Selection Imminent of Single or Multiple Audio Codecs for ATSC 3.0
Whether ATSC 3.0's framers pick a single mandatory audio codec for the next-generation broadcast standard or multiple voluntary audio codecs is one of the mysteries that will be solved when the imminent choice of an ATSC 3.0 audio system is made public, possibly within days. ATSC has ruled out combining the ingredients of competing audio systems into a unified ATSC 3.0 codec, but has left the door open on choosing multiple codecs.
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Dolby's AC-4 technology is one of the proposals that ATSC’s S34-2 ad hoc group is considering for adoption, along with a second proposal from the MPEG-H audio alliance of Fraunhofer, Qualcomm and Technicolor. A third proponent, DTS, dropped out of the running days before NAB Show opened in mid-April (see 1504130030). Listening tests on both proponent systems were done mid-July in Atlanta, and ATSC has said S34-2 is “generally on track” to recommend its winning codec by Friday (see 1507240030), in conformity with the schedule ATSC published in its call for audio proposals in December. However, ATSC President Mark Richer has declined to comment when asked specifically when he thinks S34-2's recommendation will be disclosed publicly.
In recent weeks, both audio proponents have stepped up their efforts to score important publicity points for their individual systems, whether related to the ongoing ATSC 3.0 selection process or not. For example, the MPEG-H alliance in mid-July announced its collaboration with Jünger Audio on a prototype multichannel monitoring, authoring and loudness processor for the MPEG-H TV audio system. The Jünger technology, which was demonstrated in ATSC’s Atlanta listening tests, “allows broadcasters using the MPEG-H system to maintain compliance with loudness regulations while avoiding the processing artifacts of traditional loudness control approaches,” the announcement said.
Dolby Labs announced last week a collaboration to promote the adoption of AC-4 in TVs that TP Vision markets under the Philips brand in most territories outside North America. Earlier in the summer, Dolby announced similar AC-4 collaborations with Sony and Vizio.
Both Dolby and MPEG-H in public statements have touted their systems as fitting the bill of the demands for ATSC 3.0 audio to be both personalized and immersive (see 1501210023). MPEG-H audio typifies next-gen codecs that allow for height-oriented, object-based surround to make home theater sound reproduction more realistic, the alliance has said. MPEG-H audio includes the ability to boost dialog for hearing-impaired or second-language listeners, as well as transmitting alternative audio content on the fly, such as the choice between home team vs. visiting team commentary, it has said. Dolby has touted AC-4 as capable of delivering “a whole new range of involving and personalized experiences, combining industry-leading bandwidth efficiency and advanced solutions.” It also has “the compression efficiency required for the broad variety of tomorrow's broadcast and broadband delivery environments,” Dolby has said.