Orban Optimod Presets | by Fardau van Neerden

_FM-MASSIVE

Preset with a very wide and boomy sound. It starts by adding a generous amount of stereo enhancement. In the AGC, we use the Sum/Div setting with with a 4:1 ratio but very quick release times. We use the Exponential Loudness that comes with the Optimod 8700 especially on the low frequencies. In the EQ, we've applied a significant boost in lower frequencies and inject subhamonics. To balance things out, we also add a fair bit of high-end using the third EQ band. We don't overdo it with the brilliance. We add 17 dB of gain in the Multiband. The band mix further boosts the low end before driving the final limiter and clipper. We tried to achieve a classic punchy bass with a hard clipping style.

_FM-THEDANCEv1

Dance preset. Based on factory "CRISP+LOWBASS MX" preset this preset uses the HF enhancer to add high-end crisp. It uses the Sum/Div AGC style adding stereo image width. The EQ points are set to add low and low-mid punch. There is a notch in Bandmix on band #3 while boosting the lower and upper bands into the final limiter/clippers.

_FM-THEDirtyDANCEv1

Dirty Dance preset. Based on factory "GREGG MX" preset this preset uses the "STEREOMAXX" style enhancer. It also utilize HF enhancer to add high-end sparkle. The AGC is set to Sum/Div style adding stereo image width. Together with the stereo enhancer creating a very wide and spacious sound image. Caution: This is not suitable for every situation like FM transmission in areas prone to multipath issues! The EQ points are set to add gain (up to +4db) centered around 81Hz. Contrary to the factory setting the crossover of band 1 is set to 100Hz. The Multiband is not driven hard to allow room for punch and dynamics. There is a notch in Bandmix on band #3 while boosting the lower and upper bands into the final limiter/clippers. There is a moderate amount of MB clipping and bass-limiting is set to allow for some bass punch at the expense of potential distortion. To mitigate this the peak limiter is just below 0db trading off some loudness/density.

Zomaar86fast

8500 style preset. Based on older 8500 factory "EXTREME MX" preset this preset presents a dense sound. It uses the LR AGC style with large window size and very fast release times. The EQ points are set to add low and low-mid punch in the 200Hz and below range. The Multiband is set to allow for some tasteful compressor/limiter activity and is clearly audible. The clippers are not pushed hard allowing room for the Multiband to carry through the dynamic punchy dense sound texture.

_FM-MASSIVE

Preset with a very wide and boomy sound. It starts by adding a generous amount of stereo enhancement. In the AGC, we use the Sum/Div setting with with a 4:1 ratio but very quick release times. In the EQ, we've applied a significant boost in lower frequencies. To balance things out, we also add a fair bit of high-end using the third EQ band around 9Khz. We don't overdo it with the brilliance. We add 17 dB of gain in the Multiband. The band mix further boosts the low end before driving the final limiter and clipper. We tried to achieve a classic punchy bass that creates a wide wall of sound where mid and highs cut through without too much HF.

_FM-57MX80sFATSumDiv

CHR style preset for competitive markets. Based on the factory "CRISP+LOWBASS MX" preset this preset is aiming for a consistent dense sound. It offers a round bass texture with high-end crisp. It uses the Sum/Dic AGC style used to add stereo width. In the EQ there is a significant boost in the lower frequencies up to 150Hz. This is driving band 1 & 2 in the Multiband which in turn use very low attack times to handle this boost. The release of band 1 & 2 is also slower than the upper bands. This makes the overall sound dense on the lower frequencies while keeping room for relative open mid/highs. The Bandmix is utilized somewhat extremely emphesizing a v-shaped texture. There is a moderate amount of bass, multiband and high frequency clipping.

_FM-BoomBoom

Dance style preset for competitive markets. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset this preset is aiming for a consistent dense sound. It offers a round bass texture with high-end crisp. Band 1 allows for 1db of L/R separation for enhanced spatial bass texture. It uses the Sum/Dic AGC style used to add stereo width. In the EQ there is a significant boost in the lower frequencies up to 210Hz. This is driving band 1 & 2 in the Multiband with a 200Hz crossover between band 1 and 2 which use relatively slow attack times to carry through some punch when bass kicks in (at the expense of some distortion). The release of band 1 is also slower than the upper bands. The Bandmix is pushing band 1 & 2 into the final clipper. With 2db of MB clipping there is a consistent wall of sound with moderate final High-frequency clipping.

