virtual radio for the sector

digital radio makes spherics and crackling interference in radio broadcast a thing of the past. New technologies from Fraunhofer IIS make it possible for digital radio to replace analogue short and medium wave broadcasting around the sector. Even neighborhood FM transmissions are being transformed to virtual. As a end result, virtual radio listeners gain from clean reception, a wider range of programming, and extra information thru records offerings without having to pay for a high priced net connection.

Alexander Zink, researcher on the Fraunhofer Institute for included Circuits IIS based in Erlangen, Germany, would love to offer explanation around a common misunderstanding: "digital radio works the identical way as terrestrial FM radio thru air waves, but with better quality, extra variety and modern extra capabilities. virtual Radio is unbiased of the internet and available to the listener free of price." collectively with Martin Speitel, Max Neuendorf and an extensive team, Zink developed several essential fundamental technology, as well as transmission and receiving answers for digital radio applications. nowadays, these technology are utilized round the sector in almost all virtual radio systems.

virtual Radio Already set up global

virtual radio is already carried out in the course of the majority of Europe. Many developing countries are within the planning stage to convert from analog to virtual for short and medium wave, and the digitalization of neighborhood FM publicizes is in development as well. for example, India is most of the the front-runners for digitalization, and on its manner to turning into the world's largest digital radio marketplace.

further to audio pleasant, digital radio's modern technology offers severely vital blessings to radio listeners, producers and radio broadcasters. as an example, the information provider Journaline makes it possible for listeners to interactively get right of entry to and study textual content facts inclusive of information, weather, and traffic or airport updates at once from the radio receiver's screen. "Even in the age of the internet, radio systems hold to function the most dependable distribution medium for news and emergency alarms. particularly in countries in which net infrastructure is negative or non-existent, the new answers allow get admission to to data and education on a huge-scale foundation and free of price," says Alexander Zink, emphasizing the political size of the Fraunhofer development. For broadcasters, virtual radio gives blessings which include extra green program transmission, which cuts expenses by means of reducing broadcast power intake and additionally allows for transmitting a larger number of applications. Deutschlandradio, the countrywide German public radio broadcaster, has benefited from the blessings of virtual radio for several years. "There are not sufficient FM frequencies available. virtual broadcasting is the handiest manner we are able to cowl the complete area," says Deutschlandradio director Dr. Willi Steul.

technology for the complete Broadcast Chain

The Fraunhofer IIS scientists design technologies and additives along the complete virtual radio broadcast chain. these technologies and components include progressive audio encoding techniques, as well as server solutions for coding and generating virtual radio transmission indicators and software additives for radio receiver gadgets. The MPEG audio formats xHE-AAC and HE-AAC manner records intelligently, lowering data volumes substantially even as preserving exceptional levels. "The xHE-AAC and HE-AAC formats are the muse of virtual radio's terrific sound fine. Our enjoy with mp3 and the subsequent technologies served as a terrific degree for the ones traits," says Max Neuendorf, group manager of the IIS Audio and Speech Coding group.

For radio receivers, new software program solutions have been advanced to support reception and playback of digital radio. "The signal you receive thru the antenna in virtual form is then reconverted again into audible shape, similar to the precept used in each traditional radio. way to our flexible answer, radio and chip set producers can effortlessly aid a huge number of digital radio standards in parallel," explains Martin Speitel, supervisor of the software program described Radio assignment at the IIS. To assist broadcasters with the advent and operation of digital radio, the scientists developed an easy-to-perform server answer. "Our ContentServer generation nowadays is one of the maximum extensively used professional broadcast systems. It combines the character components which includes audio encoding, facts packages and signaling control, in addition to multiplex generation in a single device. This makes it smooth for broadcasters and network carriers to configure virtual radio transmission signals. It also permits broadcast and community vendors to take benefit of the complete variety of digital radio capability," explains Alexander Zink, liable for the global standardization and marketplace development of digital radio.

Alexander Zink, Martin Speitel, Max Neuendorf and the complete improvement crew everyday the Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Prize 2016 for developing the foundations of virtual radio and its continuation to market roll-out. The jury diagnosed "the constant development of fundamental technologies and standards established on this area. For several years, Fraunhofer IIS has been able to make progress and increase groundbreaking technologies for virtual radio."