Frequently Asked Technical Questions about Omnia Products

General

How much time delay does my Omnia have? (not counting the Diversity Delay in the EXi styles)

For the original Omnia.FM/HOT, Omnia-3, Omnia-5EX, Omnia-6:  The short answer is "Not enough to drive your DJ's crazy!"

We have measured the delay from the input to any output at approximately 9 ms on the Omnia-6 EX. (the Omnia-3 and OmniaONE will be somewhat less and the Omnia-6 EXi slightly more) This is enough for a slight voice-character coloration to be audible to the person speaking, but not enough to be a problem for talent monitoring off the air.

After adjusting this setting, most talent gets used to the "new sound" within a few breaks.</p>

Note: If there is additional delay added to the air chain, such as from a Digital STL (especially a codec based STL), the cumulative delay may become excessive and cause discomfort for the on-air talent. Real-world tests have determined that a slight echo may begin to be heard at about 15 ms, and anything above 25-30 ms is usually too annoying to talent monitoring off the air.</p>

For the Omnia.11: The short answer is "Too much for your DJ's to monitor directly from the FM or HD channel outputs". About 30ms. BUT...The DJ's can use the special low-delay DJ output instead (depending on your system). This can be routed to any of the Omnia.11's outputs in the appropriate submenu of the Output menu.

 

Can my older Unity2000, Original Omnia.FM, Omnia.FM HOT or Omnia-3 be upgraded to an OmniaONE, Omnia-5EX, Omnia-6, Omnia-9 or Omnia.11?

No. The hardware platform and chassis are different and these units cannot be physically upgraded to the latest platforms.

 

There was a power outage, power surge or lightning hit at my site and now my Omnia powers up but won't boot up normally. Is there anything I can do?

If the unit still has power and you can see text on the screen it is possible that the rear panel PCMCIA software card (except OmniaONE which has no card) has become corrupted. Please note that there may be other hardware damage from the surge to other components that may require a trip in for repair. Please Contact Omnia Support for assistance. They can arrange to send you a new software card to try or they can give you an RA number to send the unit in for repair.

You can email Customer Support at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fill out the online form here: http://www.telosalliance.com/contact/

 

Where can I find the serial number on my Omnia?

The serial number is located on a small barcode sticker on the rear panel of most units. Most serial numbers start with 4 numbers followed by 2 or 3 letters and then 4 more numbers. For example here is the serial number for an Omnia-3: 4300BQ2625. The OmniaONE uses the format: 0218xyyyy and the Omnia.11 uses the format: 0279xyyyy.

Products that have a built-in Ethernet interface will also have a similar barcode sticker that begins with 0050c. This is the unit's MAC address.

 

My Omnia is locked, what is the factory default password?

  • Omnia Original (Classic) and Omnia-3: "tomtom"
  • Omnia 5 / 6 via RS-232 serial port or modem: "tomtom"
  • Omnia 5 / 6 via front panel or Ethernet remote: "engineer"
  • OmniaONE or Omnia.11 via front panel or Ethernet remote (built-in web page) : "omnia"
 

Where can I download the latest software for all the Omnias and the remote control software for those Omnia models that require it?

Will the presets from my older Omnia work as starting points in the newer Omnia I just purchased?

No, unless the new Omnia is the exact same model and style as the old Omnia.

 

Are all of the output jacks on my Omnia active simultaneously?

Yes, with one exception. Depending on model and style, some physical output jacks may not be active. For example, the BNC composite MPX output jacks on an Omnia ONE will be inactive when a style other than FM is running (AM, Multicast or Studio Pro).

 

Can I download a copy of the manual for my Omnia?

Yes, the latest version of all Omnia user manuals is available for download at http://www.omniaaudio.com/manuals

 

How can I help protect my Omnia equipment from power surge or lightning damage?

Protect your equipment from damage by employing surge suppression and proper grounding techniques, especially if the unit is located at a transmitter site. Modern digital equipment must be treated similarly to a computer regarding installation where there may be power surges or nearby lightning strikes. Below is a link to a paper by one of our support engineers detailing proper grounding and containing links to some surge suppression products for both the power mains and the often neglected telephone and ISDN line connections that can (and do) conduct powerful surges into the equipment. Here is the link to download the paper:  http://www.telos-systems.com/techtalk/surge.htm

 

My facilities are IP networked. Can I connect Omnia to my network for remote control?

Yes. All Omnia processors except the Original Omnia FM (Omnia Classic) and the Omnia-3 have a standard Ethernet port for remote control. On some models, remote control is achieved with a special free PC application downloaded from the OmniaAudio.com website. Newer models have a built-in webserver that allows you to directly control the unit via IP using any standard Web browser. You can also connect directly using a laptop and a Cat-5 crossover cable.

 

How should the Input Levels on my Omnia be set for best performance?

With normal program audio, the Input Gain Master should be adjusted so that the input bar graph meters are hitting from about -15 to –12 dBFS on regular peaks or a little higher. These are true peak-reading meters and will not read correctly on steady-state tones.

Once set properly, you should see about 10 dB of gain reduction on the WB AGC gain reduction meter with normal program audio at your 0VU reference. It is normal for the WB AGC gain reduction meter to continue to show gain reduction even when the WB AGC section is bypassed.

 

Do Omnia audio processors have “straight through” audio paths when they are powered down? That is, will they pass audio when turned off?

No, Omnia products only pass audio when powered on.

 

FM Broadcast

Omnia.11

How can I reset the touchscreen calibration on the Omnia.11?

