WorldCast Systems is widely known for its Audemat RDS encoders. Until 2020 they had worldwide sold 17,000 units of their first-generation model, which was then replaced by the second generation that is also RDS2 ready.
To better understand what can be achieved nowadays for optimizing the transmission chain from studio to transmitter, use the WCS webinar offer linked below.
Hosted by Gregory Mercier, director of product marketing at WCS, the session covers end-to-end improvements across the broadcast chain, from studio to transmitter.
In 2025, WCS released APTmpX v2, an MPX/composite transport technology update that now includes RDS transport as synchronized data and as an RDS 57 kHz subcarrier.
Previously available only in the 900 kbps version, this extended RDS feature is now supported at lower bitrates of 300, 400 and 600 kbps.
WorldCast is rolling out APTmpX v2 across its codec lineup. It starts with APTmpX Software for Windows, designed for third-party software sound processors, then Virtual APT IP Codec and hardware codecs including the APT IP Codec, APT Silver MPX Encoder/Decoder, APT AoIP Multichannel Codec and Ecreso FM AiO Series transmitters. It supports broadcasters transitioning to MPX transport over IP while maintaining existing infrastructure.
During 2024, in the Netherlands over 60 transmitters were equipped with innovative products from WCS.
In Germany, after the test phase with around 900 FM Ecreso transmitters from WCS of the latest generation with the SmartFM software option, another 2000 were added, so about 3000 transmitters with the latest technology are in operation and will continue to serve for at least another 10 years.
Noteworthy is also APT SureStream redundancy technology, used throughout the network for signal reliability, and Kybio network manager, which oversees the whole ecosystem.
Smart FM
Even more transmitter energy savings are possible using new software from WCS called Smart FM.
Broadcasters everywhere are looking for ways to simplify operations while scaling their networks. For 100% Radio, this became urgent as programming expanded to 16 feeds across 50 FM frequencies and DAB+ in major French cities. They embraced a fully virtualized broadcast chain with WorldCast, using Virtual APT IP Codecs, APTmpX, Ecreso AiO Series and Kybio.