SIST EN 60958-4-1:2016

Digital audio interface - Part 4-1: Professional applications - Audio content (IEC 60958-4-1:2016)

IEC 60958-4-1:2016 specifies the format for coding audio used for the audio content. Together with IEC 60958-1, IEC 60958-4-2, and IEC 60958-4-4, it specifies an interface for serial digital transmission of two channels of periodically sampled and linearly represented digital audio data from one transmitter to one receiver. This first edition, together with IEC 60958-4-2 and IEC 60958-4-4, cancels and replaces IEC 60958-4 published in 2003 and its Amendment 1:2008 and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to IEC 60958 4:2003 with its Amendment 1:2008:
- support for a wider range of physical media;
- support for a wider range of audio sampling frequencies;
- deprecation of "minimum implementation" of channel status data.

Digitalton-Schnittstelle - Teil 4-1: Professioneller Gebrauch - Toninhalt (IEC 60958-4-1:2016)

Interface audionumérique - Partie 4-1: Applications professionnelles - Contenu audio (IEC 60958-4-1:2016)

L'IEC 60958-4-1:2016 spécifie le format de codage audio utilisé pour le contenu audio. Cette partie, avec l'IEC 60958-1, l'IEC 60958-4-2 et l'IEC 60958-4-4, précise une interface de transmission numérique en série de deux voies de données audionumériques échantillonnées de façon périodique et représentées de façon linéaire entre un émetteur et un récepteur. Cette première édition, avec l'IEC 60958-4-2 et l'IEC 60958-4-4, annule et remplace l'IEC 60958-4 parue en 2003 et l'Amendement 1:2008 et constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'IEC 60958 4:2003 et son Amendement 2008:
- prise en charge d'une gamme plus large de supports physiques;
- prise en charge d'une gamme plus large de fréquences d'échantillonnage audio;
- "mise en oeuvre minimale" des données de la voie de signalisation déconseillée.

Digitalni avdio vmesnik - 4-1. del: Profesionalna uporaba - Zvočna vsebina (IEC 60958-4-1:2016)

Ta del standarda IEC 60958 opredeljuje format za kodiranje zvoka, ki se uporablja za zvočne vsebine. Skupaj s standardi IEC 60958-1, IEC 60958-4-2 in IEC 60958-4-4 opredeljuje vmesnik za serijski digitalni prenos dveh kanalov periodično vzorčenih in linearno predstavljenih digitalnih zvočnih podatkov od določenega oddajnika do določenega sprejemnika.
Pričakovati je, da bodo zvočni podatki vzorčeni v skladu s frekvencami vzorčenja, ki jih zazna AES5. Zmožnost vmesnika, da prepozna druge vrednosti vzorčenja, ne pomeni, da je priporočeno, da oprema te vrednosti podpira. Za odpravo dvomov so na specifikaciji opreme naštete podprte frekvence vzorčenja.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Oct-2016
• ICS: 33.160.30 - Audio systems
• ICS: 35.200 - Interface and interconnection equipment
• Technical Committee: AVM - Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 29-Jul-2016
• Due Date: 03-Oct-2016
• Completion Date: 19-Oct-2016
• Ref Project: EN 60958-4-1:2016 - Digital audio interface - Part 4-1: Professional applications - Audio content

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 60958-4:2004 - Digital audio interface -- Part 4: Professional applications
• Effective Date: 05-Apr-2016
• Revised: SIST EN 60958-4:2004/A1:2008 - Digital audio interface -- Part 4: Professional applications
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2022
• Revised: SIST EN 60958-4:2004 - Digital audio interface -- Part 4: Professional applications
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2022

Overview

EN 60958-4-1:2016 (IEC 60958-4-1:2016) is the European adoption of an IEC standard that defines the audio content coding for a two‑channel digital audio interface used in professional applications. Working together with IEC 60958-1, IEC 60958-4-2, and IEC 60958-4-4, it specifies how two channels of periodically sampled, linearly represented digital audio (PCM) are formatted for serial digital transmission from one transmitter to one receiver. This edition expands support for a wider range of physical media and sampling frequencies and updates channel‑status handling.

Key topics

• Audio content format: Specifies the semantics and format for PCM audio sample words (MSB/LSB, coding precision options, intermediate precision).
• Validity bit: Defines the use and semantics of the validity flag that signals whether a subframe’s audio sample bits are suitable for direct D/A conversion.
• Sampling frequency: References AES5 for preferred sampling frequencies and addresses channel interdependency and selection guidance (equipment should state supported rates).
• Coding precision & auxiliary bits: Covers permitted coding precisions and the handling of auxiliary sample bits when fewer than full‑width audio bits are used.
• Non‑audio and DC content: Rules for non‑audio payloads and DC content within the audio coding structure.
• Pre‑emphasis: Defines pre‑emphasis characteristics and how pre‑emphasis is indicated in the interface.
• Interoperation with other parts: Works in tandem with Part 4‑2 (metadata/subcode) and Part 4‑4 (physical/electrical parameters) to form a complete professional two‑channel digital audio interface.

