WorldCast Systems, the supplier of advanced broadcast products, is pleased to announce “the further evolution” of its APTmpX product, a “non-destructive” MPX/composite compression algorithm.
Despite the advent of the internet and digital broadcasting standards, FM remains the world’s most popular transmission format and a central technology in radio broadcasters’ efforts to maximize their reach and audience. As a result, new technologies have had to be created to enable an FM-centric workflow to also work for internet delivery.
The initial version of APTmpX, launched in October 2020, offered FM broadcasters access to high quality signal compression for the resulting centralized FM MPX/Composite transmission, solving the difficulty of maintaining both a high quality and a cost-effective transmission.
This provided a solution in the <900kbps region. The latest release of APTmpX takes this even further. Following optimization by Worldcast engineers, three new versions are available that offer new levels of compression at 600, 400 or 300kbps network bandwidth. This means the composite signal can now directly be transported with non-destructive compression from 600kbps down to 300kbps.
The use of APTmpX confers several advantages. Since the majority of composite equipment at transmitter sites is eliminated with a centrally generated MPX/composite signal, besides the obvious network savings, several broadcasters have already managed to save hardware costs with APTmpX. Furthermore, the company says, APTmpX combines signal fidelity with the best latency performance and makes it easier than ever to guarantee a consistent sonic signature across the transmitter network.
“Thanks to its low complexity and easy integration, APTmpX has already proven itself as the ultimate solution to enable a 100% digital transmission chain, bridging the transition from digital studios to digital transmitters,” said Gregory Mercier, Director of Product Marketing at WorldCast Systems. “With these new versions, we bring its power to a whole new section of the market, allowing broadcasters in areas of poor bandwidth penetration to deliver stunning audio quality to their audiences no matter what they are listening on.”
