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The Cheap 8500? Optimod-PC before an old 8200

E

ElCheapo

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I just read some threads in the engineering listserve archive over at broadcast.net about processing for HD2 channels.One solution that was suggested is using the Optimod-PC for this purpose.One user said it's basically an Optimod 8500 on a card, and Bob Orban stopped by to say that its processing structure is very similar to the 8500 with the V2 software which was recently released.Since the Optimod-PC is essentially an Optimod with analog and digital I/O only (no stereo generator, no pre-emphasis) would it make sense to buy one of these to use as a pre-processor for an older processor and set the older processor (an 8200 for example) to do as little as possible - defeat AGC - no limiting, etc.Would it be possible to get near 8500 performance on a shoestring budget?Even if the performance wasn't comparable to an actual 8500, it seems to me that it would have to be far better than an 8200 alone - the documentation for the Optimod-PC says the AGC on the card is identical to the AGC in the 8400 & 8500 and is superior to the AGC in the 8200. It also features the spatial expander algorithms and look ahead limiter of the 8500.Am I missing something here, or is it actually possible to get 8500-like performance with a $1,500 list price upgrade and an old PC?
 
Sounds like a great idea!I use a DSP-X to pre-process my audio in front of our AM processor. We've got a mid 1990's vintage Cutting Edge Unity AM at our transmitter site, being fed from a DSP-X in DR mode (AGC+Lookahead Limiting, Clipper Disabled)I've managed to build a lot more density while maintaining a nice open and punchy sound. The 4 band Windowed AGC in the DSP-X really shines!The DSPXtra with the Ariane would be absolutely incredible!We can't wait for the DSP-Xtra AM to arrive!I'm sure you would able to achieve a similar result with the Optimod PC card... maybe one day I'll be in a position to compare the two!
 
I've heard great things about the BW boxes and would love to go that route, but there is no budget for this whatsoever. I'm in a decent sized market, but the company I work for simply doesn't do processor upgrades unless the old one is completely fried.Believe it or not, this is probably going to be purchased by the PD of the station. He wants it that badly, and at a street price of (I'm guessing) $1,200 or so, he can afford it.
 
ElCheapo said:
I've heard great things about the BW boxes and would love to go that route, but there is no budget for this whatsoever. I'm in a decent sized market, but the company I work for simply doesn't do processor upgrades unless the old one is completely fried.Believe it or not, this is probably going to be purchased by the PD of the station. He wants it that badly, and at a street price of (I'm guessing) $1,200 or so, he can afford it.
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Contact me off list and we will see if there is anything we can do to get you upgraded to one of the DSPX range of processors one way or another and in budget.Best regardsScott
 
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