BW Broadcast DSPXtra Encore User manual

DSPXtra Encore
AUDIO PROCESSOR
USER MANUAL
www.bwbroadcast.com

Contents
1. The Encore Family
2. The DSPXtra-AM Encore
3. Warranty
4. Safety
5. Front & Rear Panels
6. User Interface
7. Installation & Operation
8. System Configuration
9. Presets Configuration
10. Menu Structure
11. Routing and Block Diagram
12. Technical Specification
!

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About Encore 1
Welcome to the Encore family!
Encore is a modern, high-quality range of products designed around a common
hardware and software platform.
The Encore family includes:
§ Audio processors
§ RDS coders
§ Stereo generators
§ Rebroadcast receivers
§ Audio backup devices
§ Modulation analysers
§ …and is growing all the time!
Encore uses high-quality components, robust hardware and an innovative user
interface, which provides many benefits to broadcast technology users.
Modules and components are common to all products in the range – meaning ease of
service and minimal need to stock replacement parts.
For example, if you have an RDS coder, a modulation monitor and a backup audio
device, the same power supply, the same audio board and the same DSP board is used
in each one!
The rear panel is the same on every product. This means wiring can be standardised,
installation is simple and easy.
Front panels are consistent across the range – with OLED screens, LED displays, a scroll
knob and a few soft-keys, every products is easy to operate.
Encore has been designed to be very simple and intuitive to set up and operate –
everything is where you’d expect it to be and is easy to understand and use. Once
you’ve used one Encore product you can use them all!
The user interface is designed around the concept of ‘System’ and ‘Presets’ menus,
where the System menu is the same for every product and contains all the audio level
settings, the versatile and exclusive ‘Events and Alarms’ section as well the
communications, monitoring and telemetry system.

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All product-specific settings are contained within the ‘Presets’ menu – providing an
automobile radio -like interface which works just as well for profiles in an RDS encoder as
it does for settings in an audio processor, a modulation monitor or rebroadcast receiver.
The web remote control interface is common across all products, as is the API and the
internal language, so it’s simple to interface the whole Encore range of products with
your common monitoring and telemetry system.
Every Encore product includes, as standard:
§ Backup audio
§ Events and Triggers –based Telemetry
§ Comprehensive communication section
§ Analogue and Digital audio interfaces
§ Ethernet, USB and RS232 connectivity
§ Interactive Web remote system
§ SNMP and TelNet support
A common hardware and software family of products, which are easy to set up, easy to
use, easy to maintain and easy to service.
Innovation, usability, quality, and confidence are what you get from Encore!

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The DSPXtra-AM Encore 2
The BW Broadcast DSPXtra-AM Encore is the latest incarnation of the world famous BW
Broadcast range of DSP audio processors.
Using multi-band DSP technology, the DSPXtra-AM Encore offers a versatile and powerful
tool in creating a loud, punchy on-air presence.
The DSPXtra-AM Encore is driven by a fast 8-bit micro-controller which controls an array
of specialist analogue and digital circuits. These include 24-bit A/D and D/A converters,
analogue level circuitry, 6 x 24-bit DSPs, an Ethernet port, a GPIO port, an RS232 port, an
OLED screen and memory devices holding the software and firmware.
After input selection, the 24-bit digital audio signal is passed through conditioning
circuitry before being split into four bands by a phase matched crossover. Each band is
processed by an RMS leveler which corrects for input level variations and improves
consistency.
The audio is then split into six bands, which are further processed by intelligent audio
limiters. The subsequent distortion-cancelling clipping and filtering ensures your signal is
kept to a strict maximum while maintaining clear sound.
The easy to use front panel control system with OLED screen offers ease of use and
setup.
Comprehensive control of every processing parameter is available to the user both from
the front panel control system and by remote, web-based control.
At a fraction of the size, weight and price of its rivals, the DSPXtra-AM Encore is a small
but serious processor!

