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Orban Optimod-PC 1101E

PCIe Card Microsoft Windows® Audio Processing Card for Professional Broadcasters/Netcasters

The Orban Optimod-PC 1101e professional Microsoft Windows audio processing card for PCIe bus systems offers dedicated, broadcast-quality digital signal processing on-board for audio processing, mixing, and routing. Optimod-PC processing is more reliable than software-based processors that run native on the computer's CPU because the operating system can never starve Optimod-PC's processor or mixer for processing cycles. This allows more instances of an encoding application to run glitch-free on the computer's CPU, which provides higher reliability and lower operating costs because fewer CPUs are required for large operations.

Drivers are now available for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, and 10.

* If you need the optional breakout cable for this card, don't forget to order it with your card. The cable is listed as related item at the bottom of this page!

Features:

User-Friendly Interface

-Optimod-quality digital audio processing on a PCIe sound card that pre-processes audio for consistency and loudness before it is transmitted or recorded.

-Applications include netcasting, HD Radio® (both primary and secondary digital channels), DAB and other dedicated digital radio services, FMExtra™ and other digital subcarriers, mastering, audio production, and many others.

-Supplied WAVE drivers allow Optimod-PC's processed output to pass through the PCIe bus to the CPU, driving standard PC applications like Microsoft, or Real streaming encoders. Optimod-PC's audio driver allows it to appear as two sound devices to the computer's operating system. The driver (with the aid of concurrently running third-party software) also allows Optimod-PC to receive audio over IP from the host computer's network connection. Drivers are now available for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10

-Orban's PreCode™ technology manipulates several aspects of the audio to minimize artifacts caused by low bitrate codecs, ensuring consistent loudness and texture from one source to the next. PreCode includes special audio band detection algorithms that are energy and spectrum aware. This can improve codec performance on some codecs by reducing audio processing induced codec artifacts, even with program material that has been preprocessed by other processing than Optimod.

-Two-Band automatic gain control with window gating and selectable L/R or sum/difference processing compensates for widely varying input levels.

-Shelving bass equalizer and three-band parametric equalizer let you color the audio to your exact requirements.

-Low-IM look-ahead limiter effectively limits peaks while ensuring that low-bit-rate codecs operate optimally without overload.

-Precisely controls peak levels to prevent overmodulation or codec overload. The peak limiter can be set up to control "flat" transmission channels or channels preemphasized at 50μs or 75μs.

-While primarily oriented toward "flat" media, Optimod-PC can also provide preemphasis limitingfor the two standard preemphasis curves of 50μs and 75μs. This allows it to protect preemphasized satellite uplinks and similar channels where protection limiting or light processing is required. Because its processing topology is most effective with "flat media," Optimod-PC cannot provide extreme loudness for preemphasized radio channels. Use one of Orban's Optimod-FM processors for this application. For analog television with FM aural carrier(s), use Optimod-TV 8382.

-Optimod-PC's dual-mono architecture allows entirely separate mono programs to be processed in 5-band mode, facilitating dual-language operation. In this mode, both processing channels operate using the same processing parameters (like release time); you cannot adjust the two channels to provide different processing textures.

-Balanced analog input with 24-bit A/D converter is always active, mixing with the two digital inputs.

-Balanced analog monitor output with 24-bit D/A converter.

-Two AES3 or SPDIF digital inputs with high-quality sample rate conversion allow two asynchronous digital sources to be mixed: Ideal for network operations using local commercial/announcement insertion.

-The second digital input also accepts AES3 house sync, synchronizing the AES3 output sample rate to the sample rate of the sync input.

-Digital inputs accept any sample rate from 32 to 96 kHz without manual configuration.

-Two AES3 digital outputs at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz sample rate. In v1.0 software, these emit identical signals.

-Two Wave inputs from any PC audio application (like a playout system) that can emit standard Wave audio. Audio from the Wave inputs can be mixed and switched with Optimod-PC's hardware inputs. Because there are two inputs, you can operate two PC applications simultaneously and mix and/or switch their Wave outputs inside Optimod-PC, such as content/commercial insertion systems.

-Two Wave outputs to any PC audio application that can record or encode.

