Adjusting The Limiters Crossover - Omnia -6EX / EXi Installation And Operation Manual

Space EFX: The Omnia-6EX contains an intelligent DSP-based stereo enhancement tool that enhances the stereo
sound field without causing unnatural "hole in the middle" imaging or exaggerated multipath. Program audio
previously lacking in stereo width will have noticeably increased ambiance and dimension when the Space EFX is
active. Vocals will stay up-front and the sonic details of musical instruments are heard with an apparent slight
loudness +increase when listening in stereo.
The Space EFX control has a range of 0 (off) to 16 and the amount of dynamic width expansion can be observed on
the rightmost vertical bargraph on the Meter Display screen. The system should be initially auditioned using light
amounts of Space EFX, with an initial setting of 4 to 6 recommended as a starting point. The overall stereo sound
field will appear wider and be much more consistent sounding between program sources. The smart Stereo EXP
algorithm turns off when a mono program source is present. If you find that your mono programming sounds a bit
thin, you can add a small amount (2 dB) of Phat Bass boost to restore warmth to the overall air sound.
Limiters Crossover (XO)
Limiters Crossover (XO)
Note also that the upper three limiter bands (4,5 & 6) will generally not show as much average gain reduction (little
or none at times) as the lower three bands. This is normal and accounts partially for the improved clarity in the
Omnia-6EX. You will notice brief, fast bursts of significant gain reduction on these bands especially on bright
dynamic program material and vocal sibilants.
If you are familiar with the limiter section in the Omnia Classic, you'll remember that significant gain reduction was
necessary in order to achieve extreme loudness. That is NOT the case with Omnia-6EX! The limiters are true
limiters, and therefore don't need to do much work after the multiband AGC section to create a huge signal on the
dial. In fact, the most common mistake that our first customers made when adjusting the Omnia-6EX was
overdriving the limiters. A little goes a long way. In fact, it may help to think of them not as limiters, but as "Clipper
Resource Allocators". They should only do just enough work to keep the audio in each frequency band from driving
the final clippers too hard, and no more.
Omnia-6ex Use and Operation Manual – V: 1.20
73
The audio signal from the Enhance section is again
split into six bands to drive the multiband limiter
section. The limiter crossovers frequencies are
fixed at 85, 330, 1000, 3000 and 7500 Hz. Factory
drive settings are initially recommended, but the
overall density can be adjusted by changing all six
of the limiter drive controls up or down an equal
amount. More drive to the limiters will increase the
density of the audio providing a louder but more
squashed sound. Less drive will reduce the density
and provide a more open, more dynamic sound.
Reducing the overall limiter drive too much can
rob you of loudness.