iMPX: Networked FM-Stereo Composite Connectivity

Abstract

The broadcast infrastructure is all about connectivity. Following, is a comprehensive explanation of iMPX, an innovative method where the FM-Stereo MPX signal is carried over a data link of 320KB/s or greater, as part of the studio-to-transmitter (STL) link. Employing a linear technique, or a newly designed codec - which does not produce audible artifacts - this method maintains precision peak control, and yields a transparent MPX signal for transmission. Now, “one to many” multicast transmission options are born, RDS signals are included in the payload, and the main processor can reside at the studio, but still provide peak control as if based at the transmitter. IP distribution of composite signals becomes a logical extension within the AoIP ecoverse. While many seek to replace the STL from two decades ago, the boundaries between box products is beginning to blur, and the future of server based processing sending packets directly to a transmitter over IP becomes a certainty.