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Warranty 3
Please ensure the warranty registration process is completed upon receipt of this product. To do so, go
to www.bwbroadcast.com/warranty with your product’s serial number to hand. BW Broadcast warrants
the mechanical and electronic components of this product to be free of defects in material and
workmanship for a period of up to ten years from the original date of purchase, in accordance with the
warranty regulations described below. If the product shows any defects within the specified limited
warranty period that are not due to normal wear and tear and/or improper handling by the user, BW
Broadcast shall, at its sole discretion, either repair or replace the product. If the warranty claim proves
to be justified, the product will be returned to the user. The freight will be paid by BW Broadcast within
the first 2 years, thereafter freight will be the responsibility of the customer. Warranty claims other than
those indicated above are expressly excluded.
Note: The warranty registration process must be carried out as described above to enable warranty
cover for 10 years. Otherwise, a 2-year warranty period applies.
Return authorisation number: To obtain warranty service, the buyer (or his authorised dealer) must
contact BW Broadcast during normal business hours BEFORE returning the product. All inquiries must be
accompanied by a description of the problem. BW Broadcast will then issue a return authorisation
number. Subsequently, the product must be returned in its original shipping carton, together with the
return authorisation number to the address indicated by BW Broadcast.
Warranty regulations: Any product deemed eligible for repair or replacement by BW Broadcast under
the terms of this warranty will be repaired or replaced within 30 days of receipt of the product at BW
Broadcast. If the product needs to be modified or adapted in order to comply with applicable
technical or safety standards on a national or local level, in any country which is not the country for
which the product was originally developed and manufactured, this modification/adaptation shall not
be considered a defect in materials or workmanship. The warranty does not cover any such
modification/adaptation, irrespective of whether it was carried out properly or not. Under the terms of
this warranty, BW Broadcast shall not be held responsible for any cost resulting from such a
modification/adaptation. Free inspections and maintenance/repair work are expressly excluded from
this warranty, in particular, if caused by improper handling of the product by the user. This also applies
to defects caused by normal wear and tear, in particular, of faders, potentiometers, keys/buttons and
similar parts. Damages/defects caused by the following conditions are not covered by this warranty:
Misuse, neglect or failure to operate the unit in compliance with the instructions given in BW Broadcast
user or service manuals. Connection or operation of the unit in any way that does not comply with the
technical or safety regulations applicable in the country where the product is used. Damages/defects
caused by force majeure or any other condition that is beyond the control of BW Broadcast. Any repair
or opening of the unit carried out by unauthorized personnel (user included) will void the warranty. If an
inspection of the product by BW Broadcast shows that the defect in question is not covered by the
warranty, the inspection costs are payable by the customer. Products that do not meet the terms of this
warranty will be repaired exclusively at the buyer’s expense. BW Broadcast will inform the buyer of any
such circumstance.
Warranty transferability: This warranty is extended exclusively to the original buyer (customer of retail
dealer) and is not transferable to anyone who may subsequently purchase this product. No other
person (retail dealer, etc.) shall be entitled to give any warranty promise on behalf of BW Broadcast.
Claims for damages: Failure of BW Broadcast to provide proper warranty service shall not entitle the
buyer to claim (consequential) damages. In no event shall the liability of BW Broadcast exceed the
invoiced value of the product.
Other warranty rights and national law: This warranty does not exclude or limit the buyer’s statutory
rights provided by national law, in particular, any such rights against the seller that arise from a legally
effective purchase contract. The warranty regulations mentioned herein are applicable unless they
constitute an infringement of national warranty law.

