Application of Sub-Band ADPCM for Post-Production and Broadcast Audio

Abstract

Digital program delivery is becoming a reality. It offers more programs, a higher definition picture, and an enhanced audio experience. To serve this market, contribution and distribution systems in the broadcast and post-production industries must move rapidly to provide the digital infrastructure to cope with this evolution. This poses many questions: In terms of financial, technological, and bandwidth constraints, how can one sustain a quality multichannel audio signal through a typical broadcast chain, allowing for interim signal processing requirements. This paper proposes the use of the apt-X algorithm (proprietary encode/decode algorithm for digital audio data compression) as an ideal mezzanine level audio coding system for use in conjunction with digital audio broadcasting (DAB) and digital television (DTV) emission standards. This preserves the audio quality throughout the broadcast chain and alleviates production problems arising from psychoacoustic artifacts.