ATSC Sees Fast-Track Process for Choosing ATSC 3.0 Audio, Document Says

Typifying that fast track, proponents have until Jan. 15 to register their intentions with ATSC to vie for selection as the ATSC 3.0 audio system, the CFP says. A schedule of deadlines posted in the CFP pegs S34-2 reporting its audio recommendation to the full S34 specialist group by Aug. 15. Along the way, crucial deadlines abound, including one March 9 when "detailed system descriptions" are due from the various proponents, the CFP says. Less than two weeks later, by March 20, ATSC will inform contestants through letters of acceptance which it has chosen as "certified proponents," it says.

Later in the process, certified proponents will have the option of demonstrating their systems to an audience of ATSC members, the CFP says. "The demonstration opportunity will be a single event for all proponents interested in participating, at a place and time to be announced by ATSC at least 60 days in advance." Its schedule sets a "tentative" date for a demonstration event of July 14-15, to coincide with ATSC meetings in Washington.

Once ATSC accepts their registrations by the Jan. 15 deadline, proponents can proceed immediately to the "precertification" phase of evaluations, the CFP says. It defines precertification as the process of evaluating "baseline system performance and system features." The CFP makes clear only qualified contestants need apply. "ATSC will evaluate each proponent’s declaration of intent to participate, and judge its ability to plausibly fulfill the requirements of the process," the CFP says.

Audio systems proposed "will be judged discretely and in their entirety, as comprehensive, end-to-end systems for emission of the ATSC signal," the CFP says. "ATSC does not intend to develop the ATSC 3.0 audio system out of independent components from multiple sources. As such, this CfP solicits from proponents only complete audio solutions satisfying the system needs described herein."

Audio for ATSC 3.0 "is expected to provide an enhanced feature set, improving upon the capabilities of the current ATSC audio system," the CFP says. "This new system will provide the listener with both a personalized and an immersive experience." Personalization will include "enhancement to the control of dialog, use of alternate audio tracks and mixing of assistive audio services, other-language dialog, special commentary, and music and effects," it says. The system also will support "the normalization of content loudness and contouring of dynamic range, based on the specific capabilities of a user’s fixed or mobile device and its unique sound environment," it says.

Immersive audio functionality will enable "high spatial resolution in sound source localization in azimuth, elevation and distance, and provides an increased sense of sound envelopment," the CFP says. "These features are supported over the listening area. Such a system might not directly represent loudspeaker feeds, but instead could represent the overall sound field." ATSC 3.0 audio is expected to work well with home theater surround systems, with TVs with and without soundbars, and with tablets and smartphones, "both with and without headphones," it says.

In the 7.1+4 array discussed by ATSC officials at an ATSC 3.0 Boot Camp conference last spring (see 1405090040), the CfP defines it as "nomenclature" for a "particular" 11.1-speaker arrangement that’s "suitable for immersive audio." Such a system will be comprised of three front speakers, four surround speakers placed "on the listener’s plane," and four speakers placed "above the listener’s head height," it says. Among other tests planned, codec performance evaluations will assess "the quality vs. bit-rate performance of all systems comparatively over a range of operating points appropriate for commercial applications," the CFP says. "Channel-based" content formats will be evaluated in stereo, 5.1 and 7.1+4 "in their respective native speaker arrangements, without up- or down-mixing or "rendering" of any kind, it says.