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Safety 4
MAINS VOLTAGE: The Encore products operate from an AC power source between 110 and 240 V.
These power supplies use an IEC plug. The wiring format is:
Ground - GREEN/YELLOW
Neutral - BLUE
Live - BROWN
SWITCHED MODE POWER SUPPLY HAZARD Please note that the power supply unit in this equipment is of
the switched mode variety and has lethal voltages present internally. The switched mode supplies are
universal input fully approved type. They are non-serviceable modules and should be replaced if they
fail.
FUSES Only use fuses with the specified voltage and current ratings as stated on the back panel. Failure
to do so may increase the risk of equipment failure, shock and fire hazard.
TOXIC HAZARD This equipment may include R.F. components that may contain Beryllium oxide which is
a highly toxic substance that could be hazardous to health if inhaled or ingested. Care should be taken
when replacing or discarding such devices. Seek expert advice from the manufacturer should you
physically damage a device that contains Berillyium Oxide.
OTHER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS Do not operate this equipment in the presence of flammable gases,
fumes or liquids Do not expose this equipment to rain or water.
CE CONFORMANCE This device complies with the requirements of the
1995/5/EC Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE). The
equipment will meet or exceed the following standards: EN 60215:1996 (Safety
Requirements for Radio Transmitting Equipment), EN301489-11 (ERM/EMC for
Radio Equipment, Part 11 Specific Conditions for FM Transmitters), EN 302 018-
2 ERM (Transmitting Equipment for FM Radio Broadcasting service)
WEEE COMPLIANCE BW Broadcast Ltd is registered with Northern Compliance PCS
number WEE/P3438PR/ SCH and has been issued with WEE/FA0268RX as its unique
producer ID by the appropriate environment agency. BW Broadcast Ltd full comply
with it explicit responsibilities, subject to WEEE Collections Policy outlined in their
General Terms and Conditions of Sale, when it sells Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (EEE) to B2B customers in the UK and EU.
This appliance has been designed and manufactured with high quality materials
and components that can be recycled and reused.
Electronic appliances are liable to contain parts that are necessary in order for the system to work
properly but which can become a health and environmental hazard if they are not handled and
disposed of in the proper way. Consequently, please do not throw your inoperative appliance with the
household waste. Having purchased this appliance, it is your responsibility to dispose of this equipment
appropriately.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not remove the cover. No user serviceable parts
inside. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.
!

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DETAILED SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:
All the safety and operation instructions should be read before the appliance is operated.
Retain Instructions: The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
Heed Warnings: All warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
Follow instructions: All operation and user instructions should be followed.
Water and Moisture: The appliance should not be used near water (e.g. near a bathtub, washbowl,
kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool etc.). The appliance should not
be exposed to dripping or splashing and objects filled with liquids should not be placed on the appliance.
Ventilation: The appliance should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its
proper ventilation. For example, the appliance should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar
surface that may block the ventilation openings, or placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase
or cabinet that may impede the flow of air through the ventilation openings.
Heat: The appliance should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,
or other appliance (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Power Source: The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type de- scribed in the
operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.
Grounding or Polarisation: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarisation means of
an appliance is not defeated.
Power-Cord Protection: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on
or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords and plugs,
convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the appliance.
Cleaning: The appliance should be cleaned only as recommended by the manufacturer. Wash your
hands.
Non-use Periods: The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused
for a long period of time.
Object and Liquid Entry: Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into
the enclosure through openings.
Damage Requiring Service: The appliance should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
§ The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged;
§ Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the appliance;
§ The appliance has been exposed to rain;
§ The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in
performance;
§ The appliance has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
Servicing: The user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that is described in the Operating
Instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

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Front & Rear Panels 5
The Encore range uses several versions of the front panel, each using similar components
and featuring the same method of operation.
!
Multicolour LED
matrixes for level
displays
OLED displays for
menu system and
analysis
Scroll knob, LED ring and
buttons for control and
setup
Headphone
output for high
quality audio
monitoring

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Note: Some connectors on the rear panel are non-functional where appropriate to the
product.
Analog audio
inputs
Pin 1 0v Pin 2 + (hot) Pin 3 – (cold)
Analog
audio
outputs
Pin 1 0v
Pin 2 + (hot) Pin 3 – (cold)
MPX
inputs
and
outputs
(BNC)
Antenna
inputs
(BNC)
AES/EBU Digital
input and output
Pin 1 0v Pin 2 + (hot) Pin 3 – (cold)
USB
and
Ethernet
(LAN)
Events &
Triggers
Mains power
(IEC)
90-260v AC, 25w
RS232