You can reset the touchscreen calibration using the following procedure.

Note: This is only needed if the calibration is far enough off that you cannot enter the Setup menu. You will need to ssh into the unit with the free utility "Putty" found at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

  1. ssh to unit and login as "user" (password: "omnia")
  2. type the command "DISPLAY=:0 hlincal"
  3. this will give you a menu to select calibration
  4. select "calibration" (3) and then "9 point" (3 again), then "Begin GUI Calibration" (6).

This will bring the calibration screen up on the fp. Follow the instructions on-screen.

 

How many IP addresses does the Omnia.11 use?

Two: the IP address that you enter into the unit's Network Setup menu, and the next higher address. For example, if you enter 192.168.1.1 in the Network Setup menu, Omnia.11 uses 192.168.1.2 as well. So, make certain that both addresses are available on your network. Use the first address (that you entered) to access the unit for remote control or Livewire. The second address is not directly accessible.

 

How much time delay does my Omnia.11 have? (not counting the Diversity Delay)

 

The short answer for the Omnia.11 is "Too much for your DJ's to monitor directly from the FM or HD channel outputs". About 35ms. BUT...The DJ's can use the special low-delay DJ output instead (depending on your system). This can be routed to any of the Omnia.11's outputs in the appropriate submenu of the Output menu.

 

What is the factory default password for front panel or webpage remote access to my Omnia.11?

"omnia" (all lower case)

 

I can't seem to find a remote control software download for the Omnia.11. Why?

None is needed. Remote control for the Omnia.11 is performed over an Ethernet network connection using any standard web browser that can run the Java plug-in.

 

I have noticed on my Omnia.11 that the WB AGC is freezing (gating) a lot, and lowering the threshold even to -50 doesn't make much difference. This happens even with input levels up to -10. Is this normal?

Yes, this is normal. The gate in the Omnia.11's WB AGC is not a "normal" or "conventional" gate. Don't worry, if the average level drops, it will recover to bring those up quite nicely!

 

Omnia-6 FM / EX/ EXi

How much time delay does my Omnia-6 have? (not counting the Diversity Delay in the EXi styles)

The short answer is "Not enough to drive your DJ's crazy!"

We have measured the delay from the input to any output at approximately 9 ms on the Omnia-6 EX and 13ms on the Omnia-6 EXi. This is enough for a slight voice-character coloration to be audible to the person speaking, but not enough to be a problem for talent monitoring off the air.

Tip: Try both settings of the "Invert Both" setting in the Input Menu and ask your talent which they prefer. One of the two settings will put what they are hearing through their headphones more in phase with what they are hearing through their own bone conduction. You should find that one of the settings sounds better to them and it should be consistent with all of the talent monitoring off-air using the same feed. This parameter changes the phase of both channels at once, similar to reversing pins 2 & 3 on both channels Input XLR connectors. After adjusting this setting, most talent gets used to the "new sound" within a few breaks.

Note: If there is additional delay added to the air chain, such as from a Digital STL (especially a codec based STL), the cumulative delay may become excessive and cause discomfort for the on-air talent. Real-world tests have determined that a slight echo may begin to be heard at about 15 ms, and anything above 25-30 ms is usually too annoying to talent monitoring off the air.

 

Are there any additional presets available that did not come pre-installed on the Omnia-6?

Yes, we have developed some new presets and posted them to the Omnia Audio website at OmniaAudio.com. Presets are loaded into the Omnia-6 using the free remote control software available on the Omnia website.

 

Can my older Omnia-6 FM or EX be upgraded to an Omnia-6-EXi?

Yes. And there are two updates available depending on which model you have and whether you need two AES/EBU outputs or not. The Field Upgrade Kit (Part# 2011-00041) will upgrade either an Omnia-6 FM or EX with the diversity delay and LoIMD clipper. Full instructions are included with the kit.

Since older FM units have only a single AES/EBU output jack, there is also a Factory Upgrade available (Part# 2011-00040) that will also add the second AES/EBU output jack if needed. This is a factory upgrade only – contact Support if you wish to make this upgrade.

 

What is the difference between the Omnia-6 EX and EXi?

The Omnia-6 EX and EXi differ in that the EXi adds built-in Diversity Delay (fully adjustable now from 0-20 seconds) and an improved LoIMD clipper to the "FM" channel. Both come standard with parallel processing paths and optimized final limiting for conventional "FM" and "HD".

 

What HD features does the Omnia-6 have?

The Omnia-6 EX and EXi have a separate HD limiter that receives the audio from the output of the final mixer (after the 6-Band limiter stage) for optimum processing for the HD channel or Internet streaming. The output of the HD limiter can be routed to the analog or AES/EBU digital outputs. The Omnia-6 EXi adds built-in diversity delay and a newer LoIMD clipper stage for the FM analog channel. Omnia-6 is an audio processor only, and does not contain a codec.
 

How should the Input Levels on my Omnia-6 be set for optimum performance?

With normal program audio, the Input Gain Master should be adjusted so that the input bargraph meters are hitting from about -15 to –12 dBFS on regular peaks or a little higher. These are true peak-reading meters and will not read correctly on steady-state tones. Don't worry about being "into the red". Any level is acceptable up to 0dBFS, which is the overload point.

The Master Drive control on the Omnia 5EX, 6EX and 6EXi (located after the input bargraph meters) should be left at 0.0 dB if the reference 0VU level of the equipment feeding the Omnia is +4 dBu. This will provide optimum headroom throughout the Omnia.

