Orban 9300 Optimod AM Audio Processor

Orban’s all-digital 9300 OPTIMOD-AM Audio Processor can help you achieve the highest possible audio quality in monophonic AM shortwave, medium wave and long wave broadcasts. OPTIMOD-AM delivers louder, cleaner, brighter, FM-like audio with an open, fatigue-free quality that attracts listeners and holds them. Because all processing is performed by high-speed mathematical calculations within Motorola DSP56367 digital signal processing chips, the processing has cleanliness, quality, and stability over time and temperature that is unmatched by analog processors.
OPTIMOD-AM 9300 is descended from the industry-standard 9100 and 9200 OPTIMOD-AM audio processors. Thousands of these processors are on the air all over the world. They have proven that the “OPTIMOD sound” attracts and keeps an audience even in the most competitive commercial environment.

The 9300 was designed to deliver a high-quality FM-like sound to the listener’s ear by pre-processing for the limitations of the average car or table radio (while avoiding audible side effects and compromises in loudness or coverage). Except for newly designed parametric lowpass filters, the 9300’s five-band compressor and clipper are identical to those in the 9200. Additionally, we have improved on the 9200 by adding a more powerful equalizer and providing a two-band AGC with window gating.

Like its predecessors going back to the original Optimod-AM 9000, the 9300’s design was based on a rigorous study of real-world AM radios so that the processed audio sounds loud, crisp, and highly intelligible through such radios. Twelve factory presets offer processing appropriate for any format, from fine arts to shortwave speech-only programming. These presets can be easily customized with a one-knob LESS-MORE control. For power users and audio processing experts, all factory programming parameters have been exposed for adjustment via the 9300’s PC Remote application, which runs on Windows.

The 9300s AGC uses the same dual-band, window-gated technology as the AGCs in many other current Optimods. This technology allows the AGC to correct large level disparities quickly while not adding density to program material levels are already well controlled.

The 9300 is a monophonic processor. If you need stereo processing and/or digital radio/netcast processing, Orban’s state-of-the-art OPTIMOD-AM 9400 is the ideal processor for you. However, not every station needs the power and versatility of our flagship 9400. The 9300 is aimed toward medium and small-market broadcasters who do not intend to broadcast digitally and who are not running AM stereo. The 9300 offers more features and even better sound than previous Orban AM processors, while being easy to install and operate.

Because Orban expects that its 9300 customers will include smaller stations with limited engineering resources, the 9300 has been designed with less than 5 milliseconds of delay, making it comfortable for talent to monitor off-air using headphones-no separate headphone feed is required. To achieve this low delay, the 9300 uses 9200-style multiband distortion-canceled clipping instead of the look-ahead “intelligent” distortion control used in the 9400.

It is impossible to characterize the listening quality of even the simplest limiter or compressor based on specifications, because such specifications cannot adequately describe the crucial dynamic processes that occur under program conditions. Therefore, the only way to evaluate the sound of an audio processor meaningfully is by subjective listening tests. Certain specifications are presented here to assure the engineer that they are reasonable, to help plan the installation, and make certain comparisons with other processing equipment.

* Except as noted, specifications apply for measurements from the analog left/right input to the analog #1 and analog #2 output.

Performance:
Frequency Response (Bypass Mode): ±0.2 dB, 50 Hz–9.5 kHz, or as determined by user-settable high-pass and low-pass filters.
Noise: Output noise floor will depend upon how much gain the processor is set for (Limit Drive, AGC Drive, Two-Band Drive, and/or Multiband Drive), gating level, equalization, noise reduction, etc. The dynamic range of the A/D Converter, which has a specified overload-to–noise ratio of 110 dB, primarily governs it. The dynamic range of the digital signal processing is 144 dB.
Total System Distortion (De-Emphasized, 100% Modulation): <0.01% THD, 20 Hz–1 kHz, rising to <0.05% at 9.5 kHz. <0.02% SMPTE IM Distortion.
Polarity: The processing employs phase rotation to maximize loudness. Therefore, the polarity is frequency-dependent.
Processing Sample Rate: The 9300 is a “multirate” system, using internal rates from 32 kHz to 128 kHz as appropriate for the processing being performed. Audio clippers operate at 128 kHz.
Processing Resolution: Internal processing has 24 bit (fixed point) or higher resolution; uses Motorola DSP56362 DSP chips.
Low-Pass Filter: 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, or 9.5 (NRSC) kHz as set by user. Unit can be set up to comply easily with ITU-R and NRSC spectrum masks. Lowpass filter shape is parametric and can be set to be –0.1, –3, or –6 dB down at the cutoff frequency.
High-Pass Filter: Constrained by user settable fifth-order “quasi-elliptical” highpass filter to 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 Hz. All filters have equal-ripple (Chebychev-like) passbands and a 25 Hz notch for transmitter protection.
Channel Configuration: Processing is monophonic.

