diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b4ad8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Examples for fm-rds-tx
+
+This folder collects runnable snippets that demonstrate how the backend abstractions can be wired together.
+
+- `soapy_simulated/main.go` shows how to create a simulated SoapySDR backend that shunts composite samples into a file writer for offline inspection.
diff --git a/examples/go.mod b/examples/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92685ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+module github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/examples
+
+go 1.21
+
+require github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal v0.0.0
+
+replace github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal => ../internal
diff --git a/examples/soapy_simulated/main.go b/examples/soapy_simulated/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bf18a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/soapy_simulated/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal/output"
+	"github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal/platform"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	fb, err := output.NewFileBackend("examples/simulated_mpx.iq", binary.LittleEndian, output.BackendInfo{
+		Name:        "example-file",
+		Description: "Captures simulated Soapy output for later playback.",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to open file backend: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	defer fb.Close(ctx)
+
+	cfg := platform.SoapyConfig{
+		Driver:       "simulated",
+		Device:       "dummy",
+		CenterFreqHz: 100e6,
+		Simulated:    true,
+		BackendConfig: output.BackendConfig{
+			SampleRateHz: 238_000,
+			Channels:     2,
+			IQLevel:      1.0,
+			Metadata:     map[string]string{"example": "soapy-sim"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	driver := platform.NewSimulatedDriver(fb)
+	backend := platform.NewSoapyBackend(cfg, driver)
+
+	if err := backend.Configure(ctx, cfg.BackendConfig); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "backend configure: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	frame := &output.CompositeFrame{
+		SampleRateHz: cfg.BackendConfig.SampleRateHz,
+		Timestamp:    time.Now(),
+		Samples:      make([]output.IQSample, 512),
+	}
+
+	for idx := range frame.Samples {
+		val := float32((idx%64))/32 - 1
+		frame.Samples[idx].I = val
+		frame.Samples[idx].Q = -val
+	}
+
+	written, err := backend.Write(ctx, frame)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "write frame: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("wrote %d samples to simulated Soapy backend\n", written)
+
+	if err := backend.Flush(ctx); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "flush: %v\n", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/go.mod b/internal/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..003cad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal
+
+go 1.21
diff --git a/internal/output/backend.go b/internal/output/backend.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38e5b82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/output/backend.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package output
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+)
+
+var ErrBackendClosed = errors.New("backend already closed")
+
+// IQSample is a normalized interleaved I/Q sample pair.
+type IQSample struct {
+	I float32
+	Q float32
+}
+
+// CompositeFrame carries a block of MPX/IQ samples along with timing metadata.
+type CompositeFrame struct {
+	Samples      []IQSample
+	SampleRateHz float64
+	Timestamp    time.Time
+	Sequence     uint64
+}
+
+// BackendConfig describes the properties for a backend instance.
+type BackendConfig struct {
+	SampleRateHz float64
+	Channels     int
+	IQLevel      float32
+	Metadata     map[string]string
+}
+
+// BackendCapabilities advertise what a backend can do.
+type BackendCapabilities struct {
+	SupportsComposite  bool
+	FixedRate          bool
+	MaxSamplesPerWrite int
+}
+
+// BackendInfo exposes runtime metadata about a backend.
+type BackendInfo struct {
+	Name         string
+	Description  string
+	Capabilities BackendCapabilities
+}
+
+// Backend defines the contract that all output backends must satisfy.
+type Backend interface {
+	Configure(ctx context.Context, cfg BackendConfig) error
+	Write(ctx context.Context, frame *CompositeFrame) (int, error)
+	Flush(ctx context.Context) error
+	Close(ctx context.Context) error
+	Info() BackendInfo
+}
diff --git a/internal/output/dummy.go b/internal/output/dummy.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89a2bb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/output/dummy.go
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+package output
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// DummyBackend keeps track of the latest frame without writing anywhere. Useful for unit testing.
+type DummyBackend struct {
+	mu        sync.Mutex
+	info      BackendInfo
+	cfg       BackendConfig
+	closed    bool
+	total     uint64
+	lastFrame CompositeFrame
+}
+
+// NewDummyBackend constructs a lean backend that records the last frame seen.
+func NewDummyBackend(name string) *DummyBackend {
+	return &DummyBackend{
+		info: BackendInfo{
+			Name:        name,
+			Description: "in-memory dummy backend",
+			Capabilities: BackendCapabilities{
+				SupportsComposite:  true,
+				FixedRate:          false,
+				MaxSamplesPerWrite: 0,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// Configure stores the config values.