The Master Drive will need to be adjusted if your system’s reference level is not +4 dBu. For example, a setting of –4.0 dB would be used if your reference level is +8 dBu and +4.0 dB if your reference level is 0 dBu.

This control may also need to be adjusted if you do not have sufficient gain reduction in the WB AGC, the input audio feeding the Omnia is pre-processed or if you wish to bypass the WB AGC section and have too little gain reduction in the multi-band AGC section.

Once set properly, you should see about 10 dB of gain reduction on the WB AGC gain reduction meter with normal program audio at your 0VU reference. It is normal for the WB AGC gain reduction meter to continue to show gain reduction even when the WB AGC section is bypassed.

 

I can't control the composite output levels of my Omnia-6 from the Encode menu, or the Composite Output level controls operate erratically. What can I do?

The Omnia will need to come in for service since it is likely that the composite output chips have been damaged by some kind of electrical surge. These chips are surface-mount components that are not field-serviceable.

 

I am having trouble finding the pilot injection and output level controls for the MPX Stereo Generator in my Omnia-6. Where are they located?

They are located in the “Encode” menu.

 

I’ve been told the Omnia-6 multi-band limiter section uses a unique design, what makes it different?

The low and mid bands use a feedback configuration, while the high bands utilize a feed-forward design. In plain English, what this means is that Omnia gives you a larger, warmer sound in the lower frequencies while maintaining a more open, natural texture in the higher frequencies.

 

My Omnia-6 boots only to the Omnia logo screen(s) and stops. It is not passing audio. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

My Omnia-6 stopped passing audio and is continuously rebooting over and over. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

My Omnia-6 is locked, the default password is not working and we have forgotten the password we changed it to. How can the unit be unlocked and the password(s) reset to the defaults?

You will need to contact Omnia Support (You can email Customer Support at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fill out the online form here: http://www.telosalliance.com/contact/ ) with the MAC address and serial number of the unit. These can be found on 2 small rear-panel barcode stickers like this: 0050cxxxxxxx and 4700xxyyyy. The Omnia Support tech will then give you a special password that will unlock the unit and restore the factory default passwords.

 

What are the factory default passwords for front panel or Ethernet remote access to my Omnia-6?

What about access via RS-232 serial port or modem card slot (Also used in the older Omnia FM or Omnia-3)?

Here are the default Front Panel and Ethernet Remote access passwords:

  • Level 1: "user" (all lower case)
  • Level 2: "advuser" (all lower case)
  • Level 3: "engineer" (all lower case)
  • Level 3 allows full access to control of the unit.

Levels 1 and 2 are configurable from the System Menu / Security Config screen. There you can assign what submenus may be accessed at those levels. Also there is the "Stealth Mode When Locked" option. When checked, this option will cause the front panel bargraph metering to stop showing processing activity and will hide the selected preset name from view when the Omnia is locked. This will not affect the horizontal Input and Output bargraph meters.

Here are the default RS-232 serial port and PCMCIA modem card remote access passwords:

  • Engineer Access Level (full access): "tomtom" (all lower case)
  • Limited User Access: "vito" (all lower case)
 

Omnia4.5 / 5EX FM & AM

How should the Input Levels on my Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM be set for optimum performance?

With normal program audio, the Input Gain Master should be adjusted so that the input bargraph meters are hitting from about -15 to –12 dBFS on regular peaks or a little higher. These are true peak-reading meters and will not read correctly on steady-state tones. Don't worry about being "into the red". Any level is acceptable up to 0dBFS, which is the overload point.

The Master Drive control on the Omnia 5EX, 6EX and 6EXi (located after the input bargraph meters) should be left at 0.0 dB if the reference 0VU level of the equipment feeding the Omnia is +4 dBu. This will provide optimum headroom throughout the Omnia.

The Master Drive will need to be adjusted if your system’s reference level is not +4 dBu. For example, a setting of –4.0 dB would be used if your reference level is +8 dBu and +4.0 dB if your reference level is 0 dBu.

This control may also need to be adjusted if you do not have sufficient gain reduction in the WB AGC, the input audio feeding the Omnia is pre-processed or if you wish to bypass the WB AGC section and have too little gain reduction in the multi-band AGC section.

Once set properly, you should see about 10 dB of gain reduction on the WB AGC gain reduction meter with normal program audio at your 0VU reference. It is normal for the WB AGC gain reduction meter to continue to show gain reduction even when the WB AGC section is bypassed.

 

I can't control the composite output levels of my Omnia4.5 FM / 5EX HD+FM from the Encode menu, or the Composite Output level controls operate erratically. What can I do?

The Omnia will need to come in for service since it is likely that the composite output chips have been damaged by some kind of electrical surge. These chips are surface-mount components that are not field-serviceable.

 

I’ve been told the Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM limiter section uses a unique design, what makes it different?

The low and mid bands use a feedback configuration, while the high bands utilize a feed-forward design. In plain English, what this means is that Omnia gives you a larger, warmer sound in the lower frequencies while maintaining a more open, natural texture in the higher frequencies.

 

Can my older Omnia4.5 AM be upgraded to an Omnia-5 EX HD+AM?

Yes. This is a factory upgrade and will require an RA. Please contact Omnia Support for details and pricing.

 

Does the Omnia4.5 AM / 5 EX HD+AM have fully adjustable assymetry so I can modulate the positives on my analog AM transmitter higher than the negative modulation?

Yes

 

What HD features does the Omnia-5 EX HD+AM have?

