Orban’s first audio processor for FM radio broadcasting, the Optimod 8000, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone, the manufacturer will have a still-operational, 50-year-old Orban 8000 processor on display at the upcoming NAB Show.
“Over the years, many things have changed in the market including a wider range of places to listen to audio, but one thing has remained consistent,” said David Day, Orban Labs president, in a press release. “Between bandwidth issues, transmission methods and other considerations, audio needs extra treatment in order to make it pleasing for listeners. The overall sound of AM, FM, TV and now internet broadcasting has been vastly improved over the decades thanks to Bob Orban and the Optimod.”
Bob Orban released the first Optimod FM processor in 1975. In the release, Orban said he used his electrical engineering training, as well as his experience as a composer and producer, during the development process. “I knew how the music industry wanted their creations to be heard over the air, and my designs reflected that,” he said.
As electronics technology progressed over the years, Orban said so did its designs — incorporating DSP technologies and ultimately creating software-based processors to complement the hardware designs.
“Processor development is a continuous process that allows improvements — and is never really finished,” said Bob Orban. “Perhaps the most important thing that any processor developer can learn is to not project their preference on the listening audience, but instead to supply a variety of presets that best serve different demographics and formats.”
The original model of the Optimod 8000 will be on display in the Orban booth, W3243.