_FM-GuiltyPleasure

Very loud, wall off sound preset with lots of harmonics. Based on the factory "EXTREME MX" preset this preset is aiming for a consistent dense sound with an emphasis on the low frequency. It uses the traditional L/R AGC structure with Bass and Master and L/R fully decoupled. In the EQ there is a significant boost in the lower frequencies up to 200Hz. This is driving band 1 & 2 in the Multiband with a 100Hz crossover between band 1 and 2. The release of band 1, 2 and 3 is set to medium and the upper bands use faster releases. The Bandmix is slightly pushing band 1, 2 & 5 into the final clipper. With 0db of MB clipping there is a consistent wall of sound derived mostly from the AGC and Multiband compressor/limiters. If you like even more density you can increase the Multiband drive or increase the Multiband clipping of course. This preset is by no means meant to be a clean sounding preset, hence the name.

_Fardau-HotACPlus

This preset is aimed at a competitive loudness and providing a punchy and bright sounding texture. The preset is based on the factory "EXTREME MX" and builds on this already loud preset. We leave the stereo enhancer at a moderate setting and use the Sum/Div AGC for most of the stereo image. We do not go too extreme with the AGC timing and window settings. In the EQ section, we do most of the tweaks. We apply a significant boost in the 130Hz range and 266Hz for bass response on smaller speakers. Since the 5500 is already quite biased in the mid-region, we use the 2nd and 3rd bell-shaped EQs to enhance higher frequencies like 4.2kHz for punch and 7.8kHz for airy sound, with the brilliance adding some final sparkle. We use 18dB of drive in the compressor/limiter section and use band coupling to harmonize the sound. While many factory presets for the 5500 use very quick attack times on band one, we do the opposite and leave some room for slower gain riding at the expense of some distortion. You can easily adjust this if it does not work with your material or taste. Finally, we boost some bands lightly in the band mix before feeding it into the final limiters and clippers.

_Fardau-Dense

Preset emphasizes low bass. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset, this preset uses the Sum/Div AGC with a relatively large window size and fast release times. It uses the Delta thresholds to add width to the bass. The EQ is using a moderate amount of Bass Gain with a long rolloff after 350Hz using the shelf EQ, additionally relying on the bell-shaped EQs to target specific frequencies with a fair amount of boost up to 3dB. Both low and highpass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. The compressors of band 1 are using a softer knee for a more mellow low bass. The final limiter is driven hard for loudness. You can easily trade off loudness for dynamic punch by reducing the final limiter drive if you wish. Additionally, if you feel there's too much high, you can dial down the High Band EQ or Bandmix settings. Finally, you can tune the Transient Enhance setting.

_Fardau-80s

Preset that works well on 70s/80s. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset, this preset uses the LR AGC with a very fast release time. It uses a 4:1 ratio to leave some dynamics. In 80s tradition, it uses the "STEREOMAXX" enhancement. The EQ is using a moderate amount of Bass Gain using the shelf EQ, additionally relying on the bell-shaped EQs to target specific frequencies with a fair amount of boost up to 3dB mid-frequency. The HF Enhancer is also active to add some sparkle to older material. Both low and highpass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. Multiband is set to a slow release except for band 5 and driven hard with 18dB of gain. The compressors are set to a relatively soft knee. The final limiter is driven hard for loudness. You can back off the MB drive or final limiter drive to reduce density.

_FM-CHR-Punchy '23

Preset with a punchy Bass and prominent kick, snare & clap. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset this preset uses the Sum/Div AGC with a relatively large window size and fast release times. It uses the Delta thresholds to generate a round bass texture and added stereo image width. The EQ is using moderate amount of Bass-shelf gain, yet relying on the bell shaped EQs to target specific frequencies. It is set to enhance the kick, snare and clap in modern hit music. Both low and highpass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. In the Multiband we play with the compressor knee and limiter attack percentage to shape the bass structure. Together with the band coupling we achieve a consistent signature sound. The final limiter is driven moderately. You can easily trade off loudness for dynamic punch by reducing the final limiter drive, or aim for maximum density by increasing it. You can do the same with the MB Drive if you wish

_FM-BoomBoomv2

Preset emphasizing low bass. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset this preset uses the Sum/Div AGC with a relatively large window size and fast release times. It uses the Delta thresholds to add width to the bass. The EQ is using moderate amount of Bass Gain but relying on the bell shaped EQs to target specific frequencies. Both low and highpass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. The final limiter is driven hard for loudness. You can easily trade off loudness for dynamic punch by reducing the final limiter drive if you wish.

