IEC 60958-4:2003

Digital audio interface - Part 4: Professional applications

IEC 60958-4:2003 specifies the professional application of the interface for the interconnection of digital audio equipment defined in IEC 60958-1. This bilingual version (2013-05) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2003-05.

Interface audionumérique - Partie 4: Applications professionnelles

La CEI 60958-4:2003 spécifie une application professionnelle de l'interface pour l'interconnexion des appareils audionumériques définie dans la CEI 60958-1. La présente version bilingue (2013-05) correspond à la version anglaise monolingue publiée en 2003-05.

General Information

• Status: Replaced
• Publication Date: 16-Jul-2008
• ICS: 33.160.30 - Audio systems
• Technical Committee: TA 4 - Digital system interfaces and protocols
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 24-Mar-2016

Relations

• Replaced By: IEC 60958-4-1:2016 - Digital audio interface - Part 4-1: Professional applications - Audio content
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaced By: IEC 60958-4-4:2016 - Digital audio interface - Part 4-4: Professional applications - Physical and electrical parameters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaced By: IEC 60958-4-2:2016 - Digital audio interface - Part 4-2: Professional applications - Metadata and subcode
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Amended By: IEC 60958-4:2003/AMD1:2008 - Amendment 1 - Digital audio interface - Part 4: Professional applications
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60958-4:1999 - Digital audio interface - Part 4: Professional applications
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
60958-4
Second edition
2003-05
Digital audio interface –
Part 4:
Professional applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4:
Applications professionnelles
Reference number
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the

60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.

Consolidated editions
The IEC is now publishing consolidated versions of its publications. For example,

edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the base publication, the

base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base publication incorporating

amendments 1 and 2.
Further information on IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC,
thus ensuring that the content reflects current technology. Information relating to
this publication, including its validity, is available in the IEC Catalogue of
publications (see below) in addition to new editions, amendments and corrigenda.
Information on the subjects under consideration and work in progress undertaken
by the technical committee which has prepared this publication, as well as the list
of publications issued, is also available from the following:
• IEC Web Site (www.iec.ch)
• Catalogue of IEC publications
The on-line catalogue on the IEC web site (http://www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut.htm)
enables you to search by a variety of criteria including text searches, technical
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
60958-4
Second edition
2003-05
Digital audio interface –
Part 4:
Professional applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4:
Applications professionnelles
 IEC 2003  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]  Web: www.iec.ch
PRICE CODE
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S
International Electrotechnical Commission
Международная Электротехническая Комиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 60958-4  IEC:2003(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3

INTRODUCTION .5

1 Scope . 6

2 Normative references. 6

3 Terms and definitions. 6

4 Interface format .6

4.1 General . 6
4.2 Validity bit. 6
5 Channel status.7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Professional linear PCM application . 7
6 User data.15
6.1 General .15
6.2 Application.15
7 Implementation .15
7.1 General .15
7.2 Transmitter .15
7.3 Receivers .16
8 Electrical requirements.16
8.1 General .16
8.2 Balanced line .16
Bibliography .21
Figure 1 – Simplified example of the configuration of the circuit (balanced) .17
Figure 2 – Intrinsic jitter measurement filter .18
Figure 3 – Jitter attenuation mask (optional) .18
Figure 4 – Eye diagram .19
Figure 5 – A suggested equalizing characteristic for the receiver operating at a frame
rate of 48 kHz.19

Figure 6 – Receiver jitter tolerance template .20
Table 1 – Channel status data format for professional linear PCM application . 8

60958-4  IEC:2003(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National
Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60958-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100: Audio,
video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This second edition of IEC 60958-4 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1999 and
constitutes a technical revision.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
100/643/FDIS 100/669/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition (1999) are listed below.
− The scope specifies the professional application of IEC 60958-1 (generalities have been
removed to an introduction).
− A clause on terms and definitions has been added.
− In Table 1, expanded channel status assignments have been added and channel status
definitions expanded to accommodate extended sampling frequencies, indication of
alignment level and multi-channel options.

– 4 – 60958-4  IEC:2003(E)
− Figure 1 and associated text has been revised to be more generalized. Three notes on cable

performance factors have been added.

− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.

− The common-mode balance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate

− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.