Applications

This standard is intended for professional audio and broadcast environments where reliable, standardized two‑channel PCM transmission is required. Typical use cases:

• Studio-to-studio and studio-to-transmitter links
• Digital patch bays, audio routers, and consoles
• Mastering, post‑production, and critical monitoring systems
• Broadcast contribution links over shielded twisted‑pair or coaxial media
• Firmware/hardware design for digital audio interfaces and receivers

Who benefits:

• Audio equipment manufacturers and firmware developers
• Broadcast engineers and system integrators
• Test laboratories and compliance engineers
• Standards and interoperability teams in pro audio and broadcasting

Related standards

• IEC 60958-1 - Digital audio interface, Part 1: General
• IEC 60958-4-2 - Professional applications: Metadata and subcode (channel status)
• IEC 60958-4-4 - Professional applications: Physical and electrical parameters
• AES5 (AES recommended sampling frequencies)
• ITU‑R BS.450-3, ITU‑T J.17 (referenced for broadcasting and pre‑emphasis)

EN 60958-4-1:2016 is harmonized for European use (CLC/CENELEC) and should be consulted alongside the other IEC 60958 parts when designing or specifying professional digital audio interfaces.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2016
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SIST EN 60958-4:2004
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Digital audio interface - Part 4-1: Professional applications - Audio content (IEC 60958-4-
1:2016)
Digitalton-Schnittstelle - Teil 4-1: Professioneller Gebrauch - Toninhalt (IEC 60958-4-
1:2016)
Interface audionumérique - Partie 4-1: Applications professionnelles - Contenu audio
(IEC 60958-4-1:2016)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60958-4-1:2016
ICS:
33.160.30 Avdio sistemi Audio systems
35.200 Vmesniška in povezovalna Interface and interconnection
oprema equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60958-4-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2016
ICS 33.160.30 Supersedes EN 60958-4:2003 (partially)
English Version
Digital audio interface -
Part 4-1: Professional applications - Audio content
(IEC 60958-4-1:2016)
Interface audionumérique -  Digitalton-Schnittstelle -
Partie 4-1: Applications professionnelles - Contenu audio Teil 4-1: Professioneller Gebrauch - Toninhalt
(IEC 60958-4-1:2016) (IEC 60958-4-1:2016)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2016-04-28. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60958-4-1:2016 E
European foreword
The text of document 100/2452/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 60958-4-1, prepared by Technical Area 4
"Digital system interfaces and protocols", of IEC/TC 100 "Audio, video and multimedia systems and
equipment" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at (dop) 2017-01-28
national level by publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2019-04-28
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with
the document have to be withdrawn

This document, together with EN 60958-4-2:2016 and EN 60958-4-4:2016, supersedes EN 60958-4:2003.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60958-4-1:2016 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards indicated:
IEC 60958 NOTE Harmonized in EN 60958 series.
IEC 60958-3 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60958-3.

Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is
available here: www.cenelec.eu.

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60958-1 -  Digital audio interface - EN 60958-1 -
Part 1: General
IEC 60958-4-2 -  Digital audio interface - EN 60958-4-2 -
Part 4-2: Professional applications -
Metadata and subcode
IEC 60958-4-4 -  Digital audio interface - EN 60958-4-4 -
Part 4-4: Professional applications -
Physical and electrical parameters
ITU-R -  Transmission standards for FM sound - -
Recommendation broadcasting at VHF
BS.450-3
ITU-T -  Pre-emphasis used on sound- - -
Recommendation programme circuits
J.17
AES5-2008 (r2013) -  AES recommended practice for - -
professional digital audio - Preferred
sampling frequencies for applications
employing pulse-code modulation

IEC 60958-4-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2016-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 4-1: Professional applications – Audio content

Interface audionumérique –
Partie 4-1: Applications professionnelles – Contenu audio

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.160.30 ISBN 978-2-8322-3232-3

– 2 – IEC 60958-4-1:2016 © IEC 2016
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Audio content . 7
4.1 Audio content coding . 7
4.2 PCM polarity . 7
4.3 Coding precision options . 7
4.4 Intermediate coding precision . 8
4.5 Non-audio content . 8
4.6 DC content . 8
5 Sampling frequency . 8
5.1 Channel interdependency . 8
5.2 Choice of sampling frequency . 8
6 Validity bit . 8
6.1 Channel validity usage . 8
6.2 Independent channel validity . 8
7 Pre-emphasis . 8
7.1 Pre-emphasis characteristic . 8
7.2 Pre-emphasis indication . 9
Bibliography . 10

IEC 60958-4-1:2016 © IEC 2016 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
_______________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 4-1: Professional applications – Audio content

FOREWORD
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