Method And System For Using An Encoded Audio Stream Within A Digital Radio Broadcasting Chain

A system for transmitting an audio stream, the system comprising:

• an audio source remotely located to a digital radio broadcasting system;
• the audio source configured to encode the audio stream with an audio codec and to transmit the resulting encoded audio stream over a computer network to the digital radio broadcasting system;
• and
• the digital radio broadcasting system, wherein the digital radio broadcasting system is configured to receive the encoded audio stream and to process the encoded audio stream for broadcast without decoding of the encoded audio stream.

A digital radio broadcasting system comprising:

• an importer unit, an exporter unit, and an exciter engine;
• wherein
• the importer unit is configured to receive an encoded audio stream encoded at an audio source remotely located from the digital radio broadcasting system, wherein the encoded audio stream is transmitted from the audio source to the importer unit over a computer network;
• the importer unit is further configured to transmit the encoded audio stream to the exporter unit without decoding of the encoded audio stream;
• the exporter unit is configured to receive the encoded audio stream and transmit the encoded audio stream to the exciter engine without decoding of the encoded audio stream;
• and
• the exciter engine is further configured to broadcast the encoded audio stream.