IEC 60958 consists of the following parts under the generic title Digital audio interface:

Part 1: General
Part 3: Consumer applications

Part 4: Professional applications
The committee has decided that this publication remains valid until September 2005. At this
date, in accordance with the committee’s decision, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60958-4  IEC:2003(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The interface specified in this standard is primarily intended to carry monophonic or

stereophonic programmes at a 48 kHz sampling frequency and with a resolution of up to 24 bits

per sample. It may alternatively be used to carry signals sampled at other rates such as

32 kHz, 44,1 kHz, or 96 kHz. Note that conformity to this interface specification does not

require equipment to utilize these rates and also that the capability of the interface to

indicate other sample rates does not imply that it is recommended that equipment supports

these rates. To eliminate doubt, equipment specifications should define the supported sampling

frequencies.
The format is intended for use with shielded twisted-pair cables over distances of up to 100 m
without transmission equalization or any special equalization at the receiver and at frame rates
of up to 50 kHz. Longer cable lengths and higher frame rates may be used with cables better
matched for data transmission, or with receiver equalization, or both.
In both cases, the clock references and auxiliary information are transmitted along with the
audio data. Provision is also made to allow the interface to carry non-audio data.

– 6 – 60958-4  IEC:2003(E)
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the professional application of the interface for the

interconnection of digital audio equipment defined in IEC 60958-1.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60268-12:1987, Sound system equipment – Part 12: Application of connectors for
broadcast and similar use
IEC 60958-1, Digital audio interface – Part 1: General
IEC 60958-3, Digital audio interface – Part 3: Consumer applications
ISO/IEC 646:1991, Information technology – ISO 7-bit coded character set for information
interchange
ITU-T Recommendation J.17:1988, Pre-emphasis used on sound-programme circuits
ITU-T Recommendation V.11:1996, Electrical characteristics for balanced double-current inter-
change circuits operating at data signalling rates up to 10 Mbit/s
3 Terms and definitions
The terms and definitions given in IEC 60958-1 apply to this part of IEC 60958.
4 Interface format
4.1 General
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
For historical reasons, preambles “B”, “M” and “W”, as defined in 4.3 of IEC 60958-1, shall, for
use in professional applications, be referred to as “Z”, “X” and “Y”, respectively.
4.2 Validity bit
For this standard, the validity bit shall be used to indicate whether the main data field bits in the
sub-frame are suitable for conversion to an analogue audio signal using linear PCM coding.

60958-4  IEC:2003(E) – 7 –
5 Channel status
5.1 General
The channel status for each audio signal carries information associated with that audio signal;

thus it is possible for different channel status data to be carried in the two sub-frames of the

digital audio signal. Examples of information to be carried in the channel status are: length of

audio sample words, number of audio channels, sampling frequency, sample address code,

alphanumeric source and destination codes, and pre-emphasis.

Channel status information is organize
...

IEC 60958-4
Edition 2.1 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

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latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
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IEC 60958-4
Edition 2.1 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
CH
ICS 33.160.30 ISBN 2-8318-9703-3
– 2 – 60958-4 © IEC:2003+A1:2008(E)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope.6
2 Normative references.6
3 Terms and definitions .6
4 Interface format .6
4.1 General .6
4.2 Validity bit.6
5 Channel status.7
5.1 General .7
5.2 Professional linear PCM application .7
6 User data.15
6.1 General .15
6.2 Application.15
7 Implementation .15
7.1 General .15
7.2 Transmitter.15
7.3 Receivers .16
8 Electrical requirements .16
8.1 General .16
8.2 Balanced line.16
8.3 Unbalanced coaxial cables.21

Bibliography .22

Figure 1 – Simplified example of the configuration of the circuit (balanced).17
Figure 2 – Intrinsic jitter measurement filter.18
Figure 3 – Jitter attenuation mask (optional) .18
Figure 4 – Eye diagram .19
Figure 5 – A suggested equalizing characteristic for the receiver operating at a frame
rate of 48 kHz .19
Figure 6 – Receiver jitter tolerance template.20

