AES Standards News Blog

A Call for Comment on DRAFT REVISED AES-2id, AES information document for digital audio engineering - Guidelines for the use of the AES3 interface, was published on 2012-08-16.

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes-2id-xxxx-rev-120816.cfm

 A Call for Comment on reaffirmation of AES-11id-2006, AES information document for preservation of audio recordings - Extended term storage environment for multiple media archives, was published in accordance with our 5-year review policy on 2012-08-16.

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes-11id-2006-reaff-120816.cfm

 A Call for Comment on reaffirmation of AES6-2008, AES Standard - Method for Measurement of Weighted Peak Flutter of Sound Recording and Reproducing Equipment, was published on 2012-08-16. 

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes6-2008-reaff-120816.cfm

A new standard, AES63-2012 AES standard for interconnections - Data connector in an XLR connector shell, has been published 2012-08-03.

A growing number of audio applications use data cabling and hardware similar to that being used in IT infrastructures - for example in Ethernet networks. As a result the use of ubiquitous “Category 5” data cables and the related modular connectors is becoming more and more significant.

Common modular connectors are widely used, but are fragile in demanding installations, where a broken connection can affect the application critically. This is not important in many applications, such as structured data cabling for use with computer networks, or simple interconnect cabling and patching using Category 5 (or better) data cable.  However, in professional audio applications, a broken connection can affect the application critically. A standard ruggedized fitting will promote system security in these applications. This document specifies a ruggedized data connector that is compatible with 8-position 8-contact (8P8C) modular connectors, commonly (though inaccurately) called RJ-45 connectors, with regard to mechanical aspects for proper mating and locking.

This standard will help system integrators, designers, installers and users of data for professional audio and associated media in choosing a connector system which is already approved for its ruggedness and reliability in just these application areas. Based on the dimensions of the convenient XLR connectors the space requirements are comparable and the required panel cutouts in equipment are even compatible. The identical locking mechanism facilitates handling.

A new multi-part revision of AES41 has been published 2012-07-20. In this revision, the application of the underlying technology has beens expanded from the single role of carrying re-coding metadata to carrying a range of audio-related metadata types.This five-part suite revises and substantially extends AES41-2009: "AES standard for digital audio - Recoding data set for audio bit-rate reduction". 

AES41 provides for the carriage of audio metadata by embedding it in the audio samples themselves. This tightly associates the metadata with the audio, yet makes it fragile so that changes to the audio will invalidate the metadata. Several metadata sets have been defined, covering applications such as cascaded compression (bit-rate reduction), and loudness control. These parts are:

AES41-1-2012, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 1: General"  Part 1 specifies the method by which a metadata set is embedded in the audio samples. Other parts define the content and format of the metadata sets. This part revises AES41-2009.  http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=37

AES41-2-2012, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 2: MPEG-1 Layer II or MPEG-2 LSF Layer II"  Part 2 describes the format for the data to be transmitted with audio decoded from MPEG-1 Layer II or MPEG-2 LSF Layer II encoding. The data may be used to aid a subsequent re-encoding process. This part revises AES41-2009.  http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=87

AES41-3-2012, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 3: AAC & HE-AAC"  Part 3 describes the format for the data to be transmitted with audio to signal downmix coefficients, loudness and dynamic range control metadata as used in ISO/IEC 14496-3:2009 Subpart 4 (AAC and HE-AAC). A method of carrying this data is described in Part 1 of this Standard. This part is new.  http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=88

AES41-4-2012, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 4: Dolby E"  Part 4 describes the format for the data to be transmitted with audio to signal downmix coefficients, loudness, and channel configuration metadata as used Dolby E. This part is new.  http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=89

AES41-5-2012, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 5: EBU loudness, true-peak, and downmix"  Part 5 describes the format for the data to be transmitted with audio to signal loudness and true peak metadata as used in EBU Technical Recommendation R128. This part is new.  http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=90

Click on the links above to access individual documents.  Alternatively, go to http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/  and search using "AES41" to find the whole set. 

 A Call for Comment on DRAFT AES63-xxxx, AES standard for interconnections - Data connector in an XLR connector shell, has been published 2012-06-04.  

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-draft-aes63-xxxx.cfm

Scope

The scope of this standard is to specify a ruggedized data connector that is compatible with 8-way modular connectors, also called RJ-45 connectors. Basic physical properties and mechanical dimensions are specified in order to enable proper mating and locking and to ensure reliable electrical contact in the locked position. No further requirements are specified with respect to electrical and other mechanical properties.

A Call for Comment on DRAFT AES59-xxxy AES standard for professional audio - Audio application of 25-way D-type connectors in balanced circuits, has been published 2012-06-04

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-draft-aes59-xxxy.cfm

Scope

This standard specifies a contact assignment and gender for 25 contact D type connectors used to connect multiple audio signals in balanced analogue or AES3 digital form. This document shall not consider the suitability of connector and cable types for specific applications. This document shall not consider issues of safety. NOTE Use of this connector may be restricted by safety regulations. 

Calls for comment have been published on the multiple parts revising AES41-2009, "AES standard for digital audio  -  Recoding data set for audio bit-rate reduction". For ease of future maintenance each part is presented independently. Parts 1 and 2 represent a revision of the earlier document; parts 3, 4, and 5 are new draft standards.

The Call for Comment on DRAFT REVISED AES41-1-xxxx "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 1: General" was published 2012-04-03

The Call for Comment on DRAFT REVISED AES41-2-xxxx "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 2: MPEG-1 Layer II or MPEG-2 LSF Layer II" was published 2012-04-03

The Call for Comment on DRAFT AES41-3-xxxx, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 3: AAC & HE-AAC" was published 2012-04-03

The Call for Comment on DRAFT AES41-4-xxxx, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 4: Dolby E" was published 2012-04-03

The Call for Comment on DRAFT AES41-5-xxxx, "AES standard for digital audio - Audio-embedded metadata - Part 5: EBU loudness, true-peak, and downmix" was published 2012-04-03

These calls are posted at http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/

AES53-2006 (r2011) AES standard for digital audio — Digital input-output interfacing — Sample-accurate timing in AES47 has been reaffirmed.

This document specifies how the timing markers specified in AES47 may be used to associate an absolute timestamp with individual audio samples.  AES47 specifies a format for the transmission of digital audio over asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks.  A recommendation is made to refer these timestamps to the SMPTE epoch which in turn provides a reference to UTC and GPS time.

 AES52-2006 (r2011) AES standard for digital audio engineering — Insertion of unique identifiers into the AES3 transport stream has been reaffirmed.

The AES3 transport stream continues to be used extensively in both discrete and network based audio systems alongside audio stored as files. Audio content is moving towards being handled by asset management systems and descriptive metadata associated with that content is also being stored within systems. In order to provide a mechanism for AES3 transport streams to have similar abilities to work with content management systems, some form of unique label is required which can provide the link with these systems. One of the unique labels currently standardised in the media industry is the SMPTE UMID while another commonly used in the Information Technology area is the IEC UUID.

This standard specifies the method for inserting unique identifiers into the user data area of an AES3 stream. This specifically covers the use of UUID as well as a basic or extended SMPTE UMID.