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User Interface 6
6
NAVIGATING
The Encore products have an intuitive interface based around a pushable scroll knob,
surrounded by a ring of LEDs, with a series of buttons. Some products have three buttons,
some five and some six.
The buttons can be ‘soft keys’, and perform various functions denoted by icons shown
adjacent to them in the displays, or may be function-specific - in which case the buttons
are illuminated with the following symbols:
ONLINE
OFFLINE
DECODE
ENCODE
INPUT 1
INPUT 2
Audio is passing through the unit and is being
processed.
Input is connected to output and audio is not being
processed.
The unit is operating as a stereo generator, or
encoder, producing a composite (MPX) output
signal from the analog or digital inputs!
The unit is operating as a stereo decoder,
producing discrete left and right, analog and
digital outputs from a composite signal input.!
Switches the unit to tuner 1 or MPX input 1.!
Switches the unit to tuner 2 or MPX input 2.!

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The icons that can be shown against the softkeys are as follows:
If the ‘scroll screen left’ or ‘right’ icons are displayed, this indicates that there are
additional screens available. Pressing these buttons slides the displays to and
from these other screens.
‘Back’ will move back up one step in a menu tree.
‘Undo’ and ‘redo’ are typically used in an audio processor to perform an
‘A/B comparison’ between two presets, or between a modified and an
unmodified preset.
The ‘headphone’ button, when pressed, will cause the icon to flash indicating
that the headphone level may be directly adjusted by rotating the scroll knob
(rather than having to enter the System | Audio menu as described in Section 8).
This mode will time out after 5 seconds of inactivity, or when the button is pressed
again.
The ‘delete text’ and ‘accept text’ buttons are used when the virtual ‘qwerty’
keyboard is being employed to add or modify text, perhaps to name a preset or
to enter other alpha-numeric strings such as email addresses etc.
While navigating the menus, if an ‘info’ help-text is available for that parameter,
the ‘i’ symbol will illuminate next to a softkey. Pressing this softkey will show the
information; pressing it again (or pressing ‘back’) will dismiss the info.
The Encore’s high-quality OLED displays show various levels and parameters, plus allow
selection and editing of the various settings throughout the unit.
The menu system is navigated by rotating the knob to highlight an item and pushing it to
open a submenu, or to select the parameter for editing.
While in a submenu, pressing the ‘back’ softkey will return to the parent menu.

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EDITING A PARAMETER
To edit a parameter, navigate to it in the menu using the knob - square brackets [ … ]
will surround the currently highlighted parameter. Press the knob to select the
parameter, then rotate the knob to change it.
Changes happen immediately as you turn the knob; press the knob again to keep the
change; alternatively press the ‘back’ softkey to revert without changing.
The parameter setting will be shown on the OLED screen, numerically and with a
progress bar, as shown below:
EDITING A TEXT FIELD
When editing a text field, such as the system name or a preset name, a ‘qwerty’
keyboard will be shown on the OLED display.
Highlight the letter to be used by turning the knob and press to select. To delete a letter,
use the softkey adjacent to the ‘X’ icon .
To switch to a numerical keyboard, select the ‘123’ button with the scroll knob and press
to select.
To accept and save the new text, press the softkey indicated by the ‘check' icon .

