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INTRODUCTION ORBAN Model 8400
8400 OPTIMOD-FM Digital Audio Processor
Orban’s all-digital 8400 OPTIMOD-FM Audio Processor can help you achieve the high-
est audio quality in FM stereo broadcasting. Because all processing is performed by high-
speed mathematical calculations within Motorola DSP56362 Digital Signal Processing
chips, the processing has cleanliness, quality, and stability over time and temperature that
is unmatched by analog processors.
OPTIMOD-FM 8400 is descended from the industry-standard OPTIMOD-FM 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 com-
petitive commercial environment.
Because OPTIMOD-FM incorporates several audio processing innovations exclu-
sive to Orban products, you should not assume that it can be operated in the same
way as less sophisticated processors. If you do, you may get disappointing results.
Take a little time now to familiarize yourself with OPTIMOD-FM. A small investment of
your time now will yield large dividends in audio quality.
The rest of Section 1 explains how OPTIMOD-FM fits into the FM broadcast facility.
Section 2 explains how to install it. Section 3 tells how to operate OPTIMOD-FM. Sec-
tion 4 through Section 6 provides reference information.
OPTIMOD-FM was designed to deliver a high quality sound while simultaneously in-
creasing the average modulation of the channel substantially beyond that achievable by
“recording studio”-style compressors and limiters. Because such processing can exagger-
ate flaws in the source material, it is very important that the source audio be as clean as
possible.
For best results, feed OPTIMOD-FM unprocessed audio. No other audio processing is
necessary or desirable.
If you wish to place level protection prior to your studio/transmitter link (STL), use the
Orban 8200ST OPTIMOD-Studio Compressor/Limiter/HF Limiter/Clipper. The 8200ST
can be adjusted so that it substitutes for the broadband AGC circuitry in OPTIMOD-FM,
which is then defeated.
OPTIMOD-FM 8400 is available in two main configurations—the 8400 has a full-
featured front panel, while the 8400/PD has a blank front panel and must be controlled by
Orban’s PC Remote application running on Microsoft Windows 98 or later. Both units
have identical sound and features except for the difference in their front panels. Both
units run the same software.
Both the 8400 and 8400/PD can accept Orban’s HD (“High-Definition Digital Radio”)
hardware plug-in, 8400HD. 8400HD adds an extra AES/EBU output to drive the digital
channel in the iBiquity system. This output provides look-ahead peak limiting that oper-
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