Audessence ProCoder is now building an impressive repeat customer list including BBC World Service.

A great value FM processor / stereo encoder that can save you money whether your station is a big network keen to solve the dilemma of where to locate your favourite multiband audio processor – or a smaller broadcaster looking to broadcast a loud signal without losing clarity and audio quality.

Multiband processors can be located at the studio for convenience whilst obtaining better peak control (and therefore more loudness) at one or many FM transmitter sites using ProCoder’s ‘transparent mode’ with LF- and HF- overshoot inhibiting algorithms. All the usual limiting and clipping functions for peak control that you’d expect to find are there too, including fully overshoot compensated 15kHz lowpass filters.

Latest software now includes ITU-412 MPX power limiter.

The broadcast audio processor section also has a full range of tools for ‘stand-alone’ use including our world-renowned leveller, plus effective presence and brightness enhancers to make sure your signal stands out. ProCoder delivers typical Audessence clarity and fidelity on voices and music, but this box has the capability to go loud as well!

BENEFITS:

• No compromise on loudness or clarity, fully-digital throughout
• ‘Transparent’ mode enables main (multi-band) audio processor location at the studio
• Save an enormous amount of money if you have multiple transmission sites!
• Very effective in ‘stand-alone’ mode also: AGC, compression, & brightness enhancer
• Improve reliability and save money with automatic audio fail detect and switching
• Reliable, maintenance-free; low heat dissipation = NO FAN NEEDED OR USED!

APPLICATIONS:

• FM networks: use at transmission site, locate preferred multiband processor at studio
• Satellite ‘drop-downs’, telco-fed FM sites (analogue or digital) and RBFM repeaters
• Stand-Alone FM processing:
• All commercial & community radio
• RSLs (temporary broadcasting)

FEATURES:

• ‘Transparent mode’ offers brick-wall peak limiting without disturbing sonic signature
• Automatic silence detect and fall-back to secondary audio source (defeatable)
• Composite clipper for ‘last ounce’ loudness with perfect pilot and subcarrier protection
• Overshoot-compensated 15.5kHz low-pass filters
• GPI tallies for: PSU OK, DSP watchdog, primary audio OK, All-OK
• Advanced AGC as used in our ALPS levellers offers unsurpassed, rapid control of levels
• Presence enhancer to brighten programme if used without multiband pre-processing
• No-tamper front panel (set-up by PC only: GUI software, USB and RS-232 ports provided)
• Bright, always-visible LED bar-graphs for instant confidence checks
• Very low audio latency (7 milliseconds), very fast boot-up (<1 second) • TCP-IP connectivity option • Factory presets deliver exactly the results you need for any application …fast • Integral FM stereo encoder • Stereo enhancer option to follow as no-cost software update

SPECIFICATIONS:

Frequency Response:
ANALOGUE-ANALOGUE (L=R input, output de-emphasised):
20Hz-15kHz +/-0.2dB


Noise:
ANALOGUE-ANALOGUE: (rms 20Hz-20kHz, output d/e):
<-75dB ref: 100% modulation (d/e on)

Distortion:
At 6dB limiting:
<-70dB / 0.03% THD

Stereo Seperation:
Better than 60dB at 1kHz

Inputs:
ANALOGUE: Active balanced, 10k (bridging), standard operating level -6dBu to +14dBu (clip +22dBu)
DIGITAL: AES-3 (XLR); 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz sample rate. 16, 20, or 24 bits.

Output:
MPX (Analogue): Unbalanced (on BNC), standard operating level -6dBu to +18dBu

Processing blocks:
High-Pass: 3dB frequencies 3Hz [DC block], 25Hz, 45Hz, 70Hz, 110Hz, 12dB/octave
Gated AGC: Capture range 40dB (+/-20dB); maximum positive gain can be set
+ Advanced AGC enables faster, programme-dependent operation
Compressor: Nominal 2:1 slope
Presence Enhancer: Boosts selected frequencies for presence and / or brightness
Limiters: look-ahead dual time-constant peak limiters plus NCDCS fully anti-aliased main clippers
Low-Pass Filter: Cut-off frequency 15.5kHz, overshoot compensated, stop-band better than -70dB
HF Limiter: 50us or 75us emphasis curve
Stereo Encoder: Zenith / GE Pilot tone system
Composite Clipper: -1.0 to +2dB, Anti-aliasing, filters protect 19kHz +/- 200Hz and above 54kHz
Tilt Corrector: Corrects low frequency overshoots in transmitters / exciters. Fully adjustable.

Control:
Setup is via PC GUI only. Select a factory preset, modify it, set levels etc, save to flash memory. USB on front panel, plus RS-232 on rear panel. 10/100 LAN port is optional. All-text command format.

AC power input:
100 – 240V AC Nominal (acceptable range 88V to 264V AC) / 12.5 Watts / 17VA typical.

Dimensions & weight:
1-RU: 44 x 482 x 290mm deep / 1.75” x 19” x 11.25” deep. Weight: 1.8kg / 4lbs

Computer Control:
Every processing parameter, including all thresholds and time constants, can be accessed and modified under PC control (GUI software included, updates are free of charge).

Options:
10/100MHz Ethernet TCP/IP port available at time of ordering only, additional cost applies
Left and Right analogue processor outputs, available at time of ordering only, additional cost applies.

Warranty:
3 year return-to-base warranty

Approvals:
CE (EMC & LVD), RoHS

N.B: A similar product with the addition of integral RDS encoder is also available (‘ProCoder-3’)

[Issue 1.1 PRODUCT INFORMATION – E&OE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.]