Omnia Audio Omnia 8x - Manual (Page 29)

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increasing the average audio level. These slower overall time constants yield lower intermodulation distortion,
contributing to Omnia's trademark sound.
Using Classical music for an example, the orchestra often plays forte, and then enters abruptly into a quiet passage.
Conventional AGC algorithms would hold the softer passage down until it was able to slowly recover at the static
release time setting, making such passages nearly inaudible at normal listening levels. Omnia 8x’s makeup gain
function allows a hidden, faster time constant to provide quick recovery, but only during the softer passage. As
soon as the orchestra starts to play louder, the “makeup” time constant yields control back to the primary AGC
circuit, returning gain to the previous platform level. This sophistication preserves the dynamic integrity of the
signal while greatly enhancing the listenability of the program.
This is the first processing section within the Omnia 8x, so the controls in this section affect the overall signal, its
density, and hence affect every other processing section following it. The job of the Wideband AGC is to erase
long-term audio level fluctuations, while doing so in a very unobtrusive manner. This sub-menu provides a few
parameters that tailor the action of this section. Click on the WB AGC button in the block diagram and the
following adjustment screen will be displayed:
Drive: The sets the audio level that enters the WB-
AGC. Increasing the Drive will produce more
compression. This control is calibrated between –6dB
and +6dB, and adjusts the signal level into the
Wideband AGC. It should be adjusted to net
approximately 12dB of gain reduction with typical
programming. Too little gain reduction can defeat
“leveling” function of the Wideband AGC. Too much
gain reduction has little additional benefit. Nominal
gain reduction values for the Wideband AG
the
C are
between 10 and 15dB.
rating these controls in
this control helps to minimize “pumping”, and
Clicking OK after adjusting any of the parameters in this section will save the change and close the sub-menu.
Phat
an
e thunderous bass and warmth that the Omnia is known for, and it can do so without making the sound
uddy.
Release: Controls the speed of recovery for any given amount of gain reduction. Faster action yields less dynamic
range and the presence of more density to the audio. The Release control sets the time constants in relative terms
using Slow, Medium, and Fast. Because the time constants are program-dependent, calib
absolute time values (ms/dB) would be useless—therefore we use simple terminology.
GATE: When set to ON, it will freeze the gain at the last level of processing action that occurred before the audio
signal fell below the threshold of operation. Correct adjustment of
the increase of background noise during pauses in programming.
Bass
This section contains the Bass EQ controls. In the Omnia 8x's unique signal processing architecture, these controls
are placed in their optimal position — just before the multiband processor sections. Each of the Deep Bass and
Bass controls can boost the level up to 12 dB. Be careful here not to overdrive the following sections or over
emphasize these lower frequency ranges. When used properly this specialized low frequency enhancement tools c
deliver th
m