Thimeo notes that, for decades, broadcasters faced a trade-off: Push the final clipper for loudness and introduce distortion or ease off and lose punch to the station next door. The software developer says that its RuleBreaker Clipper eliminates that compromise.
The breakthrough is partly due to re-examining the left–minus–right component of the composite signal. While keeping it symmetric has been the default, it isn’t required. By introducing controlled asymmetry, RuleBreaker unlocks headroom that was previously wasted — delivering up to 2–3 dB more loudness with less distortion.
It also analyzes the RF bandwidth after the exciter, automatically optimizing settings to reduce multipath and improve fringe reception. Enhanced pilot protection extends stereo coverage, giving listeners a cleaner signal over a wider area.
RuleBreaker actively avoids clipping. The design preserves the signal’s clarity while maximizing impact. The result is louder audio with exceptional transparency, breaking the old loudness-versus-cleanliness trade-off.
Thimeo CEO Hans van Zutphen said, “RuleBreaker does what traditional clippers cannot. We bypassed the old limitations so broadcasters can achieve loudness, transparency and cleanliness in one step.”
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