
BCD Audio press announcement
London 22nd May 2012
Mike Law of BCD Audio comments on the proposal for multichannel audio using AES3
AES-3 is the standard for interconnection of stereo audio signals between studio equipment. The standard originated from the SPDIF format used in CD players in the 1980s , and has evolved to allow sample rates to 192KHz stereo, and to transport multichannel compressed audio at the 48Khz sample rate.
AES3 is the standard for interconnection of stereo audio signals between studio equipment. It originated in parallel with the SPDIF format during the 1980s, and has evolved to allow sampling frequencies to 192 KHz stereo, and to transport multichannel compressed audio at the 48 KHz sampling frequency.
An AES standards committee now has an active project, with which I am involved, that would allow more audio signals to be carried with similar hardware to AES3. The project title is AES-X196, Multichannel Audio in AES3 . The standard is in early draft form, as it is a new concept, and interested parties are welcome to visit http://www.aes.org/standards/meetings/init-projects/aes-x196-init.cfm or to the current project status at http://www.aes.org/standards/meetings/project-status.cfm or to the SC-02-02 meeting reports at http://www.aes.org/standards/meetings/ to access more information on the project.
AES-X196 is based upon the idea that eight 48 KHz signals could be carried across a 192 KHz link, and four 48 KHz signals across a 96 KHz link.
This idea is attractive, as broadcast audio has standardised on 48 KHz sample rate, but most AES3 compatible hardware is capable already of operating at the higher sample rates.
Currently in a Broadcast environment, the transport of surround sound and multichannel audio requires either encoded compressed audio , or multiple linear stereo links, and the new idea would simplify this.
Compressed audio requires expensive hardware and introduces considerable signal time delay. The distribution of multichannel audio across multiple stereo links is also unattractive, as many links are required and great care is needed to ensure that the correct audio signals are distributed and routed as a group. AES-X196 would solve both of these problems.
Another advantage of AES-X196 is in point-to-point links. If a single link is available between two locations that currently carries stereo, the new standard would allow that same link to carry more audio signals. This is important in existing installations, as it is often impossible to add more cable without lifting floors, digging up roads etc. Existing point-point transports ( such as ATM) might be able to pass the new signal.
An AES-X196 transmitter would be capable of operating with 2, 4 or 8 audio signals, and would be fully compatible with AES3 in 2 channel mode. Channel status information is carried with the audio, to identify the new modes.
An AES-X196 receiver would detect the correct mode, and extract 2, 4 or 8 signals accordingly, that would be fully compatible with existing AES3 2 channel signals.
Completely asynchronous routers, bypass switches, would be directly compatible. Existing AES3 distribution amplifiers might be compatible , provided they can carry the higher rates, and sample rate converters if present are disabled.
Large audio routers would need to be adapted to handle the new signal. If only a few inputs and outputs were required to conform to AES-X196, this could be easy to implement. New designs could be capable of all modes on all ports, including AES3.
There might be resistance to change from the existing AES3 standard, as some of the currently installed hardware would not be directly compatible. Initially it can be imagined that AES-X196 signals would only be used where the equipment was compatible, and this in itself is useful, as in point-to-point links.
Units that combine AES3 signals into AES-X196 feeds and split out AES-X196 into AES3 signals would be available that would make the migration easy to implement anyway.
BCD intend to develop units to implement the standard that will arise from project AES-X196. These units will be based on FPGA technology, to allow for a degree of experimentation. Other parties are expected to implement practical designs too.
The applications of AES-X196 set out here are as seen by BCD and should be read as my opinion, and not the AES; others will no doubt see other advantages and disadvantages.
About Mike Law:
Mike Law started out with an early passion for electronics and a summer job allowed him to work at UK mixer manufacturer Alice, where he learnt about broadcast audio, and 3 years at Birmingham University where he learnt about PA systems, lighting and putting on bands, culminating in an honours degree in Electronic Engineering.
Mike worked at Alice, designing audio mixing consoles until redundancy allowed him to set up his own UK company with the help of two Swiss recording studios, with the aim of producing a digitally controlled music console. The ideas behind that console is the basis of much digitally controlled analogue audio in use today.
His company, BCD Audio continues to this day, and Mike has become a specialist in designing digital and analogue audio systems, and has kept up with the times, and can now talk DSP and VHDL when he can find someone to converse with.
Mike is an associate of the IPS, a member of the AES, and is on the SC-02-02 committee, and is a member of the IET.
About BCD Audio:
Established 25 years ago to provide high quality audio systems for radio and television broadcasting, BCD Audio s in-house skills were immediately sought after by prestige clients including the BBC and ITV companies. Today, BCD Audios designs are heard and seen all over the world, keeping broadcasters on air 24/7.
The product range has grown from pure analogue engineering to fully embrace todays digital w
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
15/09/2025
Steve Zahn, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Janeane Garofalo star in Ben Stiller&...
15/09/2025
Global K-Pop sensation aespa is redefining what it means to be rich with the r...
15/09/2025
Every day, millions of people around the world turn to Spotify to enjoy the audi...
15/09/2025
After months of intensive planning and implementation, Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic...
15/09/2025
A U.S. Marine launches a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile during a training exercise. (Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps)...
15/09/2025
AMSTERDAM TV Tech has named its Best of Show Awards winners for IBC2025, which wraps up today. Entrants were judged by a panel of industry experts on the criter...
15/09/2025
Unique sports content orchestration platform builds momentum among SES's cus...
