Choosing Your Encoder; Eas Test - Orban OPTIMOD 6300 Operating Manual

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INTRODUCTION

Choosing your Encoder

EAS Test

An exception is recently mastered CDs, which may have already been ag-
gressively processed for loudness when they were mastered.
In radio broadcasting, it is generally believed that loudness relative to other stations
attracts an audience that perceives the station as being more powerful than its
competition. We expect that the same subliminal psychology will also hold true in
netcasting.
The state of the art in encoder technology is rapidly changing. At this writing, the
best audio encoder technology available is Coding Technologies AAC/aacPlus v2.
Orban is the first provider of this technology for streaming audio applications with
Opticodec-PC. Opticodec-PC can provide entertainment-quality stereo streams at 32
kbps. At 48 kbps, many listeners prefer the sound to that of FM.
Be aware that different encoders are optimized for different bit rates, and you
should match your encoder to your potential audience. An encoder appropriate for
a dial-up rate of 20kb/sec may not be optimum for ISDN, DSL, or E-1/T-1 rates. This
makes it necessary to use more than one algorithm to optimally serve audiences
with these disparate connection speeds.
MPEG-1 Layer 3 has become a de-facto standard for distribution of non-streaming,
high fidelity audio on the Internet, although aacPlus, as used in Opticodec-PC, is far
more efficient. Orban's OPTICODEC-PC FE is an AAC/aacPlus file encoder application
that can create such efficient files. Thanks to the Apple iPod®, AAC/MP4/M4A is rap-
idly becoming the defacto standard for downloadable music.
OPTIMOD 6300 is well matched to AAC/aacPlus and to MP3. It can effectively pre-
process audio intended for playback from either format. If you decide to use MP3,
choose your MP3 encoder wisely, as not all MP3 encoders are created equal and pro-
vide different levels of quality for a given bitrate.
For stations participating in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in the United States,
broadcast of EAS tones and data can be accomplished in three different ways:
1. Run EAS tones and data through the 6300.
Note that 6300 processing may not allow the full modulation level as required by
EAS standards. It may therefore be necessary to temporarily defeat the 6300's
processing during the broadcast of EAS tones and data. Placing the 6300 in its
BYPASS Test Mode can defeat the processing. The BYPASS GAIN control sets a
fixed gain through the 6300. See "Test Modes" on page 3-56 for more informa-
tion.
2. Place the 6300 in Bypass mode locally.
A) Navigate to S
ETUP
and set M to B
> M
ODE ODE
ORBAN MODEL 6300
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YPASS