Chassis ------------------------------------------------------------- 4-3
ABOUT THE OPTIMOD-PC DRIVER AND SERVICE ----------------------------------------------------4-4
------------------------------------------------------------ SECTION 5 UNINSTALLATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5-1
UNINSTALLING THE OPTIMOD-PC SOFTWARE -------------------------------------------------------5-1
----------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION 6 CONTROL API
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6-1
OPTIMOD-PC SYSTEM/MIXER CONTROL API --------------------------------------------------------6-1
Table 6-1: Telnet/SSH Command List ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6-1
Table 6-2: OPTIMOD-PC System Command and Status List------------------------------------- 6-5
Using the API and the 1101 Control Application Simultaneously -------------------6-5
Using the API: Examples -------------------------------------------------------------------------6-5
Setting the Analog Output Level ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-6
Muting the Wave Input------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6-6
Toggling the Audio Inputs to Insert Replacement Commercials------------------------------ 6-6
MICROSOFT WINDOWS MIXER CONTROL API ---------------------------------------------------------6-7
Table 6-3: Windows Driver Enumeration------------------------------------------------------------- 6-8
Table 6-4: Windows Mixer Output Destination Names ------------------------------------------ 6-8
Table 6-5: Windows Mixer Input Destination Names--------------------------------------------- 6-9
Table 6-6: Windows Mixer Peak Meter Data-------------------------------------------------------- 6-9
ADMINISTERING THE 1101 THROUGH SERIAL PORTS --------------------------------------------------6-9
Connecting via Serial Port Using a Terminal Program on a PC--------------------- 6-10
ADMINISTERING THE 1101 THROUGH ETHERNET TCP/IP ------------------------------------------- 6-12
Connecting via TCP/IP Using a Terminal Program on a PC--------------------------- 6-13
---------------------------------------------------------------SECTION 7 SPECIFICATIONS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-1
SPECIFICATIONS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-1
SYSTEM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-1
Wave Audio Input ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-2
Wave Audio Output ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-2
Analog Audio Input----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-3
Analog Audio Output -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-3
Digital Audio Input------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7-4
Digital Audio Output--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-4
AUDIO CABLE ASSEMBLY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-5
POWER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-5
COMPUTER----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-5
Audio Drivers-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-5
Software: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-6
API: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-6

REGULATORY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-6
ENVIRONMENTAL-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-6
-------------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION 8 RESOURCES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8-1
INFORMATION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8-1
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8-1
SOFTWARE AND RESOURCES----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8-4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION 9 INDEX
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9-1

OPTIMOD-PC INTRODUCTION 1-1
Section 1
Introduction
About this Manual
The Adobe pdf form of this manual contains numerous hyperlinks and bookmarks. A
reference to a numbered step or a page number (except in the Index) is a live hyper-
link; click on it to go immediately to that reference.
This manual has a table of contents and index. To search for a specific word or
phrase, you can also use the Adobe Acrobat Reader’s text search function.
Audio Processing for Consistency
Audio Processing: Making Broadcasts/Netcasts Sound Professional
From the ground up, OPTIMOD-PC 1101 was designed for professionals. It has
broadcast-quality digital signal processing on-board that is suitable for both live
streaming and on-demand programming. OPTIMOD-PC’s three on-board Freescale
DSP56367 DSP chips provide a loud, consistent sound to the consumer by performing
stereo enhancement, automatic gain control (AGC), equalization, multiband gain
control, peak-level control, and subjective loudness control. Moreover, OPTIMOD-PC
is equipped with balanced analog inputs and outputs that can operate at profes-
sional +4 dBu reference levels while resisting pickup of hum and noise. OPTIMOD-
PC’s digital AES3 inputs and outputs are compatible with industrial and broadcast
equipment and can also be configured to work with consumer electronics.
OPTIMOD-PC also includes mixers and software wave I/O that interfaces directly with
audio encoders running on the same computer as OPTIMOD-PC..
Professional radio broadcasters would never consider going on the air without audio
signal processing. They consider it a vital aspect of their program content. This care-
fully crafted content is what holds listeners and keeps them coming back. Since
1975, Optimod algorithms have dominated the world market for professional radio
and television audio processing and have been improved continuously since then.
OPTIMOD-PC puts this technology inside your computer.
To make scenes flow naturally through cuts, all broadcast television and Hollywood
movies have every scene color-corrected by a colorist, who adjusts hue, saturation,
and gray scale to achieve the “look” that the director intends, whether natural or
stylized. OPTIMOD-PC processing is like “audio color correction” for your program-
ming. It subtly and automatically modifies the loudness, spectral balance, and tex-
ture of program elements to ensure that they flow smoothly into one another.
OPTIMOD-PC’s various factory presets allow you to choose the sonic “look” of your