The separate HD limiter receives the audio from the output of the 2-Band AGC for optimum processing for the HD channel or Internet streaming. The Omnia-5 EX HD+AM does not contain a codec – it is an audio processor only. The output of the HD limiter can be routed to the analog XLR or AES/EBU digital outputs.

 

Is Omnia-5EX HD+AM NRSC compliant?

Yes. Our low-pass filtering meets all NRSC standards , and ITU specifications as well. You can select 10kHz (for US non-HD NRSC) and 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7 or 8 kHz.

 

What output options does the Omnia-5 EX HD+AM have?

Omnia-5 EX HD+AM is equipped with both discrete analog XLR and AES/EBU outputs, so you can choose the output option that suits you best. The current software also offers matrix processing as an option.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM boots only to the Omnia logo screen(s) and stops. It is not passing audio. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, if too many user presets have been saved to the card or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

I am having trouble finding the pilot injection and output level controls for the MPX Stereo Generator in my Omnia4.5 FM / 5EX HD+FM. Where are they located?

They are located in the “Encode” menu.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM stopped passing audio and is continuously rebooting over and over. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM is locked, the default password is not working and we have forgotten the password we changed it to. How can the unit be unlocked and the password(s) reset to the defaults?

You will need to contact Omnia Support , or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with the MAC address and serial number of the unit. These can be found on 2 small rear-panel barcode stickers like this: 0050cxxxxxxx and 4700xxyyyy. The Omnia Support tech will then give you a special password that will unlock the unit and restore the factory default passwords.

 

What are the factory default passwords for front panel or Ethernet remote access to my Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM?

What about access via RS-232 serial port or modem card slot (Also used in the older Omnia FM or Omnia-3)?

Here are the default Front Panel and Ethernet Remote access passwords:

  • Level 1: "user" (all lower case)
  • Level 2: "advuser" (all lower case)
  • Level 3: "engineer" (all lower case)
  • Level 3 allows full access to control of the unit.

Levels 1 and 2 are configurable from the System Menu / Security Config screen. There you can assign what submenus may be accessed at those levels. Also there is the "Stealth Mode When Locked" option. When checked, this option will cause the front panel bargraph metering to stop showing processing activity and will hide the selected preset name from view when the Omnia is locked. This will not affect the horizontal Input and Output bargraph meters.

Here are the default RS-232 serial port and PCMCIA modem card remote access passwords:

  • Engineer Access Level (full access): "tomtom" (all lower case)
  • Limited User Access: "vito" (all lower case)
 

Original Omnia and Omnia-3

My Original Omnia.FM or Omnia-3 is locked, the default password is not working and we have forgotten the password we changed it to. How can the unit be unlocked and the password(s) reset to the defaults?

  • Power off the unit and remove the top cover.
  • Find the purple, cylindrical lithium battery that is soldered to the motherboard.
  • Short the two leads of the battery together (with a clip lead etc.) for 30 (thirty) seconds.
  • Replace the top cover and power the unit back up.
  • There may be a message that says "No Previous System Found in Memory". This is normal since you just cleared the NVRAM memory on the motherboard.
  • Simply click on OK to continue normally.
The passwords should now be reset to the factory defaults of "tomtom" and "vito". Please note that the passwords must be different for the two levels.
 

How can I convert my Omnia-3 to a different style? (FM, NET or AM)

The Omnia-3 hardware is identical among the different styles. (Except the Multicast style)

You can change styles by purchasing the appropriate PCMCIA software card through your Omnia dealer or from Omnia Support (Part# 1166-00007-100 – Please specify style needed when ordering) and then clear the NVRAM before powering the unit up with the new style. To clear the NVRAM:

  • Power off the unit and remove the top cover.
  • Find the purple, cylindrical lithium battery that is soldered to the motherboard.
  • Short the two leads of the battery together (with a clip lead etc.) for 30 (thirty) seconds.
  • Replace the top cover and power the unit back up.
  • There may be a message that says "No Previous System Found in Memory". This is normal.
  • Click on OK to continue normally. 

Note that the passwords will also be reset to the factory defaults of "tomtom" and "vito".

 

My Original Omnia.FM or Omia-3 is locked, what is the factory default password?

"tomtom"

 

How do I remote control my Original Omnia (Omnia Classic) or Omnia-3?

These older units do not have built-in Ethernet ports (although an add-on Ethernet module is available for the Omnia-3) so remote control must be done through the RS-232 serial port using a straight-through RS-232 serial port cable. Parameters are 19200 baud, N, 8, 1, No Flow Control. You can download the free remote control application here: http://www.omniaaudio.com/software

 

Can my Unity2000, Original Omnia FM (Classic) or Omnia-3 be upgraded to an Omnia One, Omnia-5EX or Omnia-6?

No. The hardware platform and chassis are different and these units cannot be physically upgraded to the latest platforms.

 

My Omnia-3 or Omnia Original (Classic) is only displaying a diamond (triangles) or crosshatch pattern on the LCD screen. What can I do?

Sorry to say, this is usually the result of the unit having been exposed to a power surge or lightning strike and the unit will need to be sent in for repair. Please contact Omnia Support to schedule a repair for your unit.

 

My Omnia.FM or Omnia-3 is continuously rebooting over and over and is not passing audio. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 (thirty) seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

How do I reset the passwords to the factory defaults (tomtom & vito) in my Omnia Original (Classic) or Omnia-3?

