Omnia Omnia-6EX / EXi Installation And Operation Manual

Contents

Omnia Omnia-6EX / EXi Installation And Operation Manual Manual pdf 83 page image

Omnia-6ex Use and Operation Manual – V: 1.2083The following sections are provided to assist you in designing the personality of your station’s sound. As we saidearlier, there is no precise recipe for setting up audio processing. While there are some basic fundamentals that youcan use to get started toward the sound that you desire, it may require a concerted effort with extended listening andsubtle processing changes over time to achieve your ultimate goal. Just remember to know your competition, knowyour goals, take your time, and adjust methodically.Increasing LoudnessTry to resist the temptation to just crank up the aggressive processing sections, like the limiters. Those will addloudness of course, but usually at the cost of quality. Many times, building a little more RMS level in the AGCsections will do the trick instead, and with no obvious sonic penalties. The following are some suggestions on whereto begin to make changes. We suggest that you them in the order described.Increasing loudness can be accomplished in four ways:1. Alter the following parameters in the AGC sections:• Increase the AGC Drive to the WB (wideband) AGC section.• Increase the Drive to each band of the Multiband AGC in the AGC XO (crossover) screen or reduce (setto lower numbers) the attack time of the WB AGC section, causing an increase in activity in the MultibandAGC sections.• Increase the Release time settings in each band to make it operate faster.• Increase the amount of Make-Up Gain in each band.2. Modify the Multiband Limiter sections:• Increase the Drive to each section using the controls in the Limiter XO screen.• Increase the Release time settings in each band so that they operate faster.• Set the Hold threshold to a lower value or turn them off.3. Drive the Clipper/Look Ahead Limiter sections harder.4. A combination of the above steps, but in small increments! It might sound crazy, but it’s true! In thissituation, resist the temptation to make too many changes at once. When that occurs, it becomes difficult todetermine why the result of an adjustment did or did not make sense. Focus on one specific area of yoursound at a time. Once that area is satisfactory, then move the focus to the next area, as needed.Based upon the above suggestions, you can experiment with different styles of processing. Some broadcasters preferto have their processing be perceptibly loud, but dynamic. They may not have the loudest station on the dial, but thestation’s audio still gives the illusion of loudness, retaining detail and clarity, and while reducing listener fatigue.This can be done by centering your efforts in the Limiter sections, and avoiding heavy use of the clipper. One trickthat works well is to use very fast attack and release times in the multiband limiters, but do not let them producemore than 5 dB - 7 dB of gain reduction. This keeps the IM distortion of the limiters to a minimum, and doesn't“over-squash” your sound. Adjusted in this manner, the Limiter sections are relied upon to generate higher short-term RMS levels, which translates into increases in perceived loudness.If the quest is to produce the “loud and proud” appearance of the “big boys” in town, then the limiters and clippersshould both be leaned upon a bit more. Loudness at all costs is usually the reason for moving the processing in adirection like this. Using larger amounts of drive to the multiband limiters, along with faster release times will