-Optimod-PC controls the audio bandwidth as necessary to accommodate the transmitted sample frequency, obviating the need for extra, overshooting anti-aliasing filters in downstream equipment. Optimod-PC's high frequency bandwidth can be switched instantly (typically in 1 kHz increments) between 10.0 kHz and 20 kHz. 20 kHz is used for highest-quality systems. 15 kHz meets the requirements of the iBiquity® HD-AM system that use 44.1 kHz system input sample frequency. (15 kHz codec bandwidth may also help low bitrate lossy codecs sound better than they do when fed full 20 kHz bandwidth audio.) 10 kHz bandwidth meets the requirements of auxiliary DAB transmissions using a 24 kHz sample frequency.

-Internal processing occurs at 48 kHz sample rate and 20 kHz audio bandwidth.

-Full PCIe bus-mastering with optimization.

-I/O Mixer application permits versatile routing and switching of processed and unprocessed audio from and to Optimod-PC's inputs and outputs, and to and from the host computer's WAVE audio.

-Terminal Control API for network or localhost control and automation of all I/O Mixer functions and Preset switching. Status is broadcast to all active clients.

-Serial Control API allows Optimod-PC to be controlled either by ASCII serial commands or by a serial-to-contact-closure device such as a Broadcast Tools SRC-16.

-MS Windows Mixer API support in parallel to the existing Orban Mixer allows standard Microsoft Windows audio applications to control Optimod PC's inputs and outputs.

-MS Windows Metering API so Windows applications using this API will display audio levels. (Many broadcast playout systems use this.)

-Freescale DSPs do all the audio processing—there is no extra DSP load on your computer's CPU, allowing more CPU for encoding of bit-reduced audio.

-Full coprocessing (independent of the host computer's CPU) means that audio will ordinarily continue to pass through the card from its hardware inputs to its hardware outputs even if the host computer crashes. (Of course, Wave inputs and outputs will stop working because these are dependent on operating system services.)

-Optimod-PC ships with over twenty standard presets, which correspond to different programming formats. These presets have already been tested and field-proven in major-market radio netcasting, digital radio, and direct satellite broadcasting applications (both radio and television) worldwide. There are also special-purpose presets for studio AGC, pure peak limiting, and low bitrate encoding applications.

-An easy-to-use graphic control application runs on your PC and can act as a client to control any number of Optimod-PC cards, either locally or in other PCs on your network via TCP/IP. The Orban software offers a server function, allowing other computers on your network to address cards located in your PC. (This server software is installed automatically as part of the Optimod-PC installation process and runs as a Windows Service.)

-The Control application allows you complete flexibility to create your own custom presets, to save as many as you want to your local hard drive, and to recall them at will.

-Dramatically improve audio consistency dynamically with that world-renowned Optimod sound.

-The 5500i provides universal transmitter protection and audio processing for FM broadcast. It can be configured to interface ideally with any commonly found transmission system in the world. 

-Most universal professional audio card with features not found anywhere else

-Prevents the top listener complaints: loudness variation and program inconsistency.

-Now two sound cards in one, for professional content/commercial insertion systems, and watermark encoding.

-Dedicated onboard DSP saves host computer CPU cycles for more streaming encoders and ensures against audio gaps or dropouts.

-Network control of audio routing, mixing, and processing.

-CBS Loudness Controller controls subjective loudness to ATSC A/85:2011 and EBU R 128 standards.

Adaptability through Multiple Audio Processing Structures

-A processing structure is a program that operates as a complete audio processing system. Only one processing structure can be active at a time. Just as there are many possible ways of configuring a processing system using analog components (such as equalizers, compressors, limiters, and clippers), there are many possible processing structures achievable by Optimod-PC. Optimod-PC realizes its processing structures as a series of high-speed mathematical computations made by Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips.

-Optimod-PC features two processing structures: Five-Band (or Multiband) for a consistent, "processed" sound, free from undesirable side effects and Two-Band for a tastefully controlled sound that preserves the frequency balance of the original program material.

-The Two-Band structure can also be tuned to operate as a Protection Limiter, providing up to 25dB of safety limiting with minimal side effects.

-Optimod-PC can increase the density and loudness of the program material by multiband compression and look-ahead limiting, improving the consistency of the station's sound and increasing loudness and definition remarkably, without producing unpleasant side effects.

-Optimod-PC rides gain over an adjustable range of up to 25dB, compressing dynamic range and compensating for operator gain-riding errors and for gain inconsistencies in automated systems.