Remove power from the Omnia and remove the top cover. Find the purple cylindrical Lithium battery that is soldered to the motherboard. Short -out the 2 leads of the battery with a heavy-duty clip-lead for 30 seconds. Remove the clip-lead, replace the top cover and power the Omnia back up. The passwords should now be reset to the factory defaults. You may get a message on the screen such as: "No Previous System Found In Memory" – if so, simply click on OK to continue normally.

 

AM Broadcast

Omnia4.5 / 5EX FM & AM

How should the Input Levels on my Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM be set for optimum performance?

With normal program audio, the Input Gain Master should be adjusted so that the input bargraph meters are hitting from about -15 to –12 dBFS on regular peaks or a little higher. These are true peak-reading meters and will not read correctly on steady-state tones. Don't worry about being "into the red". Any level is acceptable up to 0dBFS, which is the overload point.

The Master Drive control on the Omnia 5EX, 6EX and 6EXi (located after the input bargraph meters) should be left at 0.0 dB if the reference 0VU level of the equipment feeding the Omnia is +4 dBu. This will provide optimum headroom throughout the Omnia.

The Master Drive will need to be adjusted if your system’s reference level is not +4 dBu. For example, a setting of –4.0 dB would be used if your reference level is +8 dBu and +4.0 dB if your reference level is 0 dBu.

This control may also need to be adjusted if you do not have sufficient gain reduction in the WB AGC, the input audio feeding the Omnia is pre-processed or if you wish to bypass the WB AGC section and have too little gain reduction in the multi-band AGC section.

Once set properly, you should see about 10 dB of gain reduction on the WB AGC gain reduction meter with normal program audio at your 0VU reference. It is normal for the WB AGC gain reduction meter to continue to show gain reduction even when the WB AGC section is bypassed.

 

I can't control the composite output levels of my Omnia4.5 FM / 5EX HD+FM from the Encode menu, or the Composite Output level controls operate erratically. What can I do?

The Omnia will need to come in for service since it is likely that the composite output chips have been damaged by some kind of electrical surge. These chips are surface-mount components that are not field-serviceable.

 

I’ve been told the Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM limiter section uses a unique design, what makes it different?

The low and mid bands use a feedback configuration, while the high bands utilize a feed-forward design. In plain English, what this means is that Omnia gives you a larger, warmer sound in the lower frequencies while maintaining a more open, natural texture in the higher frequencies.

 

Can my older Omnia4.5 AM be upgraded to an Omnia-5 EX HD+AM?

Yes. This is a factory upgrade and will require an RA. Please contact Omnia Support for details and pricing.

 

Does the Omnia4.5 AM / 5 EX HD+AM have fully adjustable assymetry so I can modulate the positives on my analog AM transmitter higher than the negative modulation?

Yes

 

What HD features does the Omnia-5 EX HD+AM have?

The separate HD limiter receives the audio from the output of the 2-Band AGC for optimum processing for the HD channel or Internet streaming. The Omnia-5 EX HD+AM does not contain a codec – it is an audio processor only. The output of the HD limiter can be routed to the analog XLR or AES/EBU digital outputs.

 

Is Omnia-5EX HD+AM NRSC compliant?

Yes. Our low-pass filtering meets all NRSC standards , and ITU specifications as well. You can select 10kHz (for US non-HD NRSC) and 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7 or 8 kHz.

 

What output options does the Omnia-5 EX HD+AM have?

Omnia-5 EX HD+AM is equipped with both discrete analog XLR and AES/EBU outputs, so you can choose the output option that suits you best. The current software also offers matrix processing as an option.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM boots only to the Omnia logo screen(s) and stops. It is not passing audio. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, if too many user presets have been saved to the card or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

I am having trouble finding the pilot injection and output level controls for the MPX Stereo Generator in my Omnia4.5 FM / 5EX HD+FM. Where are they located?

They are located in the “Encode” menu.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM stopped passing audio and is continuously rebooting over and over. What can I do?

This condition usually means that the Omnia's front panel CPU is booting up normally, but the motherboard is not, due to corruption of the NVRAM and/or the rear panel PCMCIA software card. This can be caused by exposure of the unit to a power surge or lightning, or if the unit was powered up with the card not fully seated. We suggest installing a new rear panel PCMCIA software card – contact Omnia Support to request one. Before powering up with the new card for the first time, the NVRAM should be cleared by powering the unit off, removing the top cover and shorting-out the two leads of the purple, cylindrical lithium battery for 30 seconds. You can also try this before you install the new card, making sure that the existing card is fully seated in its slot, but if the NVRAM is corrupted, the card usually is as well. If the new card does not solve the problem, there likely is other hardware damage to the motherboard and the unit should be sent in for repair.

 

My Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM is locked, the default password is not working and we have forgotten the password we changed it to. How can the unit be unlocked and the password(s) reset to the defaults?

You will need to contact Omnia Support , or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with the MAC address and serial number of the unit. These can be found on 2 small rear-panel barcode stickers like this: 0050cxxxxxxx and 4700xxyyyy. The Omnia Support tech will then give you a special password that will unlock the unit and restore the factory default passwords.

 

What are the factory default passwords for front panel or Ethernet remote access to my Omnia4.5 FM & AM / 5EX FM & AM?

What about access via RS-232 serial port or modem card slot (Also used in the older Omnia FM or Omnia-3)?

Here are the default Front Panel and Ethernet Remote access passwords:

  • Level 1: "user" (all lower case)
  • Level 2: "advuser" (all lower case)
  • Level 3: "engineer" (all lower case)
  • Level 3 allows full access to control of the unit.

