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Processing clips

The F Mister said:
I heard that the One and more models of omnia had some problems in the clipping when you go from the mixer fullout. On the Omnia Jr. that we use at our station I go from the mixer fullout (al three band at +6) into the clipper (will upload a clip of this box). I really couldn't do that with the One without distortion. I know that between the Omnia Jr. and the One is a huge gap so you can't compare them 1-1.

I'm with stace that it's stupid that you should have one for a hands on demo or just not listen to the clips at all.

The MIXER section is intended for small output mix adjustments..on the order on maybe a few dB. We do not suggest running the MIXER full out.

-Frank Foti
 
Ok,

although it works really fine with our Omnia Jr. But we use it without anything in front and as you know the Jr. has no multiband agc, only WB. So to make up some db's we go full into the clipper. And it gives a nice sound, it changes the overall sound (are there any funny algorithms going on then?) I've set the clipper to -3.6 and comp. clipper +1.2.
 
The F Mister said:
Ok,

although it works really fine with our Omnia Jr. But we use it without anything in front and as you know the Jr. has no multiband agc, only WB. So to make up some db's we go full into the clipper. And it gives a nice sound, it changes the overall sound (are there any funny algorithms going on then?) I've set the clipper to -3.6 and comp. clipper +1.2.

You're robbing from Peter, to pay Paul. When you raise the MIXER output levels you're sending more drive to the clipper, but then you're reducing the clipper drive to compensate for the added MIXER output. Nothing magic happened there. The MIXER is a straight-forward linear summing block, and that feeds the clipper drive function.

-Frank Foti
 
I can follow you on that and I always used it in the way you mention. To compensate slightly. But one day we had the guy over whom we bought the Jr from. And he knows a thing or two and he cranked the mixer full out and this gave some nice effects. No distortion, more overall loudness. The WB agc was already at +12. Xover was not to heavily set. I go gentle into the limiters. Works for the easy listening format we have.
 
I've just posted some photos of our network in Christchurch NZ. (DSC####)

http://fserver.redirectme.net

User: Processing
Password: clips

The studios are for The Breeze which is running the Unity (standing in after it's Omnia.FM had a fit) and yes Nexgen is replacing Wizzard, and Optimod 8500s replacing the processing in the new year, the automation servers are being built now!

The Omnias are running a rock and top 40 station, and an oldies station uses the prizms all on UHF link to Mt Sugaloaf (pictured) and are 50kW ERP

enjoy
 
stace said:
I've just posted some photos of our network in Christchurch NZ. (DSC####)

Very nice pictures Stace... You can always tell a professionally built radio station that has quite a few years of broadcasting experience under the belt ;)

Never been a fan of Unity myself, quite quirky box if you ask me, so it's good thing you're replacing it soon. I'm sure the Omnia.fms do a nice job though. In some ways I prefer them over the current Omnia line-up (when loudness is not an issue). The 8500 will certainly do a very good job, it's big, clean and smooth, the best of Orban...


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
greenie said:
Lets see, 29 pages and counting, can someone direct me to the thread on AM processing clips?! 8)

Currently there's no AM section, but if there's a demand, we could make a folder for AM processing clips...


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
Goran Tomas said:
stace said:
I've just posted some photos of our network in Christchurch NZ. (DSC####)

Very nice pictures Stace... You can always tell a professionally built radio station that has quite a few years of broadcasting experience under the belt ;)

Never been a fan of Unity myself, quite quirky box if you ask me, so it's good thing you're replacing it soon. I'm sure the Omnia.fms do a nice job though. In some ways I prefer them over the current Omnia line-up (when loudness is not an issue). The 8500 will certainly do a very good job, it's big, clean and smooth, the best of Orban...


Regards,
Goran Tomas

I thought you meant 8100... HAHA

I never heard a good sounding Unity until I had one (actually two.. well, one and 1/2 right now). I guess at the time, people just didn't understand how to set them up, but I like the way they sound now that I can twiddle the knobs (I was 21 at an FM that had one that sounded awful and wanted to dig in so bad, but I couldn't, it was locked behind a rack). They don't have to sound harsh or brittle, but very pleasing to listen to and very natural and good on transients (!!!) w/o sounding like an Optimod. Aphex or Inovonics (and if you have the older 2000, a display that beats all).
 
I don't have to push this one hard because its on an easy listening station. I don't think it could hack it on 'The Rock' or 'The Edge'. I reduced the drive to the midrange limiter and quicker attack times on the pres and high bands which did wonders for cold vocals, I also lowered the gate on the levellers which gave the top end a little more density and consistancy. I think it sounds quite nice, nothing particularly exciting, but clean and open. I like the extra control Omnia give over the multiband stuff. Fast medium and slow release times don't cut it for me
 
Can anyone make sense of whats what on that tower? I know theres about 9 radio stations and 3 tv stations up there?
 
Santa came a little early for me this year and I thought I’d share. I’m now the owner of a used Ultramod Classic audio processor/stereo generator.

The basics:

The unit is 1U in height. The front panel consists of three knobs: expander threshold, Bass enhancement, and Modulation, which controls the drive to the final clippers.

There’s also trimmer pots for L/R input, Pilot injection and output level for each of the two MPX sockets as well as a stereo/mono switch.

There are front panel indicators for expander action as well as gain reduction and clipper activity.

