As of version 3.0, the insert point in the 11 has been moved to a more optimum point for use with watermark encoders and the Voltair. This is the result of extensive collaboration between the Omnia and Voltair R&D teams.
All inputs and outputs are now available for both Patch Send and Patch Return. Note however that there is only 1 AES/EBU input so if you wish to use AES/EBU for the patch point, your program audio will need to come in via the analog inputs or Livewire.
You can also use Livewire for the insertion point, freeing up both the analog and AES/EBU I/O. If you don’t have an existing Livewire system, you can add an Axia X-Node and X-Switch to make this work. Please see the next section in this document “Using the Omnia.11’s Patch Point with the Voltair / Watermark Encoder Combo (Without an existing Livewire Network)” for complete details.
Using the Insertion Point
Setting levels:
Whatever output you choose for the insertion point, it is important that the output channel (send to watermark encoder) is set for -12 dB output. The chosen Omnia.11 input to return the audio from the output of the watermark encoder needs to be set for 0 dB. With these settings, the insertion point audio will pass in and out of the Omnia.11 at unity gain. This is important to avoid negatively changing the sound of your station when turning on the insertion point feature!
Patch Return Source Switch:
This is to set the desired input to the Omnia.11 for returning audio from the watermark encoder.
Patch Send switch:
This is to set the desired output FROM the Omnia.11 to feed the watermark encoder.
Patch Mode switch:
This control turns the watermark insertion feature on and off.
Patch Tone Switch:
Sometimes it may be desirable to check for unity gain through the insertion point system. This control turns on a setup tone that ONLY feeds the insertion loop for level verification. This tone is not sent on-air but while in use, there will be no watermark signals sent over the air!
Patch Out Level:
This control may be useful for presets whose outputs might exceed the headroom of the insertion point link. It modifies the headroom of the link without disturbing “unity gain”. This setting saves with the preset so that the proper insertion level is recalled when choosing the preset.
Voltair Mode:
This is a special mode that optimizes the audio through the link for use with a watermark encoder. When using the insertion point for watermark encoders, it is desirable to use this feature regardless of whether or not a Voltair is actually being used. Benefits are usually gained either way, though it is most effective when a Voltair is in use.
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Appendix F: Using the Omnia.11’s Patch Point with the Voltair / Watermark Encoder Combo (Without an existing Livewire Network)
The block diagram below gives the overview of the devices used to create the Omnia.11 / Voltair / Watermark Encoder setup.
Read on for details and settings while referring to this overall block diagram of the device interconnection:
Before proceeding, ensure that the Ethernet and Audio connections shown have been made and appropriate IP addresses have been set in all of the devices per their user manuals.
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Axia x-Node Settings:
- NOTE: AES/EBU digital I/O will provide more consistency & repeatability from install to install as you do not have to deal with resistor value drift in analog audio gear. Levels are important!
Navigate to the Axia Node’s webpage interface and select “Destinations” under “Advanced Options”. You will be setting the Destination Channel/Address to the channel number you will set in the Omnia.11 for Livewire Output #2 (see the next page).
Please note that the channel numbers shown here are for example only. Channel numbers must be unique and cannot be duplicated on the network. Normally, it is best to use channel numbers that are based on the IP address of the unit. Please see the Appendix: “Axia Livewire Channel Numbering” for full details.
Set the Output Gain for this destination (that will be feeding the Voltair / Watermark Encoder combo) to “0 dB”. It would also be convenient to name this destination “To Voltair”. Click “Apply”.
and an Apply button. Example entry named "To Voltair" with a Channel/Address field visible.]
Changing to the “Sources” settings on the Axia Node, make sure that the input that is accepting the “Output to Transmitter” Voltair output is also set to “0.0 dB”. Also ensure that the Mode is set to “Live Stereo”.
It would also be convenient to name the source “From Voltair”. Click “Apply”.
Note the Channel number of this Source. Remember that the channel numbers shown here are for example only. Your actual channel numbers should be based on the IP address of the unit.
, example rows including "From Voltair" with Channel/Address 12301 and Stream Mode set to "Live Stereo", plus an Apply button.]
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Omnia.11 Livewire Settings:
We recommend using the “Livewire2” input and output for the standard Insert Points.
Navigate to the Omnia.11’s Setup / LiveWire screen and set the Output #2 Channel to a convenient channel number not used anywhere else on the Livewire network. Normally, these channel numbers are based on the last octet of the unit’s IP address. In the below example, the last octet of this Omnia.11’s IP is “175” so the channel number assigned to Output #2 is 17502.
Click on the “Enable” button (it should turn green) and then click “Apply”.
Set or select this channel number in the Destinations options of the Node (see previous page).
Set the “Input #2” channel number to the Axia Node’s Source channel we setup on the previous page. In this example we used Channel 12301. Click “Apply”.
Omnia.11 Output Menu Settings:
Next, navigate to the “Output” menu / Basic tab / Livewire screen on the Omnia.11. Set the Livewire 2 “Output Selection” to “PP” and set the “Livewire 2 Level” Master to -12.0 dBFS.
Omnia.11 Input Menu Settings:
Navigate to the “Input” menu / Basic tab on the Omnia.11 and make sure that the “Livewire2 Input Level” is set for “0.0dB”.
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Omnia.11 Insert (Patch Point) Menu Settings:
Navigate to the “Input” menu / “Advanced” tab in the control pane of the the Omnia.11.
Set both “Patch Return Source” and “Patch Send” to “Livewire2”. This sets the second Livewire input of the Omnia.11 as the return path for the watermark encoder / Voltair combo, and sets the second Livewire output as the send path for the watermark encoder / Voltair combo.
Before placing the Omnia.11 into service, verify that the setup works as expected.
In the metering pane containing the “Dorrough Loudness Monitor”, click on the “Detail” tab to see the advanced metering for the insert patch point.
Next is to verify proper gain within the patch point environment. There are a number of tools available to you for this purpose.
To start with a basic overall test, in the control pane, turn on the “Patch Tone” switch. This sends a test tone to the patch outputs at the standard -12 dBfs operating level. When activated, the “Patch Return”, “Patch Return Zoom”, and “Patch Send” should all read -12 dB. If there are any discrepancies in meter readings, double check that the Omnia.11’s patch outputs are set to their proper settings, and that the LiveWire nodes are set to a gain of “0dB” on all inputs and outputs.
If analog nodes are being used, be sure to set the output termination to “600 ohms” for proper levels.
Note: When the Patch Tone is activated, the Voltair and any items within the patch system is removed from service, so the tone test can be performed at any time without fear of placing the tone on air.
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*** Remember to turn the Patch Tone off after testing, as the patched devices (watermark encoders, etc.) are not online (not on-air) while the tone calibration test is in effect! ***
The “Patch Out Level” control: Some highly customized presets can have mix levels that produce levels significantly higher than the -12 dB standard reference. The “Patch Out Level” control is used to compensate for these presets, allowing for proper levels within the insert point system. The intention of the control is to maintain headroom on the Livewire or AES link to prevent digital overload of the external digital links on audio peaks.
When adjusting the Patch Out Level, the Omnia.11 will automatically compensate for the level difference on the patch return, maintaining the proper clipper drive that was originally part of the user preset.