Levels 1 and 2 are configurable from the System Menu / Security Config screen. There you can assign what submenus may be accessed at those levels. Also there is the "Stealth Mode When Locked" option. When checked, this option will cause the front panel bargraph metering to stop showing processing activity and will hide the selected preset name from view when the Omnia is locked. This will not affect the horizontal Input and Output bargraph meters.

Here are the default RS-232 serial port and PCMCIA modem card remote access passwords:

  • Engineer Access Level (full access): "tomtom" (all lower case)
  • Limited User Access: "vito" (all lower case)
 

Omnia ONE

My Omnia ONE is locked, what is the factory default password?

Via front panel or Ethernet remote (built-in web page) : "omnia"

 

Where can I find the remote control software application for the Omnia ONE?

No separate application is required for remote control of Omnia ONE! Instead, there’s a built-in webpage for remote control over an Ethernet connection. Once the Omnia ONE is on your network, simply point your browser to its IP address and log in – the default password is "omnia".

More information about the webpage remote interface can be found in the Omnia ONE user manual.

 

My Omnia ONE will not finish booting up. It sticks with a lit but blank LCD screen and the LED meters frozen at a random level.

This is likely to be a hardware problem that will require a trip in for repair. It can be the result of the unit having been exposed to a power surge or lightning strike. Please contact Omnia Support to schedule a repair.

 

How do I convert my Omnia ONE to a different style? (FM, AM, Multicast, Studio Pro)

The Omnia ONE has two built-in software banks. When a software update is performed, the new software is loaded into the bank that is currently not in use. By loading a different style (downloadable free from OmniaAudio.com/software) into a software bank and then booting the unit from that bank, the unit will be running the new style. In fact, this procedure is exactly the same as for a software upgrade. Please see the Omnia ONE user manual for full instructions.

 

My Omnia ONE is locked, the default password is not working and we have forgotten the password we changed it to. How can the unit be unlocked and the password reset to the defaults?

For the Omnia ONE, follow the procedure in OmniaONE Password Reset Procedure.pdf

 

Coded Audio

Omnia A/XE

Will Omnia AX/E work on the Windows Server 2008 OS?

Yes, but Windows 2008 server has its audio subsystem disabled by default.

When you set up fresh server, Omnia A/XE will not show any audio devices under "Audio Sources".

To enable the audio subsystem, open the volume mixer (from the icon near the clock) and you should get a question "This computer cannot play audio because the Windows Audio Service is not enabled. Would you like to enable the Windows Audio Service?" Click "Yes" then restart the Omnia A/XE service. It will then show all the audio devices.

In the Server Manager, under Configuration -> Services, set the "Windows Audio" service to _Automatic_ to make audio load every time on boot.

 

How do I configure Omnia A/XE to work with IceCast?

As of the writing of this manual, we have not yet tested IceCast in our lab, but there is no reason why it shouldn’t work. W. Cox, an A/XE customer, sent us the following details on configuring IceCast:

Short version is you have to tell IceCast that you are sending it a ShoutCast style stream. I did that by adding this to my main icecast config file:

<listen-socket>
<port>8000</port>
<shoutcast-mount>/example.aac</shoutcast-mount>
</listen-socket>

The mount and port obviously have to match what you have the encoder [A/XE] setup to output...

Read More: How do I configure Omnia A/XE to work with IceCast?

Here is the long version: a big copy and paste from the IceCast manual describing this in more detail:
The following shows how we can extend a single listen-socket to work with ShoutCast style source clients. There are two issues ShoutCast source clients have over IceCast source clients, one is the lack of mountpoint and the second is the requirement of two ports. Both of these issues are handled by a simple addition in the listen-socket.
<listen-socket>
<port>8000</port>
<shoutcast-mount>/live.mp3</shoutcast-mount>
</listen-socket>
As before, the port specified is allocated but this time the shoutcast-mount implicitly defines a second listening socket whose port number is always one higher than the port defined, this also informs IceCast of which mountpoint the ShoutCast source client on this socket will be using. Using this approach you can allow multiple ShoutCast source clients to connect at the same time. The following is just to show the longer approach to defining ShoutCast compatibility.
<shoutcast-mount>/live.nsv</shoutcast-mount>
<-- You may have multiple <listen-socket> elements -->
<listen-socket>
<port>8000</port>
</listen-socket>
<listen-socket>
<port>8001</port>
<shoutcast-compat>1</shoutcast-compat>
</listen-socket>

Note that multiple listen-socket sections may be configured in order to have icecast2 listen on multiple network interfaces or multiple ports. If a bind-address is not specified for a particular listen-socket, then the socket will be bound to all interfaces (including IPv6 if available).For most people, the bind-address option will not be required and often confuses people.

Configuration Options

port

The TCP port that will be used to accept client connections.

bind-address

An optional IP address that can be used to bind to a specific network card. If not supplied,then it will bind to all interfaces.

shoutcast-mount

An optional mountpoint setting to be used when ShoutCast DSP compatible clients connect.The default global setting is /stream but can be overridden here to use an alternative name, which may include an extension that some clients require for certain formats. Defining this within a listen-socket group tells icecast that this port and the subsequent port are to be used for ShoutCast compatible source clients. This is an alternative to the shoutcast-compat approach as this implicitly defines the second listening socket and allows for specifying multiple sockets using different mountpoints for ShoutCast source clients. The shoutcast mountoutside of a listen-socket group is the global setting of the mountpoint to use.

shoutcast-compat

This optional flag will indicate that this port will operate in ’shoutcast-compatibility’ mode.Due to major differences in the source client connection protocol, if you wish to use any of the ShoutCast DJ tools, you will need to configure at least one socket as shoutcast compatible.Note that when in this mode, only source clients (and specifically ShoutCast source clients) will be able to attach to this port. All listeners may connect to any of the ports defined without this flag. Also, for proper Shoutcast DSP compatibility, you must define a listen socket with a port one less than the one defined as ’shoutcast-compat’. This means if you define 8001 as shoutcast-compat, then you will need to define a listen port of8000 and it must not also be defined as shoutcast-compat. See the example config file in the distribution for more info.