Table 1 – Channel status data format for professional linear PCM application .8

60958-4 © IEC:2003+A1:2008(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60958-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100: Audio,
video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This consolidated version of IEC 60958-4 consists of the second edition (2003) [documents
100/643/FDIS and 100/669/RVD] and its amendment 1 (2008) [documents 100/1330/FDIS and
100/1355/RVD].
The technical content is therefore identical to the base edition and its amendment and has
been prepared for user convenience.
It bears the edition number 2.1.
A vertical line in the margin shows where the base publication has been modified by
amendment 1.
– 4 – 60958-4 © IEC:2003+A1:2008(E)
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition (1999) are listed below.
− The scope specifies the professional application of IEC 60958-1 (generalities have been
removed to an introduction).
− A clause on terms and definitions has been added.
− In Table 1, expanded channel status assignments have been added and channel status
definitions expanded to accommodate extended sampling frequencies, indication of
alignment level and multi-channel options.
− Figure 1 and associated text has been revised to be more generalized. Three notes on cable
performance factors have been added.
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
−  The common-mode balance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
IEC 60958 consists of the following parts under the generic title Digital audio interface:
Part 1: General
Part 3: Consumer applications
Part 4: Professional applications
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendments will
remain unchanged until the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date,
the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

60958-4 © IEC:2003+A1:2008(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The interface specified in this standard is primarily intended to carry monophonic or
stereophonic programmes at a 48 kHz sampling frequency and with a resolution of up to 24 bits
per sample. It may alternatively be used to carry signals sampled at other rates such as
32 kHz, 44,1 kHz, or 96 kHz. Note that conformity to this interface specification does not
require equipment to utilize these rates and also that the capability of the interface to
indicate other sample rates does not imply that it is recommended that equipment supports
these rates. To eliminate doubt, equipment specifications should define the supported sampling
frequencies.
The format is intended for use with shielded twisted-pair cables over distances of up to 100 m
without transmission equalization or any special equalization at the receiver and at frame rates
of up to 50 kHz. Longer cable lengths and higher frame rates may be used with cables better
matched for data transmission, or with receiver equalization, or both.
In both cases, the clock references and auxiliary information are transmitted along with the
audio data. Provision is also made to allow the interface to carry non-audio data.

– 6 – 60958-4 © IEC:2003+A1:2008(E)
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the professional application of the interface for the
interconnection of digital audio equipment defined in IEC 60958-1.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60268-12:1987, Sound system equipment – Part 12: Application of connectors for
broadcast and similar use
IEC 60958-1, Digital audio interface – Part 1: General
IEC 60958-3, Digital audio interface – Part 3: Consumer applications
ISO/IEC 646:1991, Information technology – ISO 7-bit coded character set for information
interchange
ITU-T Recommendation J.17:1988, Pre-emphasis used on sound-programme circuits
ITU-T Recommendation V.11:1996, Electrical characteristics for balanced double-current inter-
change circuits operating at data signalling rates up to 10 Mbit/s
3 Terms and definitions
The terms and definitions given in IEC 60958-1 apply to this part of IEC 60958.
4 Interface format
4.1 General
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
For historical reasons, preambles “B”, “M” and “W”, as defined in 4.3 of IEC 60958-
...

IEC 60958-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2003-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4: Applications professionnelles

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
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Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

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IEC 60958-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2003-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4: Applications professionnelles

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX S
ICS 33.160.30 ISBN 978-2-83220-727-7

– 2 – 60958-4  IEC:2003
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5

1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Interface format . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Validity bit . 6
5 Channel status . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Professional linear PCM application . 7
6 User data . 15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Application. 15
7 Implementation . 15
7.1 General . 15
7.2 Transmitter . 15
7.3 Receivers . 16
8 Electrical requirements . 16
8.1 General . 16
8.2 Balanced line . 16

Bibliography . 21

Figure 1 – Simplified example of the configuration of the circuit (balanced) . 17
Figure 2 – Intrinsic jitter measurement filter . 18
Figure 3 – Jitter attenuation mask (optional) . 18
Figure 4 – Eye diagram . 19
Figure 5 – A suggested equalizing characteristic for the receiver operating at a frame
rate of 48 kHz . 19
Figure 6 – Receiver jitter tolerance template . 20