-Optimod-PC's processing structures are all phase-linear to maximize audible transparency.

-Optimod-PC can be changed from one processing structure to another with a smooth cross-fade.

-The 1101e provides two different stereo enhancement algorithms. The first is based on Orban's patented analog 222 Stereo Enhancer, which increases the energy in the stereo difference signal (L-R) whenever a transient is detected in the stereo sum signal (L+R). The second stereo enhancement algorithm passes the L-R signal through a delay line and adds this decorrelated signal to the unenhanced L-R signal. Gating circuitry prevents over-enhancement and undesired enhancement on slightly unbalanced mono material.

-Two-Band automatic gain control with window gating and selectable L/R or sum/difference processing compensates for widely varying input levels.

-Shelving bass equalizer and three-band parametric equalizer let you color the audio to your exact requirements.

-Two-band and five-band compressors with parametric soft-knee compression curves allow you to fine-tune the audio to your exact requirements and make Optimod-PC an excellent mastering processor.

-The output of the two-band or five-band compressor can be routed directly to the card's outputs, facilitating creation of a low-delay monitoring path for talent headphones.

-Low-IM look-ahead limiter effectively limits peaks while ensuring that low-bit-rate codecs operate optimally without overload.

-CBS Loudness Controller™ limits subjective loudness to a preset threshold , making the 1101e an ideal processor in sound-for-picture applications by taming loud commercials before they annoy and alienate the audience. The Loudness Controller uses the 1981 Jones & Torick algorithm developed at CBS Technology Center and further refined by Orban. This processing fully complies with the loudness control requirements in ATSC A/85:2011 and EBU R 128.

-CBS Loudness Meter™ measures the subjective loudness of the 1101e's output and is displayed in the 1101e's control application meter window. In dual-mono mode, there are two independent loudness controllers and two loudness meters available.

-Transparently supports dialnorm metadata in Dolby Digital® transmissions: If you tell the 1101e the dialnorm level you are sending to receivers and use a "TV" processing preset, your transmission will automatically have the same loudness as other properly aligned Dolby Digital sources. This makes the 1101e an excellent choice to process ATSC subchannels.

-A pure peak limiting preset is available. It allows the 1101e to perform very high quality peak limiting in mastering applications.

-Optimod-PC can be used as for automatic gain control, AGC (including peak limiting) to protect a studio-to-transmitter link (STL), optimally using the STL's native dynamic range.

In-Depth

Optimod-PC works great for both live streaming and on-demand programming. Its three on-board Freescale DSP56367 DSP chips provide a loud, consistent sound by performing stereo enhancement, automatic gain control (AGC), equalization, multiband gain control, peak-level control, and subjective loudness control. Optimod-PC boasts professional AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs, plus balanced analog inputs and outputs that can operate at professional +4dBu reference levels while resisting pickup of hum and noise.

Optimod-PC's audio driver allows it to appear as two standard sound devices to the computer's operating system. With one Optimod-PC, netcasters can replace selected content (such as commercials in a program originally created for radio broadcast) and inject watermark encoding for ratings. This approach maintains the same audio processing path on both program and inserted audio, delivering a polished, consistent sound while eliminating the number one listener complaint: loud commercials. Drivers are now available for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10

Optimod-PC audio processing works with all digital transmission media and channels. It tailors your audio signal to help you compete in audio netcasting, HD Radio (both primary and multicast digital channels), DAB, DRM, and other dedicated digital radio services, FMExtra and other digital subcarriers, mastering, audio production, and many others.

Without Optimod-PC processing, audio can sound dull, thin, or inconsistent in any combination. Optimod-PC's multiband processing automatically levels and re-equalizes its input to the "major-market" standards expected by the mass audience. It also helps overcome background noise in mobile listening environments.

Optimod processing algorithms simultaneously control audio gain and peaks, artistically, musically, and naturally, to give the illusion that processing is not taking place. Optimod algorithms intelligently adapt themselves to the input program material. Once Optimod-PC is tuned for the sound texture required for the broadcast or netcast format (which is made easy by the many format-specific presets), it will provide excellent consistency regardless of the level or texture of the original program material. Its automatic gain control and equalization achieve a consistent sound, while accurate peak control maximizes loudness. Booming bass is tightened; weak, thin bass is brought up; highs are always present and consistent in level.