 

What is the difference between Omnia A/X and Omnia A/XE?

A/XE extends Omnia A/X in many areas. Where A/X could only process one audio input per PC, A/XE can handle multiple audio inputs at the same time. In addition to audio processing, A/XE can also encode the audio to MP3 or AAC and send the encoded audio to multiple servers at the same time. Using the included virtual audio cable, A/XE can accept audio from other application on the same PC without needing to go through a physical sound card. It is also able to feed audio to other applications on the same PC (e.g. third‐party encoders).

 

How do I configure Omnia A/XE?

Since A/XE works as a service in the background, it has no visible user interface (as a standard application would). A/XE can be configured and managed through a web browser from any computer that can reach the A/XE PC. In order to display audio meters and a rich graphical interface, A/XE’s management console uses a Microsoft browser plug‐in called Silverlight. If your PC does not have Silverlight installed, you will be prompted to do so the first time you access the A/XE with your browser.

 

How will I find out if there is a problem on A/XE?

If A/XE encounters an error it can notify you by email (if you configure it to do so). A/XE writes information to log files (one log file per day) which are available for review at any time.

 

Is the audio processing in A/XE different from the one in A/X?

The processing section in A/XE is identical to the one in A/X.

 

Does A/XE use the SENSUS technology for encoding?

At this time A/XE does not utilize SENSUS. We plan to add this in a future release.

 

Can I use A/XE for audio processing without encoding the audio?

Yes, A/XE can be configured to process the audio then send the processed audio to a sound card or to another application on the same PC without needing to encode the audio.

 

What formats can A/XE use for encoding?

A/XE can encode audio to MP3 (8kbps, 11025 Hz, mono to 320kbps, 44100 Hz, stereo) and AAC. Low complexity AAC (AAC‐LC) and high efficiency AAC (HE‐AAC) are both supported.

AAC has been standardized under both MPEG‐2 and MPEG‐4. The format most commonly used is MPEG‐4 AAC‐LC. Often this is called just ‘AAC’. HE‐AAC adds Spectral Band Replication to AAC and it is sometimes called AAC+ (sometimes seen as ‘aacPlus’ or ‘AACplus’). There is also an HE‐AAC v2 format which adds parametric stereo optimizations to HE‐AAC. Sometimes this is called AAC+ v2 or Enhanced AAC+.

 

What servers can A/XE feed?

A/XE can directly feed SHOUTcast‐style servers (SHOUTcast, Icecast, Steamcast, etc.). The Wowza server is also supported for streaming to Flash clients. MP3 encoded streams can also be sent to Windows Media server. Adobe Media Server is NOT supported at this time. We are considering this for a future version.

 

Can I use A/XE with a third-party encoder?

Yes, using the Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) driver A/XE can send the processed audio to other application on the same PC. A/XE would send the audio to one end of the VAC driver and the third‐party encoder would read the audio from the other end of the same VAC driver.

 

What is the Virtual Audio Cable driver?

The Virtual Audio Cable driver, included with A/XE, simulates a sound card and allows the audio to be sent from the output side of the driver to the input side. This forms a “patch cable” that applications can use to pass audio from one to another. Multiple cables can be configured at the same time.

 

How is A/XE licensed?

A/XE is licensed by the number of input audio sources. Each license purchased allows you to process and encode one input audio source. The same input can be processed and encoded in multiple ways. It can also be sent to multiple servers at the same time.

For example, if you need to process/encode two streams, then you purchase two licenses. You can choose to configure both licenses on one computer or you may install the software on separate computers.

 

Can I install two copies of A/XE on the same computer?

There is always only one copy of A/XE installed per PC. If you need to process multiple audio inputs on one PC then you just enter all license codes into A/XE on that PC. The number of audio inputs is limited by the license entered in A/XE (and by PC’s available resources).

 

Can I process/encode multiple input audio sources on one PC?

Yes, the number of input audio sources is determined by the licenses purchased and configured in A/XE. One instance of A/XE can process and encode multiple streams at the same time. The available PC resources will also limit the number of processors and encoders that can be run simultaneously.

 

What is license “activation”?

License activation associates a license to a computer. Each license may be installed on a single computer. During the activation process a request is sent to a Telos server. The server returns an activation code that unlocks the software on the installed PC. The request code contains no user identification information. Due to the nature of IP communications the public IP address of the requesting computer is communicated to the server.

 

Can I “tag” the encoded audio with metadata information?

Yes. A/XE can accept metadata from automation systems or other sources through a TCP/IP connection. A TCP/IP server accepts connections from metadata sources and then tags the encoded audio with the information received.

 

What metadata formats can A/XE understand?

A/XE’s metadata parser is very flexible and can be customized for your specific needs. Metadata is parsed through user‐editable “filters”. Filters are small programs written in a simple programming language named Lua (see http://www.lua.org). The filters can process the received data one character at a time or one line at a time. The filters can also parse and understand XML‐formatted metadata.

 

Do I have to be a programmer to create my own metadata filters?