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Installation & Operation 7
The DSPXtra-AM Encore can be installed in a number of ways, for example:
§ At a combined studio/transmitter site;
§ At a studio location before a studio-transmitter link;
§ At a transmitter site, fed from a studio-transmitter link;

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7.1 QUICK SETUP
Install the DSPXtra-AM Encore into the rack; The unit should be mounted in a grounded,
19” (483mm) equipment rack. While the DSPXtra-AM Encore generates little heat itself, it
could be damaged by being confined between other heat-generating equipment. If
the equipment directly below or above the DSPXtra-AM Encore runs hot, you should
allow one single rack space between them.
The area directly to the rear and sides of the unit should be open, to allow free-flowing
air, and the environment should be as dust-free as possible.
1. Connect AC power to the unit;
2. Connect the analogue or digital output;
3. Select analogue or digital input as the source of processing with the ‘input’ item in
the ‘system|audio i/o’ menu;
4. Navigate to the System | Audio i/o | Outputs menu, and adjust the low-pass filter
setting as required. This will affect the occupied bandwidth of the AM
transmission.
5. You can use the built-in tone generator to set the output levels. Set the output
source in System | Audio i/o | Outputs to ‘tone’, set Amplitude to 60%, then adjust
the output level until your transmitter (or modulation monitor) reads 50%
modulation (the 10% difference is to account for possible overshoots in the
transmitter).
6. Navigate to the System | Audio i/o | Inputs menu, and adjust the high-pass filter
setting.
7. Navigate to ‘presets’, and select a preset from the list.
That’s it - You’re on the air!
Further information on each parameter is contained in section 9 ‘Presets Configuration’
in this manual.
7.1.1 AUDIO CONNECTIONS
The analog audio inputs and outputs are balanced XLR connectors (pin 2 +ve) and can
range from peak levels of -10dBu to +24dBu. The menus in the DSPXtra-AM Encore will be
used to calibrate the audio levels to suit your facility.
The digital inputs and outputs are AES/EBU compliant, and will also reliably handle S/PDIF
with suitable cable adaptors. A built-in sample rate converter will convert whatever the
incoming audio’s sample rate is to the preferred output rate, if desired. This selection is
made in the system|audio i/o menu.

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7.1.2 DATA AND GPIO CONNECTIONS
The DB-9 ‘GPIO’ connector is used for preset switching and/or to interface with other
remote control equipment or telemetry.
The RJ-45 Ethernet connector allows the DSPXtra-AM Encore to be controlled over a
network using the built-in web interface. TCP/IP network settings are contained in the
system|communications menu.
7.2 THE DISPLAYS
When the DSPXtra-AM Encore is powered up, the OLED screen will show the ‘home
screen’:
The three buttons available on the home screen are ‘system’, ‘sleep’ and ‘presets’.
The ‘system’ and ‘presets’ menus are described sections 7 and 8 of this manuscript.
The ‘sleep’ button will, when highlighted and pressed, apply an instant ‘screensaver’
function in which both screens are extinguished and a ‘heartbeat’ is played on the
knob’s LED ring to show at a glance that the unit is powered up.
The ‘sleep’ state will also be automatically entered if no front panel controls are
operated for 30 minutes.
[‘sleep’ will be replaced in an imminent firmware version by ‘lock’ – which will manually
put the unit into the ‘security lock’ state - an added feature in that version].
7.2.1 METERING
In addition, input and output levels, as well as processing operation is displayed on a
high-quality LED matrix.
7.2.2 INPUT/OUTPUT METERS
The input meters show the level of the input audio. The meters are ‘hooked into’ the DSP
code after the input source selection.
The output meters represent the level in dB below full scale output. This output level is the
peak output level of the processing and has nothing to do with the actual output level
set by the analogue and digital output level options.

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The output meters show a smaller dynamic range than the input meters; this reflects the
smaller dynamic range of the audio once processed by the DSPXtra-AM Encore.
The I/O meters follow an approximation of the PPM levels of the audio waveform.
7.2.3 MULTIBAND AGC
The first four meters show the gain reduction of the multiband AGC.
There is one meter per stereo channel, and the value is that of the largest gain reduction
of either left or right channels. Due to this you may see strange results if the L/R input
channels are not well balanced in level.
7.2.4 MULTIBAND LIMITER
The second six gain reduction meters show the gain reduction of the multiband limiter.
There is one meter per stereo channel – the above caveat applies here, too.