Professional-grade netcasting requires audio processing similar to FM broadcast (although there are some important differences in the peak limiting because of the different characteristics of the pre-emphasized FM channel and the perceptually coded netcasting channel). Your listeners deserve to get the best quality and consistency you can provide. Combining Orban Optimod-PC with Orban Opticodec-PC Streaming Encoder will deliver stunning sonic results for Internet streams that can be at least as good as or better than HD or satellite radio.

Orban's PreCode technology manipulates several aspects of the audio to minimize artifacts caused by low bitrate codecs, ensuring consistent loudness and texture from one source to the next. PreCode includes special audio band detection algorithms that are energy and spectrum aware. This can improve codec performance on some codecs by reducing audio processing induced codec artifacts, even with program material that has been preprocessed by other processing than Optimod. There are several factory presets tuned specifically for low performance, low bitrate codecs.

Optimod-PC is also an excellent mastering processor, offering soft knee multiband compression with knee and ratio controls available separately for each band. This is followed by a low-IM look-ahead limiter that can typically achieve 12 dB of gain reduction before it produces objectionable artifacts (this limiter is exceptionally loud and clean).

Digital mixing is crucially important to a netcaster who needs to control commercial content and insertion. Unlike most sound cards, Optimod-PC lets you mix an analog source, two digital sources, and two Wave sources. For example, you could run a playout system on your computer while using the three hardware inputs for a live microphone feed, commercial insert, and network insert. Or you could run the commercial insert playout software on the same computer as the main playout system, using Optimod-PC's second Wave input to separately route the outputs of the two playout systems to the card. In most cases, an external mixer isn't needed, making Optimod-PC a more economical system solution than a low-priced sound card combined with a bunch of external hardware. This is also perfect for podcast production.

Optimod-PC comes with over 20 great-sounding presets that make it easy to create a sonic texture that's just right for your target audience. If you want to customize a preset, you can start with an easy LESS-MORE control, and, if that's not enough, tweak over 50 parameters to hone your sound to perfection. Optimod-PC's deep interface will never hold you back as your processing expertise increases, yet its carefully crafted design insulates you from the details if you need great sound right now.

Specifications:

SYSTEM

Number of Audio Processors: One stereo or two independent mono audio processors, each consisting of the following cascaded processing elements: Internal Processing: Input —>Stereo Enhancer —>Two-Band defeatable AGC with window gating —>Five-Band Equalizer/HF Enhancer —>Multiband Compressor —>Look-ahead Limiter —> Automatic Loudness Controller —>Output.

Number of Channels: The 1101e audio driver allows it to appear as two standard sound devices to the computer operating system. Each of the two sound devices can handle one stereo channel or two mono channels. The channels can be mixed and routed via a three-bus mixer ("Processed," "Direct 1," and "Direct 2"), however 1101e can only apply stereo or dual-mono audio processing to the output of the "Processed" bus. The remaining two "Direct" busses are applied to the Output Routing Switcher but cannot be further processed. See block diagram.

Frequency Response: ±0.1dB, 2-20,000Hz
(Bypass software running).

Input/Output Delay: Adjustable from 25 ms to 62 ms in 1 ms steps. Presets available for one frame of: 30 fps (33.33ms), 29.97 fps (NTSC color video; 33.37ms), 25 fps (most PAL video; 40ms), and 24 fps (film; 41.67ms). "Minimum" delay is also available; this delay will vary according to the processing structure in use and crossover mode settings.

Internal Filters: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 20kHz can be used to provide additional anti-aliasing for low sample rate services, such as Internet Streaming Encoders, Eureka-147 (24kHz mode), iBiquity HD-AM (32kHz) and Digital Radio Mondiale.

Internal Sample Rate: 48kHz.

Wave Sample Rate: 8-96kHz.

Internal Resolution: 24-bit fixed point (3 x Freescale DSP56367).

Input/Output Resolution: 24-bit.

Peak Control Accuracy: If output samples are synchronous with internal samples, maximum overshoot of any output sample is 0.1dB. This is true at 48kHz output sample rate. If sample rate conversion after internal processing makes output samples asynchronous with internal samples, output samples can overshoot as much as 1dB (0.3dB typical).

Phase Response: All processing is linear-phase (constant group delay).

AGC (Automatic Gain Control): ±12dB/24dB gain range, Two-Band, Gate and Window enabled.

