manuFacturer
Optimum audiO prOcessing
F
or over four decades, Orban
televisiOn audiO prOcessing
flawlessly and the skew correction makes
with its renowned Optimod
sOund that Keeps
downmix sound better than the original
series has remained the leading
audiences satisFied
stereo.
manufacturer of AM – FM –
The Optimod TV-8685 is Orban’s second-
There are large, important subjective
DAB – television loudness controllers and
generation surround/2.0 processor. In
differences between Optimod TV-8685
streaming audio processors in a constantly
addition to the effective automatic loudness
and competing processors. Optimod
evolving market. Orban introduced the
control of its predecessor, the TV-8685 offers
TV-8685 has a unique architecture that
first FM audio processor in the mid-70s.
new input/output capabilities that include
processes the centre channel to correct
From the BBC and the CNN, broadcasters
support for SDI and HD-SDI and for Dolby E.
spectral and loudness balance problems
around the globe rely on Orban Optimod
The built-in Orban-developed Optimix
that compromise dialogue intelligibility in
to ensure their audio quality is perfect. The
upmixer provides automatic and completely
ill-considered mixes. Many broadcasters
very first loudness controller, the Optimod
convincing stereo-to-surround upmixing
have suffered increased viewer complaints
TV 8180A was introduced in 1981 and was
with a solid, discrete centre channel.
about unintelligible dialogue after having
sold to broadcasters around the globe.
Unlike technology derived from consumer
installed the leading competitive processor.
In July 2016, Orban was acquired by Day
matrix decoders, there is no programme-
The TV-8685 does the opposite in addition
Sequerra who develop and manufacture
dependent directional pumping of sound
to flawless loudness control, it improves
broadcast equipment for radio and television.
sources. Unique to this technology is an
dialogue intelligibility and maintains a full,
The engineering team based in San Leandro,
extremely robust centre channel phase/
natural sound without exaggerated ‘esses’,
USA, is headed by the company’s founder
skew correction that never causes negative
hollowed-out mid-range, or obtrusive
Bob Orban. In 2009, the company moved its
side effects. It is invaluable for older material
pumping of ambient sound. Thanks to the
manufacturing and global sales operations to
that was originally recorded on analogue
Optimix upmixer, which cleanly extracts
Orban Europe GmbH in Germany.
tape. Optimix’s output downmixes to stereo
dialogue from stereo sources, the TV-8685
90