1-2 INTRODUCTION ORBAN MODEL 1101
programming while ensuring that this texture is maintained throughout your pro-
gramming.
OPTIMOD-PC audio processing is appropriate for all digital transmission media and
channels. It tailors your audio signal to help you compete in audio netcasting, HD
Radio® (both primary and multicast digital channels), DAB, DRM, and other dedi-
cated digital radio services, FMExtra™ and other digital subcarriers, mastering, au-
dio production, and many others.
Video-oriented presets use OPTIMOD-PC’s built-in CBS Loudness Controller™ to
make OPTIMOD-PC an unsurpassed choice for mono or stereo sound-for-picture ap-
plications, including HDTV, DVB-x digital television, and audio/video netcasting.
Starting with version 3.1, Optimod-PC also includes a defeatable “BS.1770 Safety
Limiter” that follows the CBS Loudness Controller in the signal path. The BS.1770
Safety Limiter can be set to prevent the indication of a BS.1770-2 gated meter with
10-second or longer integration time from being higher than a preset threshold
value: anywhere from 0 dB to +6 dB, as set by the BS.1770 THRESHOLD control. Op-
timod-PC now includes a BS.1770-2 loudness meter in addition to the CBS Loudness
Meter. For specific instructions on using OPTIMOD-PC in sound-for-picture applica-
tions, refer to Setting Output Loudness in Dolby Digital transmissions on page 2-41
and Sound for Picture Presets on page 3-32.
While primarily oriented toward “flat” media, OPTIMOD-PC can also provide pre-
emphasis limiting for the two standard preemphasis curves of 50 µs and 75 µs. This
allows it to protect preemphasized analog satellite uplinks and similar channels
where protection limiting or light processing is required, and makes it ideal for use
as a studio AGC driving transmitter-located Optimods. It also allows OPTIMOD-PC to
process audio for analog television transmission. We provide a number of factory
presets for this purpose.
There are many gain/peak control devices and software available to perform dynam-
ics processing. Many of these tools are designed for recording studio applications as
effects compressors/limiters for individual microphone or instrument tracks. These
devices’ controls need to be tuned carefully for the specific material being proc-
essed—they are not “set and forget” processors. Moreover, most do not process
mixed program material without introducing objectionable audible artifacts, par-
ticularly when called upon to gain-ride input material having widely varying levels.
The details and implementations are all-important.
A broadcast audio processor should ideally be “seen but not heard.” Optimod proc-
essing algorithms simultaneously control audio gain and peaks, artistically, musically,
and naturally, to give the illusion that processing is not taking place. Moreover, Op-
timod algorithms intelligently adapt themselves to the input program material.
Once OPTIMOD-PC is tuned for the sound texture required for the broadcast or net-
cast format (which is made easy by OPTIMOD-PC’s many format-specific presets), it
will provide excellent consistency regardless of the level or texture of the original
program material. OPTIMOD-PC’s automatic gain control and equalization achieve a
consistent sound, while accurate peak control maximizes loudness. Booming bass is