Stereo Enhancer: Two styles available: (1) Orban-patented L-R dynamic expansion triggered by L+R transients; (2) L-R delay.

Equalizers: Shelving Low Bass EQ, selectable 6 dB, 12dB or 18dB/octave. Three-band Parametric EQ with analog-style bell-shaped curves. Program Adaptive HF Enhancer.

Multiband Compressors: -24dB gain range, Five-Band and Two-Band, selectable by mute-free crossfade.

Limiter: -12dB gain range, Look-ahead IM distortion reduced, competitive with the best dedicated mastering limiters, achieving high loudness with a remarkable lack of side-effects.

Loudness Controller: Constrains subjective loudness to a user-adjustable threshold via the 1981 Jones & Torick CBS Technology Center algorithm, as further refined and developed by Orban. The algorithm also drives a subjective loudness meter, which is displayed on the 1101e's GUI. In dual-mono mode, there are two independent loudness controllers and meters.

Number of Factory Presets: More than 20, each with 19-step LESS-MORE control. Presets are fully customizable with FULL CONTROL. In addition to presets for full processing, there are also "AGC" and "Look-ahead Limiter" presets.

Number of User Presets: Essentially unlimited. User presets can be saved on the host hard drive or on other storage devices.

WAVE AUDIO INPUT

Number of Inputs: 2

Configuration: Stereo

Sound Devices: 2

Driver: Multiclient Driver allows 1101e to appear as two standard sound devices to the computer operating system. The input can therefore be received from multiple software applications running on the host computer system by use of standard operating system sound device driver calls. For example, this could include single or multiple player applications, such as an audio playout system with multiple players, content insertion system, or audio over IP routed into the host computer through an Ethernet port, and/or multiple streaming audio encoders. Because the driver is multiclient, it allows it to source multiple applications simultaneously. A versatile mixer and router application allows you to mix digital, analog, and wave inputs to three busses (one with OPTIMOD-PC processing and two without) and to route the outputs of the "Processed" and "Direct" busses to the Analog, Digital, and Wave Outputs in any configuration or combination, such that any output can receive any bus or the unprocessed Wave Input. Content insertion systems that would normally require two sound devices can be configured to work with one 1101e Optimod-PC, requiring only one PCIe slot per program source.

Sample Rate: 8-96kHz. Asynchronously Sample Rate Converted by Driver

Sync: Internal free running or External. Either AES/EBU, Word Clock, or 10MHz input can be used as source for external sync.
Wave data will be clocked to software configurable Internal or External sources.

Input Level: Variable within the range of -20 to 0dBFS (Peak) in 0.5dB steps.
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API

WAVE AUDIO OUTPUT

Number of Outputs: 2

Configuration: Stereo

Sound Devices: 2

Driver: Multiclient Driver allows 1101e to appear as two standard sound devices to the computer operating system. The output can therefore be routed to multiple software applications simultaneously, such as audio encoders, recorders, and content insertion systems running on the host system, and/or the card physical outputs via the Mixer Application. Software applications running on the host system do not require the use of physical cables to connect Wave Inputs and Outputs to applications, eliminating any unnecessary digital sample rate conversion. Content insertion systems that would normally require two sound devices can be configured to work with one 1101e Optimod-PC, requiring only one PCIe slot per program source.

Sample Rate: Internal free running at 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, selected in software.
External Sync to either AES/EBU or Clock Input at 32kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.1 kHz, 96 kHz, or 10MHz, all ±4%.

Sync: Internal free running or External. Either AES/EBU, Word Clock, or 10MHz input can be used as source for External Sync.
Wave data will be clocked to software configurable Internal or External sources.

Jitter: Less than 10ns rms.

Output Level Control: Peak level is adjustable from -20 to 0dBFS in 0.1dB steps.
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API.

ANALOG AUDIO INPUT

Number of Inputs: 1

Configuration: Stereo.

Impedance: >10k ohm impedance, electronically balanced, floating and symmetrical.

Nominal Input Level: -10dBu / +4dBu VU, -2dBu / +21dBu PPM.
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API.

Maximum Input Level: +24 dBu, peak.

Reference Level: -20dBFS. -10dBu / +4dBu VU Input Level produces -20dBFS when Input Level fader is 0dB.

A-D Conversion: 24-bit 128X oversampled delta sigma A/D converter with linear phase anti-aliasing filter.

