ISO/IEC 23008-6:2021

Information technology - High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 6: 3D audio reference software

This document contains simulation software for the MPEG-H 3D audio standard as defined in ISO/IEC 23008‑3.

Technologies de l'information — Codage à haut rendement et fourniture de supports dans les environnements hétérogènes — Partie 6: Logiciel de référence 3D Audio

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Oct-2021
• ICS: 35.040.40 - Coding of audio, video, multimedia and hypermedia information
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 - Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 6 - MPEG Audio coding
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 24-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Amended By: ISO/IEC 23008-6:2021/Amd 1:2024 - Information technology - High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 6: 3D audio reference software - Amendment 1: Corrections for closest loudspeaker playout and increased software resilience
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023
• Revised: ISO/IEC 23008-6:2025 - Information technology - High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 6: 3D audio reference software
• Effective Date: 17-Aug-2024
• Revises: ISO/IEC 23008-6:2020 - Information technology - High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 6: 3D audio reference software
• Effective Date: 18-Apr-2021

Overview

ISO/IEC 23008-6:2021 - "Information technology - High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 6: 3D audio reference software" provides the reference simulation software for the MPEG‑H 3D audio system defined in ISO/IEC 23008‑3. The third edition (2021) packages normative decoding reference code, informative encoding examples, and utility tools used during standard development. The reference software is intended to demonstrate correct MPEG‑H 3D audio decoding behavior and to support implementation, testing, and research.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Normative reference decoder: The bitstream decoding software is a normative reference implementation that correctly implements MPEG‑H 3D audio decoding processes described in ISO/IEC 23008‑3.
• Encoding examples (informative): Annex A provides a reference model encoder to create compliant bitstreams; encoding techniques themselves are not normative and encoder performance is not optimized.
• Utility software (informative): Annex B includes helpful tools and libraries such as WAV reader/writer, channel merger/splitter, channel/object separator, filter‑bank implementations, QMF and FFT libraries, bitstream read/write routines, and helpers for loudspeaker channel configurations and geometry.
• Software structure and source: The standard documents the software structure (modules for decoder/encoder and shared modules) and provides the source package as published by ISO. Each source module carries a copyright disclaimer and a royalty‑free license for use in conformant products, subject to patent considerations.
• Profiles and updates: The 2021 edition integrates Baseline Profile support and supersedes the prior edition.

Applications and Who Uses This Standard

• Audio codec implementers: Developers building compliant MPEG‑H 3D audio decoders and encoders use the reference software for functional validation and to understand normative decoding behavior.
• Broadcast and media companies: Broadcasters, streaming platforms, and content producers adopting immersive audio workflows rely on MPEG‑H 3D audio conformance testing and bitstream generation.
• Device and consumer electronics manufacturers: Loudspeaker, TV, AVR, and mobile device vendors use the reference implementation to validate playback and loudspeaker configurations.
• Research and education: Universities and R&D teams use the simulation software for experiments, algorithm comparison, and prototype systems for immersive audio.
• Test labs and standards bodies: Certification and interoperability testing organizations use the reference decoder as a baseline for conformance testing.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 23008-3 - MPEG‑H 3D audio specification (normative reference for this part).
  Refer to ISO for the full source package and licensing details.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 23008-6:2021, MPEG‑H 3D audio, 3D audio reference software, reference implementation, bitstream decoding, encoder, audio utilities, conformance testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 23008-6
Third edition
2021-10
Information technology — High
efficiency coding and media delivery
in heterogeneous environments —
Part 6:
3D audio reference software
Technologies de l'information — Codage à haut rendement et
fourniture de supports dans les environnements hétérogènes —
Partie 6: Logiciel de référence 3D Audio
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2021
© ISO/IEC 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
© ISO/IEC 2021 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Reference software structure .1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Copyright disclaimer for software modules . 2
5 Bitstream decoding software .2
5.1 General . 2
5.2 MPEG-H 3D audio decoding software . 3
Annex A (informative) Bitstream encoding software . 4
Annex B (informative) Additional utility software . 5
iii
© ISO/IEC 2021 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part  2 (see www.iso.org/directives or
www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents) or the IEC
list of patent declarations received (see patents.iec.ch).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 29, Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO/IEC 23008-6:2020), which has been
technically revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— integration of the Baseline Profile support.
A list of all parts in the ISO 23008 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
iv
© ISO/IEC 2021 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 23008-6:2021(E)
Information technology — High efficiency coding and
media delivery in heterogeneous environments —
Part 6:
3D audio reference software
1 Scope
This document contains simulation software for the MPEG-H 3D audio standard as defined in ISO/
IEC 23008-3.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the editio
...