The rear panel has a barrier strip for audio input and BNC connectors for the Composite outputs as well as a pilot output and SCA input.

Sound wise, it certainly is a step up from the simple built in limiter of the TX4.

For all our amusement, I’ve uploaded a clip of the processor in action.

The processor is being fed audio from an M-Audio 96/24 sound card, through a Behringer console. The console feeds a Compellor 320A and the Compellor feeds the Ultramod Classic.

The audio is recorded off air using a Sherwood tuner connected the alt bus on the Behringer and into the M-Audio soundcard.

The settings are as follows:

Compellor:
Drive: Three O’clock
Process Balance: Nine O’clock
Output: Twelve O’clock
Silence Gate: Nine O’clock
Leveling Speed: Slow
Leveling is linked, but compression is not and the stereo enhance is off

Ultramod:
Input Drive: adjusted for 12 to 14dB reduction with program material
Expander: 6, according to the manual, expansion will begin it -25dB
Bass 4
Mod 5, this is an aggressive setting
Pilot level and output set for +/- 75kHz

The clip I uploaded is Richard Marx Right Here Waiting. It’s labeled: Right Here Waiting_Compellor and Ultramod Classic.wav

I'm still tweaking.
 
I added a few more clips of the Compellor and Ultramod. One is Cascada "Everytime We Touch, the other is Evanescence "All That I'm Living For" and the last is Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of The Heart."

A few observations so far. When switching the unit to mono, the deviation drops by about half or so. I don't have a lot of processor experience, but I did play with an Optimod and don't recall it doing that when put into mono. However, the Optimod 8100 only used either the left or right input for mono. Maybe it's got to do with how the Ultramod sums the two channels?

Also, I noticed if I turn it off, I have to re set the levels or the deviation will be way off from where I left it. The Broadcast Warehouse TX4 also loses deviation from a cold start, but it's only a few kHz worth. I'll have to keep tabs on that to be sure it's the Ultramod and not something I did without realizing. Incidentially, the Ultramod doesn't have a power switch, I have to turn off the power strip it's plugged into.

Happy Holidays
 
Info-warrior said:
A few observations so far. When switching the unit to mono, the deviation drops by about half or so. I don't have a lot of processor experience, but I did play with an Optimod and don't recall it doing that when put into mono.

I have noticed this with other Ultramods.
 
Info-warrior said:
I added a few more clips of the Compellor and Ultramod. One is Cascada "Everytime We Touch, the other is Evanescence "All That I'm Living For" and the last is Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of The Heart."

The new material reveals some weaknesses of a processor, I'm afraid. With fast transients and bass it doesn't sound as nice as the "Right here waiting" track hinted... Still it's quite consistent and maintains level pretty well.


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
Goran Tomas said:
Info-warrior said:
I added a few more clips of the Compellor and Ultramod. One is Cascada "Everytime We Touch, the other is Evanescence "All That I'm Living For" and the last is Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of The Heart."

The new material reveals some weaknesses of a processor, I'm afraid. With fast transients and bass it doesn't sound as nice as the "Right here waiting" track hinted... Still it's quite consistent and maintains level pretty well.


Regards,
Goran Tomas

Yeah, I can hear the tonal changes. On Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of The Heart" I can hear the gain releasing after cymbal crashes. I'll have to experiment with taking the Compellor out of line and/or setting it to level only to see if it's truely the Ultramod or an interaction between the Compellor and it.

Still, for a wideband device, it handles the pre-emphasised audio rather well. The wideband limiter of the TX4 would suck the life out of the music at 12dB of gain reduction in my opinion.
 
Info Warrior,
I sold a UM-2000 processor and comproc on ebay several weeks ago,by chance did you buy it?

When you mention about the mono switch dropping the audio level,i seem to remember some ultramods having 2 soldered jumpers on the motherboard,these were connected accross the m/s switch in parallel with the ribbon cable,similar to below,this is only from memory.
I am sure someone will know the exact details.

_____
/ \
oooooo
oooooo
\____/

It was the early UM2000 processor that had a few hard wired mods added from the factory,the later UM2001 did not.

It was common to see this done,the Cutting Edge Unity 2000 had plenty of rewiring on some pcb's,and several blank dill sockets too!
 
BROADCAST said:
Info Warrior,
I sold a UM-2000 processor and comproc on ebay several weeks ago,by chance did you buy it?

When you mention about the mono switch dropping the audio level,i seem to remember some ultramods having 2 soldered jumpers on the motherboard,these were connected accross the m/s switch in parallel with the ribbon cable,similar to below,this is only from memory.
I am sure someone will know the exact details.

_____
/ \
oooooo
oooooo
\____/

It was the early UM2000 processor that had a few hard wired mods added from the factory,the later UM2001 did not.

It was common to see this done,the Cutting Edge Unity 2000 had plenty of rewiring on some pcb's,and several blank dill sockets too!

I got this used one direct from Broadcast Technology. Using it right now to transmit Christmas music around my house. Since most of that stuff is nice and dynamic to begin with, it's doing a nice job of keeping things consistant. I haven't taken the cover off yet, but when I do, I'll look to see if it has the soldered jumpers.
 
To those whom are interested. I've uploaded a clip from the Unity 2000i in the pictures if your curious to know what it sounds like. Also a demo of what happens when the announcer voice-tracs the weather too loud with wizzard. Affectionatly known as chipmunking! ;D
 
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