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a good first step — good source material!
Studio Microphone Processing
This may appear trivial, but the perceived sound of "live" voices over the air can change dramatically with
different microphone processing systems. There is a high probability that the sound of your on-air
microphones will change when you change on-air processors. If you utilize microphone processing, you
may have to readjust it to suit the operation of your new processing system. Most announcers develop a
"comfort zone" with respect to how they perceive their voice on the air, especially in their headphones.
When that "comfort zone" is changed or modified, a common response is that "something is wrong" with
the on-air sound. Microphone processing can be a very important part of your overall station sound, but it
must always work in harmony with the main on-air processing. There are many good microphone
processors available, including Omnia's own ToolVox. More information on the Omnia ToolVox Mic
Processor can be found on the Omnia website at www.omniaaudio.com .
An Important Word About Time Delay
A question commonly asked about Omnia-6fm is "How much time delay does it have?" The answer: "Not
enough to drive your DJ's crazy!"
Certainly, there is reason for concern about the propagation delay through any digital transmission device,
audio processors included. We have measured the propagation time delay, the amount of time it takes for
the audio signal to travel from the input of Omnia6-fm to the output at approximately 9ms at 1khz. This is
enough for a slight voice-character coloration to be audible to the person speaking, but usually not enough
to be a problem for talent monitoring off the air. If there is additional delay added to the system, such as a
Digital STL, the cumulative delay may become excessive and cause discomfort for the on-air talent. Real-
world tests conducted by Jeff Goode in Indianapolis determined that a slight echo may begin to be heard at
10-15ms, and that anything above 25-30 ms is usually too annoying to talent for monitoring off-air.
Operating Levels
Proper system audio operating levels are a must! It is important to make certain that the input and output
levels of the Omnia-6fm are set appropriately. If they are set too low, you will compromise the signal to
noise ratio of the system. If they are set too high, you may run out of headroom and encounter clipping on
signal peaks. In addition, operating a processor with insufficient level into an STL system can cause loss of
modulation and loudness. If you are comparing the Omnia-6fm with another processor, be sure they are
both operating at the same levels. Your modulation monitor is an important tool in any processing
comparison, and for getting the most out of your processor.
Omnia 6 Use and Installation Guide – Version 1.00a
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