AP2000 Audio Processor by Vorsis

AP2000 Audio Processor

The AP2000 is the successor to the Vorsis AP1000 31-band audio processor. Essentially a complete redesign of the original product, the AP2000 hardware is equipped with 30% more DSP horsepower, a completely overhauled five band AGC, new voice distortion management technologies and a new, high-performance distortion managed clipper. The five band AGC now incorporates Sweet Spot Technology (SST), a Vorsis exclusive, which manages the behavior of the five band AGC in real time to ensure that it always operates within its ‘Sweet Spot’. Unlike broadband AGC algorithms of the past, SST is a completely new way to manage the five band dynamics controller to maximize the consistency of the station’s on-air presentation, no matter what the source material or audio levels from source to program source. The newly designed five band AGC also incorporates adjustable inter-band coupling to ensure a consistently set spectral balance regardless of program content.

Dimensions: Height - 5.25", Width - 17.4", Length - 13.713"

- Thirty-one band Fine Grain Processor™
- Preprocessing via Five band or Three band AGC
- Exclusive Vorsis Multiband Dynamics Controller with Sweet Spot Technology (SST)
- Exclusive VBMS™ (Vorsis Bass Management System)
- FM peak control via oversampled lookahead limiter or specialized clipper
- Highly oversampled distortion masked clipper
- VoiceMaster voice distortion management
- Precision 8x oversampled HD output limiter
- Four band full parametric EQ sections
- Variable high pass filter and voice phase rotator
- Ethernet-based remote control with front/rear panel jacks
- Eight input GPI preset triggers
- AES3 digital input accepts 32kHz - 96kHz
- AES3 digital output automatically synchronizes to AES3 digital input
- HD latency FM delay of up to ten seconds
- Precision FM stereo MPX generator with multiplex mask filters to protect SCA and stereo pilot
- Front panel control via high-resolution LCD display, Track Pad, and Navigation buttons

“Fine Grain” Processing

“Fine Grain” processing overcomes the limitations of previous methods of peak limiting in on-air audio processors. Using 31 frequency bands, the AP2000 and FM2000 processors perform precision peak limiting without generating the artifacts associated with peak limiters having fewer bands. Operating in very narrow frequency bands, the operation of the Fine Grain limiters goes completely unnoticed by the ear. There are absolutely no ‘swishing’ artifacts; just increased on-air loudness and a revealing of subtle program details that result in increased “listenability” of the station’s programming.

Vorsis Bass Management System

The Vorsis Bass Management System (VBMS) circumvents bass-related distortion plaguing other broadcast audio processors. It works by monitoring program energy in different parts of the audio spectrum while manipulating the behavior of the final peak limiter. The result is increased bass impact and detail without affecting the clarity of mid and high frequency program — in fact bass detail and the clarity of higher frequency audio are actually enhanced by the VBMS algorithm.

Sweet Spot Technology

Sweet Spot Technology (SST) is embedded within the AP2000 and FM2000 processors and is responsible for managing the medium and long-term spectral behavior of the five-band AGC as program content changes. It does so by internally monitoring and then managing certain internal parameters within the multiband AGC as program elements change – something a typical broadband AGC cannot do. The result is an uncannily natural-sounding consistency in both on-air loudness and spectral balance regardless of variations in the incoming source material.

VoiceMaster

The cleanliness of announcer voice poses a challenge for broadcast audio processors when adjusted for maximum loudness. VoiceMaster addresses this by detectingvoice and then specially processing it to accurately control voice peaks prior to the main clipper. The result is absolutely pristine on-air voice regardless of how aggressively the processor may have been adjusted for music.

Smart Stereo Enhancement

Stereo Enhancement is a common feature in audio processors today. However our approach is a new technology we call Smart Stereo Enhancement. It operates in the sum and difference domain and under the management of specialized automatic level and spectral management algorithms. The result is an extremely stable ‘on-air’ stereo image that is wide, alive, exciting to listen to, and yet still natural sounding. End users have reported hearing artistically important nuances in music that were simply inaudible after being processed by competing products.

Brochure:

AP2000 Audio Processor (Hi-Res PDF)
AP2000 Audio Processor (Printer Friendly PDF)

Software:

AP2000 Software

Presets:

Factory Presets
Specialty Presets

Specs:

AP2000 Digital Audio Processor

Application Notes:

AN2007-01A Resolving Network Connectivity Issues-Updated! (pdf)

AN2007-02 Vorsis Bass Management System VBMS (pdf)

AN2008-01 Sweet Spot Technology SST (pdf)

AN2008-02 Updating Vorsis Factory Presets (pdf)

AN2008-03A Vorsis Stereo Enhancement (pdf)

AN2008-05 The Magic Behind the Vorsis 31 Band Algorithm (pdf)

AN2008-06 Introduction to the VoiceMaster (pdf)

AN2009-01 Vorsis BS-412 MPX Power Controller (pdf)

AN2009-04 Stereo Separation Measurements (pdf)

Front View

Rear View

AP2000

The AP2000 is the successor to the Vorsis AP1000 31-band audio processor. Essentially a complete redesign of the original product, the AP2000 hardware is equipped with 30% more DSP horsepower, a completely overhauled five band AGC, new voice distortion management technologies and a new, high-performance distortion managed clipper.

FM2000

The FM2000 is modeled after the popular Vorsis AP1000 31-band audio processor and includes all of the features of the AP2000 except the HD processing chain and its dedicated digital output.

FM10-HD

The FM10-HD is the successor to the popular FM5. The FM10-HD offers a five band AGC followed by a ten band limiter. The FM signal chain includes pre-emphasis and peak control as well as a reference grade stereo generator.

AM10-HD

The AM10-HD offers a five band AGC followed by a specialized ten band limiter and high performance asymmetrical modulation peak controller algorithm that has been specially designed for the requirements of competitive AM broadcasting.

VP-8

The VP-8 is the industry’s first true multi-mode audio processor with six distinct and unique operating modes tailored for the specific requirements of FM, AM, MPEG3, HE-AAC, HDC, and wideband VoIP applications.

HD-P3

The HD-P3 is the most flexible, cost effective, multi-use digital audio processor on the market today. With the HD-P3 users can select either Air-chain or Production processing modes.

M2

The Vorsis M2 is a dual-channel DSP-based voice processor designed for professional audio and broadcast applications. It features twin high-bandwidth, very low noise microphone preamplifiers, a 4-section equalizer with high and low shelving EQ and two bands of fully parametric EQ, high and low pass filters, de-esser and expander functions.

M-1

The Vorsis M-1 is a flexible and easy to use digital Microphone processor. It offers unlimited pre-sets, security, networkability, all digital framework, and easy to set up parameters.