OPTIMOD-PC INTRODUCTION 1-3
tightened; weak, thin bass is brought up; highs are always present and consistent in
level.
OPTIMOD-PC is also an excellent mastering processor, offering soft knee multiband
compression with knee and ratio controls available separately for each band. This is
followed by a low-IM look-ahead limiter that can typically achieve 12 dB of gain re-
duction before it produces objectionable artifacts—this limiter is exceptionally loud
and clean.
Digital mixing is crucially important to a netcaster who needs to control commercial
content and insertion. Unlike most sound cards, OPTIMOD-PC allows you to mix an
analog source, two digital sources, and two WAVE sources. For example, you could
run a playout system on your computer while using the three hardware inputs for a
live microphone feed, commercial insert, and network insert. Alternatively, you
could run the commercial insert playout software on the same computer as the main
playout system, using OPTIMOD-PC’s second WAVE input to separately route the
outputs of the two playout systems to the card. An external mixer usually isn’t
needed, making OPTIMOD-PC a more economical system solution than a low-priced
Figure 1-1: Unprocessed Audio
Figure 1-2: Same Audio Processed Through OPTIMOD-PC

1-4 INTRODUCTION ORBAN MODEL 1101
sound card combined with a bunch of external hardware.
For applications like commercial insertion, an API provides complete remote admini-
stration over TCP/IP. The OPTIMOD-PC Service application hosts a TCP/IP terminal
server to allow external control of the OPTIMOD-PC cards from either a Telnet/SSH
client or a custom third party application. All OPTIMOD-PC Mixer and System Con-
trols are accessible and all commands are simple text strings. You can adjust and
monitor levels, tweak the processor’s sound, save and recall presets, and more.
Password security is provided.
OPTIMOD-PC comes with over 20 great-sounding presets that make it easy to create
a sonic texture that’s just right for your target audience. If you want to customize a
preset, you can start with an easy LESS-MORE control, and, if that’s not enough,
tweak over 50 parameters to hone your sound to perfection. OPTIMOD-PC’s deep
interface will never hold you back as your processing expertise increases, yet its care-
fully crafted design insulates you from the details if you need great sound right
now.
Without OPTIMOD-PC processing, audio can sound dull, thin, or inconsistent in any
combination. OPTIMOD-PC’s multiband processing automatically levels and re-
equalizes its input to the “major-market” standards expected by the mass audience.
Broadcasters have known for decades that this polished, produced sound attracts
and holds listeners.
You can expect a considerable increase in loudness from OPTIMOD-PC processing
compared to unprocessed audio (except for audio from recently mastered CDs,
which are often overprocessed in mastering). Broadcasters generally believe that
loudness relative to other stations attracts an audience that perceives the station as
being more powerful than its competition. The same subliminal psychology holds in
netcasting too.
Figure 1-1 on page 1-3 shows a 15-minute snapshot of program audio as it emerged
from the on-air mixer of a major Los Angeles radio station. Source material included
music, speech, and commercials. Notice the large inconsistency in peak and average
level between one program source and the next. Figure 1-2 shows the same material
after being processed through OPTIMOD-PC, using the GREGG preset. Notice that
program levels are now consistent from source to source
Audio Processing for Netcasts
Professional-grade netcasting requires audio processing similar to FM broadcast, al-
though there are some important differences in the peak limiting because of the
different characteristics of the pre-emphasized FM channel and the perceptually
coded netcasting channel. In particular, netcasting to mobile devices benefits from
audio processing to overcome external noise.
Your listeners deserve to get the best quality and consistency you can provide. Good
audio processing is one important thing that separates the amateur from the profes-
sional.