15/09/2025
Paris, France - September 15, 2025 -- Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-p...
15/09/2025
Back to All News
The Great Flood' Teaser Trailer Previews A Gripping Struggle for Survival
Entertainment
15 September 2025
GlobalSouth Korea
Link copi...
15/09/2025
Back to All News
From Hardship to Hope: Typhoon Family' Presents a Tale of...
15/09/2025
Back to All News
Gloom Goes Global as Wednesday's' The Doom Tour Hit...
15/09/2025
-- Opens door to growth in renewable energy New Delhi, India - 15th September -- Global business and industry leaders from around the world are joining technol...
14/09/2025
Partnership to address business and technical challenges of DMF adoption
he Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU...
14/09/2025
WARNER BROS. TELEVISION'S THE PITT (HBO MAX) WINS FIVE EMMY AWARDS, INCLU...
14/09/2025
Back to All News
Mantis' Trailer Previews High-Stakes Rivalries to Be No. ...
13/09/2025
ATLANTA Cox Media Group has announced that the company's vice president of news, Misty Turnbull has been inducted into the National Academy of Television Ar...
13/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Shotoku Broadcast Systems, a major developer of robotic systems, has announced plans to take studio robotics to the next level at IBC2025 by debuting ...
13/09/2025
At IBC2025 in Amsterdam, Riedel Communications unveiled Bolero Mini, the company's lightest and flattest wireless intercom beltpack to date. Designed to del...
13/09/2025
Shotoku Broadcast Systems, the international developer of dependable, userfriendly robotic systems, is taking studio robotics to the next level at IBC 2025 with...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, today released the 9th annual Video Developer Report 2025/26, offering an in-depth look at the evolvi...
13/09/2025
Bitmovin, the leading provider of video streaming solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with StreamShark, the trusted video platform for enterprise...
13/09/2025
Ikegami has chosen IBC 2025 in Amsterdam as the launch venue for a major addition to its range of viewfinders. The new VFE-P711AD is a 7-inch high resolution OL...
13/09/2025
Founder-led Merger to Fast Track R&D, Asset Library Upgrades, Tools and More; No Disruption to Pricing or Support for Users
Today, KitBash3D, a pioneer in 3D a...
13/09/2025
With NDI certification, Atomos integration, Grass Valley collaboration, and a new Monitor app, at this year's IBC, Mavis is showcasing a series of powerful...
13/09/2025
Creamsource, maker of artisan LED lighting for film and television, has unveiled the Vortex24 Soft (V24S), a 1950W native soft light and the largest soft source...
13/09/2025
When international sports streaming service DAZN secured the global rights to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup football tournament, it set out to deliver an unmatch...
13/09/2025
Riedel Communications today announced the acquisition of hi human interface from Broadcast Solutions, bringing a powerful, vendor-agnostic control system to it...
13/09/2025
Building on its long-term relationship with audio metering specialist RTW, Calrec has integrated the company's brand new TMxCore metering platform across it...
13/09/2025
Calrec is expanding its family of future-ready self-contained Argo M control surfaces at IBC2025, with the addition of a brand new powerful 48-fader console. Co...
13/09/2025
Celtic languages - including Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh - are the U.K.'s oldest living languages. To empower their speakers, the UK-LLM sover...
13/09/2025
Harmonic's Software-Based XOS Advanced Media Processor Provides Unparalleled Efficiency and Unlocks New Business Models SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sept. 13, 2025 -...
13/09/2025
Researchers find brain region that fuels compulsive drinking Study by Scripps Research scientists shows how the brain learns to seek alcohol for relief, not jus...
12/09/2025
College Football Kickoff 2025: Fox Sports Ups Look as Canon, Sony Power Shallow ...
12/09/2025
ABC/ESPN Excited For WNBA Postseason Coverage In Revamped FormatThe Finals moves to a best-of-seven series in 2025By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor
Friday, Sep...
12/09/2025
(L-R) Jade Croot, Rosy McEwen, and Bryn Chainey attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Rabbit Trap at Eccles Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park ...
12/09/2025
For fans, we know how important it is to stay plugged into music culture and dis...
12/09/2025
Link ping, Sweden and Shipley, United Kingdom, September 12, 2025 - Agama, the expert in video observability and analytics for service quality and customer expe...
12/09/2025
IBC2025 began on Sept. 12, with exhibits and conferences running through Sept. 15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Explore the full TV Tech coverage of t...
12/09/2025
The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great) With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting theaters and songs from KPop Demon Hunters ruling...
12/09/2025
Industry veteran Tom Baldassare has joined Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, as a Se...
12/09/2025
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, and more, today announced a...
12/09/2025
PlayBox Neo, a leading provider of media playout solutions, has partnered with AI-Media, pioneering developers of AI-powered captioning technology, to integrate...
12/09/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
12/09/2025
New alliance strengthens the IT channel in Germany and Switzerland in protecting business-critical SaaS data.
Keepit, the world s only independent, cloud-nativ...
12/09/2025
Fincons Group, an international IT business consultancy and systems integrator company with more than 40 years of experience in the market, is proud to announce...
12/09/2025
Following its acquisition of Telemetrics, EVS continues its push into robotics with an announcement at IBC2025 that it is acquiring XD motion....
12/09/2025
TORONTO The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) has announced the appointment of Eduardo Ruiz Sanchez, deputy director, broadcast operations at Telev...
12/09/2025
Ed Miller, a longtime broadcast engineer in Ohio and a former national president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, has died....