+func (db *DummyBackend) Configure(_ context.Context, cfg BackendConfig) error {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	db.cfg = cfg
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Write captures the most recent frame and updates the sample count.
+func (db *DummyBackend) Write(_ context.Context, frame *CompositeFrame) (int, error) {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	if frame == nil {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	db.lastFrame = *frame
+	db.total += uint64(len(frame.Samples))
+	return len(frame.Samples), nil
+}
+
+// Flush is a no-op for the dummy backend.
+func (db *DummyBackend) Flush(_ context.Context) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Close marks the backend unusable.
+func (db *DummyBackend) Close(_ context.Context) error {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	db.closed = true
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Info returns the backend descriptors.
+func (db *DummyBackend) Info() BackendInfo {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	return db.info
+}
+
+// TotalSamples reports how many samples have been written.
+func (db *DummyBackend) TotalSamples() uint64 {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	return db.total
+}
+
+// LastFrame exposes a snapshot of the last frame written.
+func (db *DummyBackend) LastFrame() CompositeFrame {
+	db.mu.Lock()
+	defer db.mu.Unlock()
+	return db.lastFrame
+}
diff --git a/internal/output/file.go b/internal/output/file.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d19f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/output/file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package output
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"os"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// FileBackend streams composite samples to disk so that playback or offline tooling can consume them.
+type FileBackend struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	file   *os.File
+	order  binary.ByteOrder
+	info   BackendInfo
+	cfg    BackendConfig
+	closed bool
+}
+
+// NewFileBackend creates a writer that appends float32 interleaved I/Q pairs to the named file.
+func NewFileBackend(path string, order binary.ByteOrder, info BackendInfo) (*FileBackend, error) {
+	f, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open output file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if info.Name == "" {
+		info.Name = path
+	}
+	if info.Capabilities.MaxSamplesPerWrite == 0 {
+		info.Capabilities.MaxSamplesPerWrite = 4096
+	}
+	info.Capabilities.SupportsComposite = true
+	info.Capabilities.FixedRate = true
+
+	return &FileBackend{
+		file:  f,
+		order: order,
+		info:  info,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Configure stores the requested configuration, but the file backend simply preserves the values.
+func (fb *FileBackend) Configure(_ context.Context, cfg BackendConfig) error {
+	fb.mu.Lock()
+	defer fb.mu.Unlock()
+	if fb.closed {
+		return ErrBackendClosed
+	}
+	fb.cfg = cfg
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Write emits the provided frame as binary interleaved float32 I/Q samples.
+func (fb *FileBackend) Write(ctx context.Context, frame *CompositeFrame) (int, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	fb.mu.Lock()
+	defer fb.mu.Unlock()
+	if fb.closed {
+		return 0, ErrBackendClosed
+	}
+	if frame == nil || len(frame.Samples) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	buf := make([]byte, 8)
+	written := 0
+	for _, sample := range frame.Samples {
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return written, err
+		}
+		fb.order.PutUint32(buf[0:], math.Float32bits(sample.I))
+		fb.order.PutUint32(buf[4:], math.Float32bits(sample.Q))
+		if _, err := fb.file.Write(buf); err != nil {
+			return written, fmt.Errorf("write sample data: %w", err)
+		}
+		written++
+	}
+	return written, nil
+}
+
+// Flush commits the current file buffer to disk.
+func (fb *FileBackend) Flush(_ context.Context) error {
+	fb.mu.Lock()
+	defer fb.mu.Unlock()
+	if fb.closed {
+		return ErrBackendClosed
+	}
+	return fb.file.Sync()
+}
+
+// Close finalizes the file handle.
+func (fb *FileBackend) Close(_ context.Context) error {
+	fb.mu.Lock()
+	defer fb.mu.Unlock()
+	if fb.closed {
+		return ErrBackendClosed
+	}
+	fb.closed = true
+	return fb.file.Close()
+}
+
+// Info returns the backend metadata.
+func (fb *FileBackend) Info() BackendInfo {
+	fb.mu.Lock()
+	defer fb.mu.Unlock()
+	return fb.info
+}
diff --git a/internal/platform/soapy.go b/internal/platform/soapy.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5255c6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/platform/soapy.go
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+package platform
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/jan/fm-rds-tx/internal/output"
+)
+
+// SoapyConfig exposes SoapySDR-specific knobs that drive hardware or simulated drivers.