Audio Connector: DB-25, EMI suppressed.

ANALOG AUDIO OUTPUT

Note that this output is primarily for monitoring. Nevertheless, it has been designed for low noise, distortion, and overshoot and can drive an STL or transmitter in an analog facility. Peak control will not be as good as at the digital output because transmitted samples will be asynchronous with peak-controlled internal samples. Like the other OPTIMOD-PC outputs, the source of this output can be switched between the computer's WAVE output, the output of OPTIMOD-PC's Direct Mixer, OPTIMOD-PC's peak limiter output, and OPTIMOD-PC's multiband compressor output. Because most of the delay occurs in the peak limiter, using the multiband compressor output can make headphone monitoring much more comfortable for live talent when live microphone inputs are used.

Number of Outputs: 1

Configuration: Stereo.

Source Impedance: 50 ohms, electronically balanced and floating.

Load Impedance: 600 ohms or greater, balanced or unbalanced. Termination not required or recommended.

Output Level: +4dBu nominal; Clip level +18dBu unbalanced, +24dBu balanced.
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API.

Signal-to-Noise: 90dB unweighted signal-to-noise, 20Hz-20kHz (bypass mode) (Note: To prevent out-of-band noise from causing falsely high noise readings, noise and distortion specifications must be verified by a bandpass filter having a very sharp cutoff at 20 kHz.).

Distortion: <0.01% THD (bypass mode), 20Hz-20kHz. (Note: To prevent out-of-band noise from causing falsely high noise readings, noise and distortion specifications must be verified by a bandpass filter having a very sharp cutoff at 20 kHz.)

DA Conversion: 24-bit 128X oversampled D/A with linear phase anti-imaging filter.

DC Offset: Less than 10mV differential offset.

Highpass Filter: -3dB 2.0Hz.

Audio Connector: DB-25, EMI suppressed.

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT

Number of Inputs: 2, each with Sample-Rate Converter. The two inputs can accept asynchronous inputs and will allow them to be mixed. One of the inputs can also be configured as sync reference to lock output sample rate to the sample rate at this input.

Configuration: Stereo AES/EBU (AES3-1992/AES18) or S/PDIF, 24-bits resolution, software selection of stereo, mono from left, mono from right, or mono from sum (as source to use as a mono processor).

User Bits: AES18 compliant. Incoming User Bits will pass through to Digital Output. User Bits can also be inserted or extracted via Serial or Ethernet using Optimod-PC Control Application.

Impedance: Transformer balanced and floating, 110 ohm impedance, AES/EBU.

Sample Rate: 20-96kHz.

Input Level: Variable within the range of -20 to 0dBFS (Peak) in 0.5dB steps. 
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API.

Frequency Response: DC - 20,000Hz ±0.1dB (Digital I/O).

Internal Digital Input: See Wave Audio Input above.

Audio Connector: DB-25, EMI suppressed.

Word Clock Connector: DB-25, EMI Suppressed and/or BNC.

DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT

Number of Outputs: 2

Configuration: Two-channel per AES/EBU-standard (AES3-1992) or S/PDIF (consumer) standard, software selectable.

Output Level Control: Peak level is adjustable from -20 to 0dBFS in 0.1dB steps.
Software adjustable via Optimod-PC Mixer Application and Windows Mixer API.

Sample Rate: Internal free running at 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.1 kHz, or 96 kHz, selected in software. Can also be synced to either AES/EBU input at 32kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.1 kHz, or 96 kHz, all ±4%.

Word Length: Selectable 24, 20, 18, or 16-bit. Optional dither can be added, with level adjusted appropriate to word length. This is first-order noise-shaped dither. (i.e., white TPDF dither of peak amplitude equal to the quantizer step size with noise shaping spectral density of 6dB/octave.) It sounds substantially quieter than white triangular PDF dither but, in contrast to more extreme noise-shaped dither, it adds only 3dB unweighted noise by comparison to white PDF dither.

Sync: Internal free running or external. Either AES/EBU, Word Clock, or 10MHz input can be used as source for external sync.

Frequency Response: DC - 20,000Hz ±0.1dB (Digital I/O).

Signal-to-Noise: 100dB (referenced to -20dBFS Lineup Level)(Digital I/O).

Dynamic Range: 120dB (bypass mode) (Digital I/O).