_Fardau-SuperPunch

Warning: Preset is designed for -18db input level and can be used on 6300 too!
Preset with a very punchy Bass and prominent kick. While it works well on most reference monitors the low bass works best on systems with good low bass response. For example home cinema systems. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset this preset uses the Sum/Div AGC style. It uses the Delta thresholds to generate a round bass texture and added stereo image width. The EQ is using Bass-shelf gain and further relying on the bell shaped EQs to target specific frequencies to create a punchy sound emphasizing the bass, kick and snare frequencies. An airy sound is created by boosting the 9Khz region. Some tasty sparkle is added by using a gentle amount High Frequency Enhancer. Both low and highpass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. In the Multiband we play with the compressor knee and limiter attack percentage to shape the bass structure. Together with the band coupling we achieve a consistent signature sound. The final limiter is driven moderately where we allow limiting up to -9db. You can easily trade off loudness for dynamic punch by reducing the final limiter drive, or aim for maximum density by increasing it. You can do the same with the MB Drive or AGC gain if you wish.

_Fardau-InYourFace

Warning: Preset is designed for -18db input level and can be used on 6300 too!
It's in the name, this preset is aiming at a "In Your Face" wall of sound with a massive bass punch. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset it starts with the AGC at Inf:1 ratio driven hard and fast. In the EQ we've added a significant boost in lower frequencies. To balance things out we also add a fair bit of high-end. In the MB Compressor/Limiters we back off things and "only" add 16db of gain. By tuning the MB Limiter Attack down we actually lean more on the compressors. The bandmix is further boosting the low end before driving the final limiter with 7db of gain creating the wall of sound.

_Fardau-DutchyWide

Warning: Preset is designed for -18db input level and can be used on 6300 too!
Preset for Web/DAB+ with a very wide and boomy sound. Based on the factory "IMPACT" preset, it starts by adding a generous amount of stereo enhancement. In the AGC, we use the Sum/Div setting with up to 4 dB of Delta Gain Reduction in the matrix AGC, adding more stereo width. In the EQ, we've applied a significant boost in lower frequencies and pushed around 1.1 kHz for more mid-range presence. To balance things out, we also add a fair bit of high-end using the third EQ band. We don't overdo it with the brilliance. In the MB Compressor/Limiters, we use a Slow2 release and some delta settings on Bands 1, 2, and 5 for faster release. We add 17 dB of gain. By tuning the MB Limiter Attack down, we rely more on the compressors. We've spent some time adjusting the Compressor Knee to tune for a specific sound for each band. As such, we've disabled the MB Gate, since using differences between bands can create strange effects in the MB Gate. The band mix further boosts the low end before driving the final limiter with 7 dB of gain.

_FM-AC-Punch2023

Preset for long-term listening on HotAC/CHR formats. Based on the factory "GREGG OPEN" preset, this preset uses the Sum/Div AGC with a relatively large window size and fast release times. It employs a 4:1 AGC ratio to allow some source dynamic punch. The EQ is using a fair amount of Bass Gain and relies on the bell-shaped EQs to accentuate specific frequencies. Both low and high-pass filters are active to be gentle on codecs for Web/DAB distribution. The Multiband uses delta release times between bands for consistent bass response and open mid/highs using faster release times. The final limiter is not driven hard since this is not the strong point of this processor.

_FM-CHR-DENSE

Preset designed for 8382TV followed by a 2300 as MPX encoder. Preset is based on 8300 "EXTREME MX" factory preset. It is heavily modified however. The AGC is using the Sum/Div style to generate a nice wide sound. The EQ is boosting the bass, mid and high frequencies significantly. We use a Med2 release time in the Multiband to open up, and with 17db of gain generate a wall of sound. Finally, we use the Bandmixes to further accentuate certain bands going into the final limiter/clipper section. Here we give a final push of .04db in the final limiter and allow up to 4db of distortion control. You can easily reduce the wall of sound by lowering the MB drive, slow down the AGC attack time or drive. The 8382TV has a very tight peak control with minimal to no overshoots. We've put it on air using a pre-emphasis output over a linear STL to a 2300 running in Encoder mode with pre-emphasis defeated. The result is very competitive on-air loudness.