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If you have a capture card which presents MPX as a sound card at 192 kHz, then yes, absolutely! (Fat chance, though).
What card?
///Leif
DjSmooth, I understand. I’m sorry to have bad news, but like I said, I don’t have a mac — I develop on PCs. It’s possible that at some point the most basic, most mass-appeal version of Breakaway (that is, BAE) will be ported to mac.
However, the chances of a breakaway file processor being ported to mac are slim to none. I’m just being honest here — don’t wait for it. If using a PC really isn’t an option for you, then I have no recommendation for you, as again, I develop on PCs, and I have never been a mac user or developer.
Best regards,
///LeifExcellent question, AuBadge 🙂.
It’s a program for recording / playing back / comparing / analyzing MPX files, as well as real-time analysis.
MPX is the underlying analog encoding system used in FM Stereo Radio. Being able to work with MPX audio on a computer takes a lot of the guess work out of calibrating the audio chain at a radio station (whether a big "real" station, or your own transmitter for experimentation).
To record MPX, you’d need MpxTool full version ($199), a 192 kHz capable sound card, and a tuner modified for MPX output.
However, to play / analyze / compare MPX, all you need is the free version and ANY sound card. 192 kHz not necessary! All decoding is done in software, and you get an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer and modulation monitor — replacing hardware that costs thousands and thousands of dollars.
If you for example download one of the MPX recordings I made during my last travel, and play it back, it will sound EXACTLY like it would if you were there, listening with a good radio. Thus, you can accurately compare what radio sounds like in different cities — even if you’re thousands of miles from the city. All you need is the MPX.
Is it useful? For most people, no — definitely not. However, for anyone interested in audio processing, it’s invaluable. I couldn’t live without it — in fact, that’s why I wrote it, since nobody else had. 😉
At some point in the distant future I’ll implement RDS decoding. RDS is captured in the files, the subcarrier is right there (as well as SCAs on certain stations), MpxTool just doesn’t decode it yet.
Best,
///LeifEasiest is to check the specs.
Some sound cards have a control panel where you can choose the sampling rate. If it does, and 192000hz is not one of the choices, then chances are it doesn’t support it.
If it has no control panel, you can try to record at 192000hz with for example adobe audition, and then check if there’s a cutoff at 24 or 48. If there is, 192k is not supported.
What card are you using exactly?
///Leif
Hi LPY!
Indeed, you have to tap into the radio to get the MPX Composite signal before stereo decoding / filtering / de-emphasis, and then record it with a 192 kHz sound card.
Check the Tivoli Model One thread below for instructions on how to do this with the Tivoli Model One. 🙂
Best,
///LeifIndeed.
Digitally Imported (di.fm / sky.fm) all run straight Reference Settings, and have been since I originally wrote the Breakaway Core in 2006.
Best,
///LeifHi Dawood!
EQ isn’t it. Breakaway is not an equalizer — thus, you cannot get the sound of Breakaway with just an equalizer.
///Leif
Hi Didac!
Indeed — don’t connect the mic bias. We don’t want that. 🙂
I have now taken my Model One apart to figure out how the modification was done.
Here’s the spec sheet for the FM decoder chip in the Model One: TEA5711T (by Philips).
The pins of interest are:
Pin 22 – Common Ground (both MPX and Power)
Pin 25 – Power Supply (connect to where it says 9v battery on the amp schematic)
Pin 28 – AFo — this is the MPX output. Connect to PIN3 in the amp schematic.Here’s what my amp looks like:
Here’s where it’s connected to the TEA5711T chip inside the Tivoli Model One:
Good luck!
Best,
///LeifJesse is absolutely right. As long as it says Beta, it’s still in active development. As soon as it says Release, it means I’ll be spending most of my time on other projects. 🙂
///Leif
Indeed. I will happily leave them to maintain their bit-accurate representations of horribly clipped CDs. 🙂
///Leif
Alright <!– s:) –>:)<!– s:) –>.
Here's the schematic for a wide bandwidth Buffer Amplifier (suitable for MPX):
http://mpxtool.com/site/images/mpx_buffer_amplifier.png
Designed by Tim Carroll of Linear Acoustic. Let me know if you have any questions regarding the schematic — I will forward them to him and get an answer.
Next, I will take my Tivoli apart and see where everything is connected. He actually did the modification for me. <!– s:) –>:)<!– s:) –>
Best,
///Leif
