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The following standards and information documents are published by the Audio Engineering Society. The latest printing will include all amendments and corrections and will be available within a week of its date.

PLEASE NOTE: These are copyrighted documents and are for the use of the original purchaser only. They must not be printed or circulated without the written permission of the AES Standards Committee. Any other use of AES standards information obtained from this website, including republishing or selling, is expressly forbidden.

PREVIEW extracts are provided without charge as a guide to the content of each standard.

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AES10-2020: AES Recommended Practice for Digital Audio Engineering - Serial Multichannel Audio Digital Interface (MADI)
Printing Date:
2020-11-27
Publication History:
Pub. 1991; Revised 2003; Revised 2008; Addendum 2010-02-19; Reaffirmed 2014; Reaffirmed 2019; Revised 2020
Abstract:
This standard describes the data organization for a multichannel audio digital interface. It includes a bit-level description, features in common with the AES3 two-channel format, and the data rates required for its utilization. The specification provides for the serial digital transmission of 32, 56, or 64 channels of linearly represented digital audio data at a common sampling frequency within the range 32 kHz to 96 kHz, having a resolution of up to 24 bits per channel. The format makes possible the transmission and reception of the complete 28-bit channel word (excluding preamble) as specified in AES3, providing for the validity, user, channel status, and parity information allowable under that standard. The transmission format is of the asynchronous simplex type and is specified for a single 75-ohm coaxial cable point-to-point interconnection or the use of fibre-optic cables.
This revision includes minor changes to conform to recent revisions of AES3 and AES5 and provides clarifications of sync reference signals and link transmission-rate tolerance, and references for 'NRZI' and the 4B5B coding scheme.
(18 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (422.48 KB)
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Preview (286.55 KB)

AES7-2000 (s2012): AES standard for the preservation and restoration of audio recording - Method of measuring recorded fluxivity of magnetic sound records at medium wavelengths (Revision of AES7-1982)
Printing Date:
2004-10-14
Publication History:
Pub. 1982; Reaffirmed 1997; Rev. 2000; Reaffirmed 2005; Stabilized 2012.
Abstract:
This standard specifies a method of measuring the recorded flux per unit track width, called fluxivity, of a magnetically recorded sinusoidal test signal at medium wavelengths for all magnetic sound record formats, by using a high-efficiency magnetic reproducing head. It also specifies the equipment needed to implement this method.
The ANSI version is withdrawn. It had been available as S4.6-1982
(13 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (409.54 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (65.04 KB)

AES6-2008 (s2013): Method for measurement of weighted peak flutter of analogue sound recording and reproducing equipment
Printing Date:
2012-10-11
Publication History:
Pub. 1982; Revised 1992; Reaffirmed 1997; Reaffirmed 2003; Revised 2008; Reaffirmed 2012; Stabilized 2013.
Abstract:
Weighted peak flutter is measured using a 3150-Hz tone transmitted through the equipment. The tone is frequency demodulated, frequency-response weighted, peak-to-peak detected, time-response weighted, and read out on a two-sigma statistical voltmeter over a period of at least 5 s. Results are reported as weighted peak flutter of the recorder (or reproducer, or recording/reproducing system): +/-___ percent.
A toleranced graph and table give the frequency-response weighting (approximately at 6-dB-per-octave drop above and below 4 Hz, with an additional drop below 0,5 Hz). The statistical voltmeter is described; it is preferred, and replaces the quasi-peak meter (now deprecated) of the original standard.
Good engineering practices are given for the meter design. The rationale for this standard is given in an annex. This standard has technical requirements identical to IEC 60386 Ed.1 1972 as amended by IEC 60386-am1, 1988. Measurement results according to this standard are identical to those made according to the older standards originally published as IEEE Std-193, IEC 60386 Ed.1 1972, CCIR 409-2, and DIN 45 507.
The title of the document was amended in the 2012-10-11 printing to indicate its application to Analogue Sound Recording and Reproducing Equipment.
(13 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (423.51 KB)
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Preview (174.09 KB)

AES5-2018: AES recommended practice for professional digital audio - Preferred sampling frequencies for applications employing pulse-code modulation (revision of AES5-2003)
Printing Date:
2018-12-02
Publication History:
Pub. 1984; Rev. 1997; Rev. 2003; Rev. 2008; Reaff. 2013; Rev. 2018
Abstract:
A sampling frequency of 48 kHz is recommended for the origination, processing, and interchange of audio programs employing pulse-code modulation. Recognition is also given to the use of a 44.1-kHz sampling frequency related to certain consumer digital applications, the use of a 32-kHz sampling frequency for transmission-related applications, and the use of a 96-kHz sampling frequency for applications requiring a higher bandwidth or more relaxed anti-alias filtering. This revision further quantifies the preferred choices for higher sampling frequencies. (8 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (412.54 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (406.21 KB)

AES3-2009 (r2019): AES standard for digital audio engineering - Serial transmission format for two-channel linearly represented digital audio data
Printing Date:
2015-01-09
Publication History:
Pub. 1985; Rev. 1992; Am.1 1997; Am.2 1998; Am.3 1999; Am.4 1999; Rev. 2003; Am.5 2008; Am.6 2008; Rev. 2009; Reaffirmed 2014; Reaffirmed 2019
Abstract:
AES3 provides for the serial digital transmission of two channels of periodically sampled and uniformly quantized audio signals on various media. This revision comprises four parts - also available separately - and includes all amendments prior to 2009.
Part 1 specifies the semantics of the audio data, including the validity flag. It also specifies the sampling frequency by reference to AES5, AES recommended practice for professional digital audio - Preferred sampling frequencies for applications employing pulse-code modulation.
Part 2 specifies the information transmitted with the audio data: principally the channel status but also user data and the use of the auxiliary bits to carry a co-ordination signal.
Part 3 specifies the framing and channel coding for transmission on a unidirectional point-to-point physical link. The specified format minimizes the direct-current (DC) component on the transmission line, facilitates clock recovery from the data stream, and makes the interface insensitive to the polarity of connections.
Part 4 specifies the physical signals that convey the bit stream specified in Part 3. The current version covers electrical signals on twisted-pair and co-axial cables. Other media, including fibre optic, are under consideration. Note that the set of 4 documents is provided as a Zip archive that expands to 4 PDF files.
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (1.47 MB)
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Preview (520.3 KB)

AES2-2012: AES standard for acoustics - Methods of measuring and specifying the performance of loudspeakers for professional applications - Drive units
Printing Date:
2013-02-11
Publication History:
Pub. 1984; Reaffirmed 2003; Revised 2012.
Abstract:
This document is a recommended practice for describing and specifying loudspeaker components used in professional audio and sound-reinforcement systems. The document considers high-frequency and low-frequency drivers and passive loudspeaker systems for professional applications, and identifies the relevant methods of measurement. Specifications are given for describing frequency response, impedance, distortion, and power handling. This document does not consider sub-components such as spiders or cones. It is intended for loudspeaker system designers, and drive-unit manufacturers. (20 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (575.93 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (111.47 KB)

AES-R4-2007 (s2018): AES standards project report Guidelines for AES Recommended practice for digital audio engineering - Transmission of digital audio over asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks
Printing Date:
2007-06-18
Publication History:
Pub. 2002; revised 2007; Stabilized 2018
Abstract:
This document is intended to provide background information of use to implementers of AES47, both information on why certain decisions were made and also hints on aspects of the construction of conformant ATM equipment.

The report was revised in 2007 to correspond to the 2006 edition of AES47 and to take account of other events such as the publication of AES51, AES52, and AES53. (21 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (480.94 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (176.67 KB)

AES-R3-2001: AES standards project report on single programme connector -- Compatibility for patch panels of tip-ring-sleeve connectors
Printing Date:
2004-10-13
Publication History:
Pub. 2001
Abstract:
This report covers the concentric connectors known as phone plugs and jacks that are widely used in the audio industry for the interconnection of sound system components as general-use consumer tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) types as well as for the interconnection of broadcast and other professional systems, such as professional TRS types. Because differing dimensions specified by various standards often result in mechanical and, as a consequence, electrical incompatibilities among the various TRS jacks and plugs, this report surveys the standards, connectors, and possible incompatibility problems. (7 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (625.85 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (52.25 KB)

AES-R2-2004 (s2012): AES project report for articles on professional audio and for equipment specifications -- Notations for expressing levels (Revision of AES-R2-1998)
Printing Date:
2004-02-04
Publication History:
Pub. 1998; Rev. 2004; Stabilized 2012.
Abstract:
This document describes the style for levels standardized in IEC 60027-3, Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology -- Part 3: Logarithmic Quantities and Units, and the power and voltage level clauses of IEC 60268-2 Sound system equipment -- Part 2: Explanation of general terms and calculation methods, and summarizes and reviews the presently-used notations for expressing levels in condensed or abbreviated form, what expressions are used, and what quantities and reference quantities are implied.
The original document of 1998 was revised 2004-02 to delete considering the adoption of 1 V as the reference quantity for new work in audio engineering. (7 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (393.77 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (110.51 KB)

AES-R1-1997 (s2008): AES project report for professional audio -- Specifications for audio on high-capacity media
Printing Date:
1999-03-31
Publication History:
Pub. 1997; Stabilized 2008-09-22
Abstract:
This document is the report of Task group SC-02-M, a task force within the Audio Engineering Society Standards Committee (AESSC), which studied the future of high-capacity audio media [such as DVD] for over one year with input from more than 80 persons and organizations. (22 pages)
File type and size:
Downloadable PDF (426.33 KB)
Cost:
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Preview (12.9 KB)

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