Table 1 – Channel status data format for professional linear PCM application . 8

60958-4  IEC:2003 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National
Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60958-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100: Audio,
video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This second edition of IEC 60958-4 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1999 and
constitutes a technical revision.
This bilingual version (2013-05) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in
2003-05.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
100/643/FDIS 100/669/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition (1999) are listed below.
− The scope specifies the professional application of IEC 60958-1 (generalities have been
removed to an introduction).
– 4 – 60958-4  IEC:2003
− A clause on terms and definitions has been added.
− In Table 1, expanded channel status assignments have been added and channel status
definitions expanded to accommodate extended sampling frequencies, indication of
alignment level and multi-channel options.
− Figure 1 and associated text has been revised to be more generalized. Three notes on cable
performance factors have been added.
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
− The common-mode balance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
IEC 60958 consists of the following parts under the generic title Digital audio interface:
Part 1: General
Part 3: Consumer applications
Part 4: Professional applications
The committee has decided that this publication remains valid until September 2005. At this
date, in accordance with the committee’s decision, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60958-4  IEC:2003 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The interface specified in this standard is primarily intended to carry monophonic or
stereophonic programmes at a 48 kHz sampling frequency and with a resolution of up to 24 bits
per sample. It may alternatively be used to carry signals sampled at other rates such as
32 kHz, 44,1 kHz, or 96 kHz. Note that conformity to this interface specification does not
require equipment to utilize these rates and also that the capability of the interface to
indicate other sample rates does not imply that it is recommended that equipment supports
these rates. To eliminate doubt, equipment specifications should define the supported sampling
frequencies.
The format is intended for use with shielded twisted-pair cables over distances of up to 100 m
without transmission equalization or any special equalization at the receiver and at frame rates
of up to 50 kHz. Longer cable lengths and higher frame rates may be used with cables better
matched for data transmission, or with receiv
...

IEC 60958-4 ®
Edition 2.1 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4: Applications professionnelles

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IEC 60958-4 ®
Edition 2.1 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 4: Professional applications

Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4: Applications professionnelles

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.160.30 ISBN 978-2-8322-0849-6

– 2 – 60958-4  IEC:2003+A1:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5

1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Interface format . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Validity bit . 6
5 Channel status . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Professional linear PCM application . 7
6 User data . 15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Application. 15
7 Implementation . 15
7.1 General . 15
7.2 Transmitter . 15
7.3 Receivers . 16
8 Electrical requirements . 16
8.1 General . 16
8.2 Balanced line . 16
8.3 Unbalanced coaxial cables. 21

Bibliography . 22

Figure 1 – Simplified example of the configuration of the circuit (balanced) . 17
Figure 2 – Intrinsic jitter measurement filter . 18
Figure 3 – Jitter attenuation mask (optional) . 18
Figure 4 – Eye diagram . 19
Figure 5 – A suggested equalizing characteristic for the receiver operating at a frame
rate of 48 kHz . 19
Figure 6 – Receiver jitter tolerance template . 20

Table 1 – Channel status data format for professional linear PCM application . 8

60958-4  IEC:2003+A1:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4: Professional applications

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
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agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
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4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This consolidated version of IEC 60958-4 consists of the second edition (2003)
[documents 100/643/FDIS and 100/669/RVD] and its amendment 1 (2008) [documents
100/1330/FDIS and 100/1355/RVD]. It bears the edition number 2.1.
The technical content is therefore identical to the base edition and its amendment and
has been prepared for user convenience. A vertical line in the margin shows where the
base publication has been modified by amendment 1. Additions and deletions are
displayed in red, with deletions being struck through.

– 4 – 60958-4  IEC:2003+A1:2008
International Standard IEC 60958-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100: Audio,
video and multimedia systems and equipment.
The French versions of the standard and the amendment have not been voted upon.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition (1999) are listed below.
− The scope specifies the professional application of IEC 60958-1 (generalities have been
removed to an introduction).
− A clause on terms and definitions has been added.
− In Table 1, expanded channel status assignments have been added and channel status
definitions expanded to accommodate extended sampling frequencies, indication of
alignment level and multi-channel options.
− Figure 1 and associated text has been revised to be more generalized. Three notes on cable
performance factors have been added.
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
− The common-mode balance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate
− The impedance specification is now dependent on maximum frame rate.
IEC 60958 consists of the following parts under the generic title Digital audio interface:
Part 1: General
Part 3: Consumer applications
Part 4: Professional applications
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendment will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site u
...