Aphex Vigilante Processor

[RadioEng1]

Would anyone know if there is built-in preemphasis in this old box? If so, how do you disable it so the box can be used as a pre-processor?

Thanks!

 

[RadioMan203]

From what I know I thought this was based on the Aphex Dominator. Depending on the model there is/was a defeat switch on the back of the unit. I have a non-Vigilante Model 723 and it has a switch on the back.

 

[cgould]

From what I know I thought this was based on the Aphex Dominator. Depending on the model there is/was a defeat switch on the back of the unit. I have a non-Vigilante Model 723 and it has a switch on the back.

The Vigilante was not an Aphex product. This was Frank Foti's first processor, sold under the name "Cutting Edge" at the time. (Cutting Edge later became Omnia). The Vigilante was a heavily modified Aphex Dominator.

The early units were modified simply with switches on the front to change the speed of the timing networks. In later units, Frank added adjustable thresholds, and an integrated FM Pre-emphasis / Clipper board. Not having much experience with these later units, I assume the clipper board tied into the header plugs on the back of the Dominator main board. Removing the clipper board, and inserting jumpers to complete the input / output paths should work.

Now, Having said all of that, the Dominator is *NOT* designed as a pre-processor. It is a (final) limiter which was originally designed to FOLLOW a pre-processor. It would make quite a lousy pre-processor all on its own.

-Cornelius

 

[RadioMan203]

From what I know I thought this was based on the Aphex Dominator. Depending on the model there is/was a defeat switch on the back of the unit. I have a non-Vigilante Model 723 and it has a switch on the back.

The Vigilante was not an Aphex product. This was Frank Foti's first processor, sold under the name "Cutting Edge" at the time. (Cutting Edge later became Omnia). The Vigilante was a heavily modified Aphex Dominator.

This was something I thought was pretty much known, which is why I didn't bother to spell it out. I actually worked with a very early unit that had the additional switches on the front. I didn't recall if the first ones were the standard 720's or the 723's, which is why I only addressed the pre-emphasis portion of the query RadioEng1 made.

I still have one station running a 723 as the final processor since they had no budget for anything like an Optimod. It sounds quite good with modest pre-processing into the 723 feeding the exciter.

 

[FFoti1]

Would anyone know if there is built-in preemphasis in this old box? If so, how do you disable it so the box can be used as a pre-processor?

Thanks!

The Vigilante, which debuted 20 years ago this month, employed preemphasis - if it had our integrated clipper/low pass filter. If it did not have that board, then preemphasis was added downstream. Also, we used the Model 700 Dominator for the base unit. I do not suggest using it as a pre-processor.

-Frank Foti

 

[RadioEng1]

While Mr. Foti has already supplied part of the answer I needed in a separate email, I believe I incorrectly asked the original question that started this thread.

I have no intent of using this processor in an air chain to supplement any of our newer processing.

I was only trying to figure out how to use the processor to side chain the air chain to provide a processed pre-air monitor to the studio to simulate an air monitor for our talent. This is because they can no longer use the air monitor when working live because of the inherent delay induced on our analog signal due to IBOC hybrid operation.

Thanks!

 

[cgould]

I was only trying to figure out how to use the processor to side chain the air chain to provide a processed pre-air monitor to the studio to simulate an air monitor for our talent. This is because they can no longer use the air monitor when working live because of the inherent delay induced on our analog signal due to IBOC hybrid operation.

Thanks!

Cool...

Removing the clipper / pre-emphasis will help you a lot in this application. Also, throwing in an old Compellor / Orban 424 / CRL stereo gain rider, or even an old DBX compressor set to slow release will help the Vigilante unit through wildly varying program material, and make for a more pleasant experience for the jocks...

-Cornelius

 

[Play Freebird]

I was only trying to figure out how to use the processor to side chain the air chain to provide a processed pre-air monitor to the studio to simulate an air monitor for our talent. This is because they can no longer use the air monitor when working live because of the inherent delay induced on our analog signal due to IBOC hybrid operation.

Frank and Cornelius,

This would seem to be a nice product "niche" for Omnia to fill. Could you develop a DSP box with three inputs:

1) Undelayed program audio, straight from the console

2) Analog air monitor (which, of course, would be delayed if IBOC and/or a profanity delay is in use)

3) Digital air monitor

4) Maybe a fourth input for a webcast monitor


The unit would provide one "undelayed" processed audio output, to be fed to the talent's monitors and headphone, so that we don't need to rely on old Dominators, Optimod 8000s, etc. for this function.

The box would also correlate the analog and digital air monitor signals against internally-delayed program audio using a DSP algorithm. It would send an alarm if any of the following faults were detected:

A) Complete loss of the analog or digital air signal. This alarm delay could be set much shorter than a conventional loss-of-audio alarm, because it would constantly reference internally-delayed program audio and therefore could distinguish intentional audio pauses from an actual transmitter or STL failure.

B) Channel loss, channel reversal, or phase reversal

C) A significant change in transmitted audio levels

D) Drift of analog diversity delay beyond a preset threshold

E) Excessive noise or uncorrelated audio on the air monitor inputs (for example, when the local transmitter fails but a distant co-channel station is received on the monitor tuner.)

With so many stations forced to abandon off-air monitoring because of the digital delay, this would solve several problems.

 

[Sgeirk]

Brilliant.