+type SoapyConfig struct {
+	output.BackendConfig
+	Driver         string
+	Device         string
+	CenterFreqHz   float64
+	GainDB         float64
+	Channels       []int
+	DeviceArgs     map[string]string
+	Simulated      bool
+	SimulationPath string
+}
+
+// SoapyDriver is the low-level contract for talking to Soapy-style devices.
+type SoapyDriver interface {
+	Name() string
+	Configure(ctx context.Context, cfg SoapyConfig) error
+	Write(ctx context.Context, frame *output.CompositeFrame) (int, error)
+	Flush(ctx context.Context) error
+	Close(ctx context.Context) error
+}
+
+// SoapyBackend wraps a driver and exposes the output.Backend interface.
+type SoapyBackend struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	driver SoapyDriver
+	cfg    SoapyConfig
+	info   output.BackendInfo
+}
+
+// NewSoapyBackend returns an output-aware backend that drives the provided driver.
+func NewSoapyBackend(cfg SoapyConfig, driver SoapyDriver) *SoapyBackend {
+	if driver == nil {
+		driver = NewSimulatedDriver(nil)
+	}
+	info := output.BackendInfo{
+		Name:        fmt.Sprintf("soapy/%s", cfg.Driver),
+		Description: "SoapySDR-friendly backend",
+		Capabilities: output.BackendCapabilities{
+			SupportsComposite:  true,
+			FixedRate:          cfg.SampleRateHz > 0,
+			MaxSamplesPerWrite: 8192,
+		},
+	}
+	return &SoapyBackend{driver: driver, cfg: cfg, info: info}
+}
+
+// Configure propagates the latest backend config to the driver.
+func (sb *SoapyBackend) Configure(ctx context.Context, cfg output.BackendConfig) error {
+	sb.mu.Lock()
+	sb.cfg.BackendConfig = cfg
+	sb.mu.Unlock()
+	return sb.driver.Configure(ctx, sb.cfg)
+}
+
+// Write delegates to the driver.
+func (sb *SoapyBackend) Write(ctx context.Context, frame *output.CompositeFrame) (int, error) {
+	return sb.driver.Write(ctx, frame)
+}
+
+// Flush asks the driver to drain any buffers.
+func (sb *SoapyBackend) Flush(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return sb.driver.Flush(ctx)
+}
+
+// Close shuts down the driver cleanly.
+func (sb *SoapyBackend) Close(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return sb.driver.Close(ctx)
+}
+
+// Info reports the configured backend metadata.
+func (sb *SoapyBackend) Info() output.BackendInfo {
+	sb.mu.Lock()
+	defer sb.mu.Unlock()
+	return sb.info
+}
+
+// SimulatedDriver keeps samples in a downstream backend for testing without hardware.
+type SimulatedDriver struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	fallback output.Backend
+	cfg      SoapyConfig
+}
+
+// NewSimulatedDriver uses the provided backend or falls back to an in-memory dummy.
+func NewSimulatedDriver(writer output.Backend) *SimulatedDriver {
+	if writer == nil {
+		writer = output.NewDummyBackend("simulated-soapy")
+	}
+	return &SimulatedDriver{fallback: writer}
+}
+
+// Name returns the runtime label of the simulated driver.
+func (sd *SimulatedDriver) Name() string {
+	return sd.fallback.Info().Name
+}
+
+// Configure pushes the SoapyConfig into the fallback backend.
+func (sd *SimulatedDriver) Configure(ctx context.Context, cfg SoapyConfig) error {
+	sd.mu.Lock()
+	sd.cfg = cfg
+	sd.mu.Unlock()
+	return sd.fallback.Configure(ctx, cfg.BackendConfig)
+}
+
+// Write simply plants the frame into the fallback pipeline.
+func (sd *SimulatedDriver) Write(ctx context.Context, frame *output.CompositeFrame) (int, error) {
+	return sd.fallback.Write(ctx, frame)
+}
+
+// Flush is delegated.
+func (sd *SimulatedDriver) Flush(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return sd.fallback.Flush(ctx)
+}
+
+// Close finalizes the fallback backend.
+func (sd *SimulatedDriver) Close(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return sd.fallback.Close(ctx)
+}