OPTIMOD-PC INTRODUCTION 1-5
Conventional AM, FM, or TV audio processors that employ preemphasis/deemphasis
and/or clipping peak limiters do not work well with perceptual audio coders such as
Orban’s Opticodec-PC® MPEG-4 AAC/HE-AACv2 streaming encoder. The preempha-
sis/deemphasis limiting in these processors unnecessarily limits high frequency head-
room. Further, their clipping limiters create high frequency components—
distortion—that the perceptual audio coders would otherwise not encode. None of
these devices have the full set of audio and control features found in OPTIMOD-PC.
Peak clipping sounds bad even in uncompressed digital channels because these
channels do not rely on preemphasis/deemphasis to reduce audible distortion. In-
stead of peak clipping, OPTIMOD-PC uses look-ahead limiting to protect the follow-
ing channel from peak overload.
Orban’s PreCode™ technology 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. 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 ma-
terial that has been preprocessed by other processing than Optimod. There are sev-
eral factory presets tuned specifically for low performance, low bitrate codecs.
Unlike some other codec preprocessors, PreCode does not suck the punch and life
out of music. Instead, PreCode strikes an artistic balance between liveliness and arti-
fact reduction, ensuring that the cure is never worse than the disease.
Controlling Program Levels in a Playout System before OPTIMOD-PC
To optimize the consistency of a broadcast or netcast, preprocessing each program
element via OPTIMOD-PC before it is stored on a playout system is not as effective as
processing the playout system’s output in real time using OPTIMOD-PC. The latter
technique maximizes the smoothness of transition between program elements and
makes voice from announcers or presenters merge smoothly into the program flow,
even if the announcer is talking over music.
You can help OPTIMOD-PC operate at its best by setting the level of each program
element when you load it into the playout system. Many audio editing programs
permit a sound file to be “peak-normalized,” which amplifies or attenuates the level
of the file to force the highest instantaneous peak to reach 0 dBfs. This is a very
poor way to set the levels of different audio files on a playout system. Absolute
peak levels have nothing to do with loudness, so peak-normalized files are likely to
have widely varying loudness levels depending on the typical peak-to-average ratio
of the audio in the file. Because of over-use of peak limiting in today’s CD mastering
(which has the unfortunate side-effect of sucking the life and punch out of music),
the average level of a CD produced in the ‘80s can be as much as 15 dB lower than
the average level of a CD produced today. When a playout system segues two such
disparate peak-normalized files, this can cause audible loudness inconsistencies in
your broadcast/netcast while OPTIMOD-PC’s AGC section corrects the loudness.
OPTIMOD-PC’s AGC section uses window-gating technology to minimize the audibil-
ity of such gain riding. Even so, 15 dB of level correction can take several seconds
and is determined by OPTIMOD-PC’s AGC release time setting.

1-6 INTRODUCTION ORBAN MODEL 1101
It is far better to normalize levels in a playout system by making the average levels
of all elements identical, which means that they would all peak at the same level
when observed with a VU meter. the average output level of the playout system
should be set to about –18dBFS to keep OPTIMOD-PC AGC nominally in the center of
its range. This allows OPTIMOD-PC’s AGC to work as unobtrusively as possible.
Moreover, if your system includes locally originated speech material, using a micro-
phone processor (like the dbx 286A, Symetrix 528E, or AirTools 6200/2x) will help
smooth the transition between live and recorded program segments.
Measuring Studio and Transmission Levels
Studio equipment (like mixers) and transmission equipment (like codecs) typically
use different methods of metering to display audio levels. The VU meter is an aver-
age-responding meter (measuring the approximate RMS level) with a 300ms rise
time and decay time; the VU indication usually under-indicates the true peak level
by 8 to 14 dB. The Peak Program Meter (PPM) indicates a level between RMS and the
actual peak. The PPM has an attack time of 10ms, slow enough to cause the meter
to ignore narrow peaks and under-indicate the true peak level by 5 dB or more. The
absolute peak-sensing meter (the type most common in codecs) shows the true peak
level. It has an instantaneous attack time, and a release time slow enough to allow
the engineer to read the peak level easily. All of OPTIMOD-PC’s level meters are ab-
solute peak sensing.
Orban offers a free Loudness Meter application for Windows that incor-
porates a true peak-sensing meter, a VU meter, a PPM, and two types of
subjective loudness meters. It can be downloaded from
www.orban.com/meter.
Figure 1-3 shows the relative difference between the absolute peak level and the
indications of a VU meter and a PPM for a few seconds of music program.
The studio engineer is primarily concerned with calibrating the equipment to pro-
vide the required input level for proper operation of each device, and so that all de-
vices operate with the same input and output levels. This facilitates patching devices
in and out without recalibration and ensures that no part of the program chain will
ABSOLUTE PEAK
PPM
VU
Figure 1-3: Absolute Peak Level, VU and PPM Reading