Installation:
Analog Audio Input
Configuration: Stereo (Configurable to drive the processing selection with mono from left, mono from right, or mono from sum).
Impedance: 10kΩ load impedance, electronically balanced.
Nominal Input Level: Software adjustable from -9.0 to +13.0 dBu (VU).
Maximum Input Level: +27 dBu.
Connectors: Two XLR-type, female, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, Pins 2 (+) and 3 electronically balanced, floating and symmetrical.
A/D Conversion: 24 bit 128x oversampled delta sigma converter with linear-phase anti-aliasing filter. Converter outputs 64 kHz sample rate, which the 9300 then decimates to 32 kHz in DSP using an ultra-high-quality image-free synchronous sample rate converter.
Filtering: RFI filtered, with high-pass filter at 0.15 Hz (-3 dB).

Analog Audio Output
Configuration: Two monophonic outputs, capable to driving two transmitters. The two outputs have independent level controls.
Source Impedance: 351Ω (includes the third-order output EMI suppression network), electronically balanced and floating. The user can specify the output load in software to calibrate the output level accurately into a bridging or 600Ω load.
Load Impedance: 600Ω or greater, balanced or unbalanced. Termination not required or recommended.
Output Level (100% peak modulation): Adjustable from -6 dBu to +20 dBu peak, into 600Ω or greater load, software-adjustable.
Signal-to-Noise: ≥ 90 dB unweighted (Bypass mode, de-emphasized, 20 Hz – 9.5 kHz bandwidth, referenced to 100% modulation).
Distortion: ≤ 0.01% THD (Bypass mode, de-emphasized) 20 Hz – 9.5 kHz bandwidth.
Connectors: Two XLR-type, male, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, Pins 2 (+) and 3 electronically balanced, floating and symmetrical.
D/A Conversion: 24 bit 128x oversampled.
Filtering: RFI filtered.

Digital Audio Input
Configuration: Stereo per AES3 standard, 24 bit resolution, software processing selection of mono from left, mono from mono from sum.
Sampling Rate: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz, automatically selected.
Connector: XLR-type, female, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, pins 2 and 3 transformer balanced and floating, 110Ω impedance.
Input Reference Level: Variable within the range of -30 dBFS to -10 dBFS.
J.17 De-emphasis: Software-selectable.
Filtering: RFI filtered.

Digital Audio Output
Configuration: Dual-channel per AES3 standard. Each channel carries an identical monophonic signal.
Sample Rate: Internal free running at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz, selected in software. Can also be synced to the AES3 input at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96 kHz, as configured in software.
Word Length: Software selected for 24, 20, 18, 16 or 14-bit resolution. First-order highpass noise-shaped dither can be added. Dither level automatically adjusted appropriately for the word length.
Connector: XLR-type, male, EMI-suppressed. Pin 1 chassis ground, pins 2 and 3 transformer balanced and floating, 110 Ω impedance.
Output Level (100% peak modulation): -20.0 to 0.0 dBFS software controlled.
Filtering: RFI filtered.

Remote Computer Interface
Configuration: TCP/IP protocol via direct cable connect, modem, or Ethernet interface. Modem is not supplied.
Serial Port: 115 kbps RS-232 port DB-9 male, EMI-suppressed.
Ethernet Port: 100 Mbit/sec on RJ45 female connector. Compatible to 10, 100, and 1000 Mbit/sec networks.

Remote Control (GPI) Interface
Configuration: Four (4) inputs, opto-isolated and floating.
Voltage: 6 – 15 V AC or DC, momentary or continuous. 12 VDC provided to facilitate use with contact closure.
Connector: DB-25 male, EMI-suppressed.
Control: User-programmable for any four of user presets, factory presets, bypass, test tone, mono L mode, mono R mode, mono sum mode, analog input, digital input.
Filtering: RFI filtered.

Power
Voltage: Universal switching power supply, 85 – 264 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz, 15 VA.
Connector: IEC, EMI-suppressed. Detachable 3-wire power cord supplied.
Grounding: Circuit ground is hard-wired to chassis ground.
Safety Standards: ETL listed to UL standards, CE marked.

Environmental
Operating Temperature: 32 ° to 122 °F / 0 ° to 50 °C for all operating voltage ranges.
Humidity: 0 – 95% RH, non-condensing.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 19" x 1.75" x 14.25" / 48.3 cm x 4.5 cm x 36.2 cm. One rack unit high. RFI / EMI Tested according to Cenelec procedures. FCC Part 15 Class A device.
Shipping Weight & Dimensions: 18 lbs / 8.2 kg – 23" x 23" x 6"
Warranty; Five Years, Parts and Service Subject to the limitations set forth in Orban's Standard Warranty Agreement.