THE SYSTEM MENU
This menu contains all the fundamental unit configuration settings, and should be the first
place you go after taking the Encore out of its box!
These settings are peculiar to the installation, perhaps the transmitter site itself, as
opposed to the following ‘Presets’ section (Section 9) which are particular to the exact
usage and model of the unit.
Power the unit up, and from the home screen, highlight and press the ‘system’ button:
You’ll now see a list of submenus:
Audio i/o: Contains all audio input and output settings, as well as output
routing selections.
(Not present in all Encore products)
MPX generator: Settings for the mpx (‘composite’) generator.
(Not present in all Encore products)
Events: A comprehensive events/alarms/scheduling system.
Time: Manually setting the unit time and date, or automatically setting
this via ntp.
Users: Set up admin user and standard users.
Communication: A sub menu containing settings for identity, ethernet,
email, web remote, snmp, telnet, logging and RS232.
About: Unit information and power supply status.
Note: Certain menu items will be different or not present in some products, as
appropriate to their features.
Let’s take some time to discuss the contents of each of these menus:

8.1 AUDIO I/O
(Certain menu items are omitted in some products in the Encore range).
Within this there are two submenus –‘inputs’ and ‘outputs’.
‘Inputs’ allows you to set the operating level of the unit when referenced to the rest of
your installation. For both analog and digital reference level, please set these to your
maximum normal operating level.
For example, if you will be feeding analog audio into the unit that may reach but never
exceed +12dBu, set the ‘analog ref level’ to +12. (For PPM users, PPM4=+4, PPM5=+8,
PPM6=+12).
Similarly, if your digital levels may meet but not exceed -10dBFS, set ‘dig ref level’ to -10.
‘Outputs’ allows you to set output levels from each physical output, and choose what
source feeds those outputs.
The sections of this submenu are:
An (analog) output source: none
analog audio
digital audio
tuner 1 audio
tuner 2 audio
test tone (a 1kHz sine wave)
diversity
Analog output level: -18dBu to +24dBu
Dig (digital) output source: none
analog audio
digital audio
tuner 1 audio
tuner 2 audio
test tone
diversity
Dig output level: -20dBFS to 0dBFS
Dig output sample rate: 48kHz
96kHz
192kHz
MPX 1 source: none
mpx in 1*
tuner 2 mpx*
mpx generator
pilot tone
rds
MPX 1 out level: 0dBu to +12dBu**

MPX 2 source: none
mpx in 1*
tuner 1 mpx*
tuner 2 mpx*
mpx generator
pilot tone
rds
MPX 2 out level: 0dBu to +12dBu**
Headphones source: none
analog audio
digital audio
tuner 1 audio
tuner 2 audio
test tone
diversity
Headphone level: 0 to 100%
For convenience, the headphone source and headphone level settings are duplicated
directly under the ‘audio i/o’ menu.
* Note that if ‘tuner 1(or 2) mpx’, or ‘mpx in 1’ is selected as the source for an mpx
output, the received signal merely passes through the unit, unaffected by the ‘fmsi’
signal processing (please see section 9 of this manual).
** The mpx output level adjustments only affect the output of the internal mpx
generator. If the mpx (1 or 2) output source is set to ‘tuner 1 (or 2) mpx’, the output level
is fixed at +6dBu.
8.2 MPX GENERATOR
(Not present in all Encore products)
This menu controls the on-board stereo generator (‘MPX’ meaning multiplex, sometimes
known as ‘composite’).
The stereo generator includes a composite clipper. With a drive level of 0dB, this has no
effect; above that it will become active and clip the MPX signal. The clipper contains
RDS/SCA protection filters, also there is a pilot protection filter option.
The audio clipper protects the MPX generator from peak excursions and overshoots in
the source audio. It is distortion-cancelling and anti-aliased.
Furthermore, there is an ‘overshoot compensator’ which handles any overshoots from
the main clipper, and restricts the audio bandwidth to 15kHz.
The MPX generator menu contains the following parameters: