BCD Audio press announcement
London, 2nd July 2015
Just when you thought you understood 0dBFS and audio levels, along comes somebody who wants to tear up the rule book!.
The arrival of the CD / AES3/EBU format in the 1980s was a pivotal point for the industry, not least because it became a standard across all areas of audio, but also because it is alive and well in the 21st century. During the lifespan of the AES3 format we have seen the available sample rates extended to 96 and 192KHz, but no other extensions in quality. The transport of compressed audio streams was not a step towards better quality, but it did enable multichannel audio to be transported in the bandwidth available from a 48KHz stereo stream, so has found a place in Broadcasting. No further innovations in sound quality have occurred, although the adoption of the AES3 24bit PCM signal into MADI and SDI embedded audio should be seen as a positive step in professional audio and broadcasting generally.
The big weakness of AES3 is the use of 24bit linear PCM rather than something with better dynamic range, given that it is now being used to connect together 32bit or better processing blocks.
Also, a definition of 0dBFS = +18dBU or similar made sense in the days of 16-20bit converters, and continues to make sense for Audio distribution of controlled signals, but is responsible for inadequate overload margin for uncontrolled signals ( from a stage box for example ) , and was increasingly ignored for CD mastering, where the rule is to create a master to 0dBFS with the result that every piece of material has the same peak level, and the listener regularly has to reach for the volume control to set up the desired listening level.
BCD Audio have invented a solution to this level problem, which is based upon a 20bit PCM signal, and a 4bit scale factor. As the total number of bits is the same as AES3, it is transportable with all existing AES3, MADI, Networking and SDI embedded audio links. The 20bit PCM section ensures distortion remains below 0.00008%, and the scale factor allows the dynamic range to be better than 32bit PCM. If adopted properly audio clipping would be consigned to history, and 0dBFS would be an aspiration , rather than a limit!
The main application is in stage box links, digital microphones, and the interconnection of audio equipment in a recording environment, where the added dynamic range and absence of digital clip would transform our industry. There are also 32bit Analogue to Digital, Digital to Analogue and sample rate converter chips coming onto the market, so there is a need to transport at least 32bit linear PCM over existing 24bit digital links.It is not intended to replace 24bit PCM in a controlled level situation, as AES3 with 24bit PCM is perfectly good in this area.
BCD Audio have created a test box that can take in standard AES3 , apply gain , and convert to scaled AES3. We have a version of our AMU that can auto-detect standard or scaled AES3, and pass the signal onto headphones, loudspeakers and a standard AES3 output for measurement. Now gain can applied to a 0dBFS peaking signal, transported with existing 24bit links, and reproduced without clip.
This setup is available for Industry professionals to borrow, and evaluate the sound quality of the architecture, and interested parties are welcome to contact Mike Law at BCD Audio to arrange a demonstration
We have also created a white paper that documents the experiments that were made in late 2014, and this may be downloaded HERE >>
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
06/07/2026
Long-developed relationships and informal access, three production models, and c...
06/07/2026
The deal follows Lumine's recent acquisition of Synamedia's video-networ...
06/07/2026
This former SportsCenter producer is shaping local-team studio coverage to surro...
06/07/2026
IMS Productions and FOX Sports deployed more than 100 cameras, 32 onboard feeds,...
06/07/2026
Lumine Group Inc. has announced the completion of its acquisition of the Video Network Business from Synamedia. The business will operate as a standalone compan...
06/07/2026
NASCAR has announced a content and commercial partnership with Motorsport Network, a motorsports and automotive media platform, to distribute NASCAR original co...
06/07/2026
Versant Media Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Full Swing, a sports technology company, from Bruin Capital and a group of minority investor...
06/07/2026
DAZN has announced global broadcast rights to 3ICE, a professional hockey format featuring three skaters and a goalkeeper per side, with no power plays or offsi...
06/07/2026
Bundle gains 100 new synths & more
Synth Anthology 5 the largest and most feature-packed edition of UVI's hardware synth emulation bundle, bringing toge...
06/07/2026
Available now via free firmware update
MOTU have just announced that three of their popular audio interfaces now boast official Milan Certification. The 16A...
06/07/2026
Rohde & Schwarz completes Hunter Preliminary Design Review for the Integrated Co...
06/07/2026
The R&S IMAGER from Rohde & Schwarz uses millimeter wave imaging to inspect the ...
06/07/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
06/07/2026
Digital Domain Appoints Industry Veteran Patrick Davenport as Executive Vice Pre...
06/07/2026
Gravity Media USA appoints Brittney Boston as Head of Business Development
Brie Clayton July 6, 2026
0 Comments
The strategic new appointment supports...
06/07/2026
Remote Editing Without Cloud Storage in Resolve
Michael Cioni July 6, 2026
0 Comments
This is a step-by-step guide that demonstrates how to setup your...
06/07/2026
Automatic Caption Translation in Adobe Premiere Pro
Colin Smith July 6, 2026
0 Comments
Here I showcase the innovative automatic caption translation f...
06/07/2026
Flavor's First Ever Managing Director Neal Cohen Retires; Longstanding Execu...
06/07/2026
How Adam Rosenwach Pivoted from Music to Medtech Without Missing a Beat What do the rehearsal room and the boardroom have in common? More than you might think...
06/07/2026
Zhongyi Optics unveils the Dreamy Zone T1 FF Cine Lens Series on Indiegogo with ...
06/07/2026
Techtel debuts insyght: making ST 2110 media discovery easy
intellisphereinsyght2026
6 July Written By Suzanne Costello
Sydney, Australia - 06 July 2026 T...
06/07/2026
Monday 6 July 2026
Sky agrees to acquire ITV Media & Entertainment, creating a ...
06/07/2026
Fresh from his World Cup heroics with Cabo Verde, Roberto Pico' Lopes will join the RT panel for Argentina v Egypt tomorrow and for the England v Norway q...
06/07/2026
Nations have long invested in domestic infrastructure to advance their economies, protect and use their data, and take advantage of technology opportunities in ...
06/07/2026
Every year, the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) reveals where thousands of AI researchers have decided to put their work.
This year's ...
06/07/2026
A death can be unsuspicious, but it has to be explained
What happened to Ke...
05/07/2026
We've gone to another level of integrating the graphics into the set architecture' - Zac Fields, SVP, Graphic Technology and Integration, FOX Sports...
05/07/2026
Browser-based and desktop apps available
Digital Sunset Studios have been busy working on an interesting project: a free software tool that provides compute...
04/07/2026
When Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, OneSoccer knew this wasn'...
04/07/2026
Celebrates company's 80th anniversary
Rhodes have recently revealed that they will be producing a limited run of electric pianos in celebration of their...
04/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Empower Youth Broadcasting Program
Brie Clayton July 3, 2026
0 Comments
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro and Blackmagi...
04/07/2026
iZotope Joins Boris FX
Boris Yamnitsky July 3, 2026
0 Comments
iZotope, the team behind RX and Ozone, is joining Boris FX. A letter from founder Boris...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
03/07/2026
New bundle & three Single Packs
Continuing to expand their already sizeable orchestral collection, VSL's latest release introduces three new Single Pack...
03/07/2026
Venue installs new ATC-equipped control room
LSO St Luke's, a unique music venue that also serves as the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, have rec...
03/07/2026
Caden Pearson appointed new Commissioning Editor for NITV
3 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has strengthened its commitment...
03/07/2026
1 February 2023
SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
Munich, Germany, 1st February 2023: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digit...
03/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/07/2026
Death Star
Andy Marken July 2, 2026
0 Comments
Look, I can't get involved. I've got work to do. It's not that I like the Empire; I hate i...
03/07/2026
Berklee's New Visual Identity: Honoring Our History, Building for What's...
03/07/2026
Scripps Research scientists awarded $2M to advance global disease surveillance Two Gates Foundation grants will expand wastewater surveillance and AI-driven dis...
03/07/2026
Joan Pulupa joins Scripps Research faculty to study the organization of DNA in brain cells and its links to neurodegeneration Using smell-sensing neurons and ad...
02/07/2026
Entering her senior year, this hometown girl is paving a career in live sports production gaining experience in replay and audio and as a TD
In the live-sports...
02/07/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
BCD Audio press announcement