No. A/XE includes a number of filters that you may be able to use as provided or adapt for your use. You may also check the A/XE product page for additional filter downloads or contact Telos support for assistance.

 

I have an Axia system installed. How can I get my Livewire audio into A/XE?

A/XE includes a copy of the IP-Audio driver. This allows you to receive audio from and send audio to Livewire devices over the network without the need for a physical audio card.

 

What are the system requirements to run A/XE?

OS: 32‐bit Windows XP and later. A/XE has been tested on XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 Enterprise Edition (build 7600). A network interface card is required.

NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7 the IP-Audio driver has an issue with device names. All device instances appear with the same name so it is difficult to tell them apart. We are working on resolving this issue.

The sections below show CPU usage under different usage scenarios. All tests were performed on a PC with the following specifications:

  • CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB*
  • OS: 32‐bit Windows 7 Enterprise (build 7600)

*The test PC has a large amount of memory in order to support future testing on other 64‐bit OS versions. As you can see under the test results below, A/XE uses a rather small amount of memory.

AALC Encode Test

For this test, Windows Media Player played an audio file to one end of the Virtual Audio Cable driver. 8 AAC encoder instances were then set up. Each instance read the audio from the same Virtual Audio Cable. The audio was processed with the ‘Music 24 kbps’ preset and then encoded to AAC‐LC (MPEG4) at 32kbps, stereo. The audio was made available though the internal stream server but no client connected and received those streams. A client connection may bump up the CPU and memory usage slightly but not by a significant amount.

Encoder Count Average CPU usage for the A/XE service
1 7.4%
2 14.4%
3 20.2%
4 25.5%
5 32.1%
6 37.4%
7 42.7%
8 48.8%

The memory usage for the A/XE service went up to 34 MB.

MP3 Encode Test

This test used the same setup as above but set the encoding to MP3 at 96kbps, 44100 Hz, stereo. The results were very close to the AAC‐LC test above.

Encoder Count Average CPU usage for the A/XE service
1 7.7%
2 15.0%
3 20.5%
4 26.1%
5 31.1%
6 36.5%
7 41.8%
8 47.2%

The memory use went up to 30 MB.

 

The CPU usage seems to jump up when I open the Control Panel page. Why?

Omnia A/XE will only process and encode the audio if there is a client connected. If no clients are connected A/XE will shut down the audio processors and encoder to conserve system resources. When you navigate to the Control Panel page, A/XE will start all processors/encoders for the streams currently ON so that it can display the meter information thus causing a spike in the CPU usage. When you leave the page, the encoders with no other clients will be turned off and the CPU usage will go down again.

 

How do I stop Omnia A/XE?

Omnia A/XE can be stopped using the following procedure:

  1. Open Windows’ Control Panel.
  2. Select ‘Administrative Tools’.
  3. Open the ‘Services’ applet.
  4. Find ‘Omnia A/XE’ in the service list and select it (click it once).
  5. Right‐click on the ‘Omnia A/XE’ line and select ‘Stop’ from the pop‐up menu. (You can also select ‘Stop’ from the ‘Action’ menu at the top of the program or click the ‘Stop’ icon in the toolbar if displayed.)

 

How do I start Omnia A/XE?

A/XE is designed to run as a Windows service. Services run in the background and are always available as long as the PC is on. You do not need to log in or manually start the A/XE application.

 

Where are the application settings stored?

All application configuration information is stored to a single file named Options.xml. This is a plain text file that can be viewed (and edited) using Windows’ Notepad or another text editor.

Options.xml is stored in the application data directory. This directory resides in the Microsoft‐recommended location. This location is different for different version of Windows. On XP it is under ‘C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Telos Systems\Omnia AXE’ while on Window 7 it is under ‘C:\ProgramData\Telos Systems\Omnia AXE’. For this reason we include a program shortcut named ‘Locate Options.xml’. When selected, it will open a new Windows Explorer window in the directory that stores Options.xml.

 

Where are the Presets, Metadata Filters and Logs stored?

The processing presets, metadata filters and log files are stored in subdirectories in the application data directory. This directory resides in the Microsoft‐recommended location. This location is different for different version of Windows. On XP it is under ‘C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Telos Systems\Omnia AXE’ while on Window 7 it is under ‘C:\ProgramData\Telos Systems\Omnia AXE’. For this reason we include a program shortcut named ‘Locate Options.xml’. When selected, it will open a new Windows Explorer window in the directory that stores Options.xml. (see Where are the application settings stored? ).

NOTE: The original copies of the processing presets and metadata filters that shipped with the application are also stored in the program installation folder. These are provided to allow the customer to recover the original files if the working copies get corrupted somehow (deleted by mistake, eaten up by Notepad, etc). It is important to perform all edits on the copies in the data folder and not the ones in the program folder.

 

Can I change the settings in Options.xml manually?

We do not recommend editing Options.xml manually. If this becomes necessary for some reason then make sure to stop the A/XE service before editing the file. Restart the A/XE service once the changes to Options.xml are saved back to the file. The same procedure can be used to restore Options.xml from a backup file: stop the A/XE service, restore Options.xml and restart the A/XE service.

 

Omnia F/XE

Can F/XE be used for live streaming?

F/XE had been designed to process and encode audio files. Use Omnia A/XE to process and encode live audio for streaming.

 

Is there a limit to the number of files I can encode?

No, F/XE places no limits on the number of files that can be processed and encoded.

 

Do I need special hardware to run F/XE?

No, any PC that meets the system requirement is all that is needed.

 

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