THD+N: 0.0006%, 1kHz, -1dBFS (bypass mode) (Digital I/O).

Crosstalk: Infinite (Digital I/O)

Internal Digital Output: See Wave Audio Output above.

Audio Connector: DB-25, EMI suppressed.

AUDIO CABLE ASSEMBLY

OPTIONAL: DB-25 plug-in 6'/1.8m I/O Cable Assembly
Audio Inputs are XLR Female, Audio Outputs are XLR Male, Clock Input is BNC Female
Some applications will not require the use of external audio I/O, and therefore do not require a cable. Cable wiring Tascam compatible.

POWER

PCIe Connector: +3.3V at 1.5A, +12 at 200mA, ±15 derived from DC-DC converter.

COMPUTER

Drivers are available for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Drivers for 32 and 64-bit Windows 10 coming soon.

Minimum System Requirements: Recommend Intel CPU and Chipsets.

Microsoft Windows XP - Intel Pentium IV 1.0 GHz, RAM 128MB, 256MB recommended.

Microsoft Windows Vista - Intel Pentium IV 1.0. GHz, RAM 512MB, 1024MB recommended.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (Windows NT 6.1) 32/64-bit - Processor 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)/2 GHz recommended, RAM 1GB/2048MB recommended.

Microsoft Windows 8/8.1 (Windows NT 6.2/6.3) 32/64-bit - Processor 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)/2 GHz recommended, RAM 1GB/2048MB recommended.

Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 (Windows NT 6.2/6.3) 32/64-bit - Processor 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)/2 GHz recommended, RAM 1GB/2048MB recommended.

This provides the minimum recommended CPU power to control an arbitrary number of Optimod-PC cards with external audio sources. Audio player and/or encoding software will require additional CPU power.

Bus: PCIe: PCIe 1x Version 1.1 compliant. 250/500MB/s. Plug and Play supported.

Audio Drivers: Microsoft Windows XP, WDM Audio DirectSound, multi-client, bus-mastering 32/64-bit
Microsoft Windows Vista, WDM Audio, DirectSound, multi-client, bus-mastering 32/64-bit
Microsoft Windows 7, WDM Audio, DirectSound, multi-client, bus-mastering 32/64-bit
Microsoft Windows 8/8.1, WDM Audio, DirectSound, multi-client, bus-mastering 32/64-bit

Software:
Mixer application provides complete control of digital mixer and all hardware settings.

The control application provides subjective adjustment controls of the audio processing and remote administration. It also allows factory and user presets to be recalled from and save to a host storage device such as a hard disk drive or removable drive. The control application client addresses multiple Optimod-PC cards, either housed in the local host or anywhere on a TCP/IP network or by local serial communication. The control application also functions as a server, interfacing cards installed in a given host computer with the network for control and monitoring.

API:
Microsoft Windows Mixer Control API supported for Input and Output switching and levels. This provides compatibility with Windows applications that use standard Microsoft Windows Mixer enumeration and calls.

IP API provides complete remote administration over TCP/IP. The OPTIMOD-PC Service application hosts a TCP/IP Terminal Server to allow external control of the OPTIMOD-PC cards from either a Telnet/SSH client or a custom third party application. All OPTIMOD-PC Presets and Mixer Controls are accessible and all commands are simple text strings, which are broadcast to all active clients to remain updated with current status.

Telnet/SSH: RFC 318 compliant basic subset. Compatible with Windows Telnet and PuTTY Telnet clients.

TCP/IP Port user assignable.

Serial API provides complete remote administration over Serial port communication. The OPTIMOD-PC Service application hosts a Serial terminal server to allow external control of the OPTIMOD-PC cards from either a terminal client or a custom third party application. All OPTIMOD-PC Presets and Mixer Controls are accessible and all commands are simple text strings.

Compatible with terminal programs such as Windows HyperTerminal, and PuTTY VT-100 clients.

COM Port user assignable from COM1 to COM100.

Status Monitoring: SNMP RFC 1157 compliant. Monitors all Audio Input and Output presence, Mixer Control status, Active Preset, Control Application Connections, and Control Client Connections. (in development)

REGULATORY

Certifications: CE and FCC Class B, RoHS compliant.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Size: (L x H x W): PCIe Standard Full Hieght/Short Length - 6.6"/168mm x 4.2"/107mm x 0.75"/19mm