IEC 60958-3:2021

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-09
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-09
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-4725-9

– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1 .
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 2 .
1 Scope . 10
2 Normative references. 10
3 Terms and definitions . 10
4 Interface format . 11
5 Channel status . 11
5.1 General . 11
5.2 Application . 11
5.2.1 Channel status general format . 11
5.2.2 Mode 0 channel status format for digital audio equipment for consumer
use . 14
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 20
5.3.1 General . 20
5.3.2 Category code groups . 21
6 User data . 24
6.1 General . 24
6.2 Application . 24
6.2.1 User data bitstream . 24
6.2.2 User data message structure . 24
6.2.3 Equipment classification . 25
6.2.4 User data message length and contents . 25
6.3 Information for synchronization . 27
6.3.1 General . 27
6.3.2 SMPTE time code information . 27
6.3.3 Latency information . 29
6.3.4 Loudness information . 30
Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 32
A.1 Overview. 32
A.2 General: application-specific details. 32
A.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 32
A.4 User data: application-specific details . 32
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 34
B.1 Overview. 34
B.2 General: application-specific details. 34
B.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 34
B.4 User data: application-specific details . 34
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 35
C.1 Overview. 35
C.2 General: application-specific details. 35
C.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 35

C.4 User data: application-specific details . 36
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined . 39
D.1 Overview. 39
D.2 General: application-specific details. 39
D.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 39
D.4 User data: application-specific details . 39
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode . 40
E.1 Overview. 40
E.2 General: application-specific details. 40
E.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 40
E.4 User data: application specific details . 40
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode . 41
F.1 Overview. 41
F.2 General: application-specific details. 41
F.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 41
F.4 User data: application-specific details . 41
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode . 42
G.1 Overview. 42
G.2 General: application-specific details. 42
G.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 42
G.4 User data: application specific details . 42
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode . 43
H.1 Overview. 43
H.2 General: application-specific details. 43
H.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 43
H.4 User data: application-specific details . 43
Annex I (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 44
I.1 Overview. 44
I.2 General: application-specific details. 44
I.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 44
I.4 User data: application-specific details . 44
Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 45
J.1 Overview. 45
J.2 General: application-specific details. 45
J.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 45
J.4 User data: application-specific details . 45
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software
delivery in the consumer mode . 46
K.1 Overview. 46
K.2 General: application-specific details. 46
K.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 46
K.4 User data: application-specific details . 46

– 4 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 47
L.1 Overview. 47
L.2 General: application-specific details. 47
L.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 47
L.4 User data: application-specific details . 47
L.4.1 General . 47
L.4.2 Marker mode . 47
L.4.3 Extended mode . 48
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 52
M.1 Overview. 52
M.2 General: application-specific details. 52
M.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 52
M.4 User data: application-specific details . 52
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 53
N.1 Overview. 53
N.2 General: application-specific details. 53
N.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 53
N.4 User data: application-specific details . 53
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 54
O.1 Overview. 54
O.2 General: application-specific details. 54
O.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 54
O.4 User data: application-specific details . 54
Annex P (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and
clock accuracy . 55
Annex Q (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio
systems in the consumer mode . 57
Q.1 Overview. 57
Q.2 General: application-specific details. 57
Q.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 57
Q.4 User data: application-specific details . 57
Annex R (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 58
R.1 Multi-media player . 58
R.2 Home-recorded medium player . 58
R.3 Monitoring output from a recorder . 59
R.3.1 Real-time monitoring (direct monitoring) . 59
R.3.2 Monitoring after recording . 59
R.4 Integrated products . 60
R.5 Implementation rule of category code groups for digital/digital converter and
signal-processing products . 60
R.5.1 Discrete product worked as a digital/digital converter or a signal

processing unit . 60
R.5.2 Integrated product including a digital/digital converter or a signal
processing unit . 60
R.6 Magnetic disc recorder unit inside an integrated product . 61
R.7 Category code assignment . 61

R.7.1 No category code in a corresponding category code group . 61
R.7.2 No category code group for a corresponding product . 61
R.8 Other assignment of integrated products . 62
Annex S (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization
of audio, video and multi-media equipment . 63
S.1 General . 63
S.2 Lip-sync system model . 63
S.3 How to compensate lip-sync . 63
S.3.1 General . 63
S.3.2 Detection methods . 64
S.4 Use of time code . 65
S.5 Use of latency information . 66
S.6 Example of latency parameter transmission method with TL . 66
v
S.6.1 An example for solving lip-sync problems . 66
S.6.2 Another example for solving lip-sync problems. 67
Annex T (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM . 68
T.1 Format of MPEG Surround buried data frames . 68
T.2 MPEG Surround detection . 68
Bibliography . 69

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 24
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 26
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 26
Figure 4 – Third UI contents . 26
Figure 5 – User information . 27
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 28
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 28
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 29
Figure 9 – Latency information . 29
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 30
Figure 11 – Loudness information . 30
Figure 12 – Loudness information alignment . 31
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 38
Figure L.1 – Marker mode . 47
Figure L.2 – Extended mode . 48
Figure P.1 – Player and interface model . 55
Figure R.1 – Multi-media player . 58
Figure R.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 59
Figure R.3 – Direct monitoring. 59
Figure R.4 – Monitoring after recording . 59
Figure R.5 – Integrated product . 60
Figure R.6 – Digital/digital converter . 60
Figure R.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 61
Figure R.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder. 61
Figure S.1 – Lip-sync system model . 63

– 6 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
Figure S.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 64
Figure S.3 – Time-code transmission . 64
Figure S.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 65
Figure S.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv . 65
Figure S.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 66
Figure S.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 67
Figure T.1 – Relation between MPEG Surround buried data frame and IEC 60958-3
frame . 68

Table 1 – Channel status general format for consumer use . 12
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 15
Table 3 – Category code groups . 21
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 21
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing
products . 22
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 22
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals . 22
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 23
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without

copyright information . 23
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 23
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid state memory based products . 23
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 33
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 35
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 37
Table L.1 – Layout of message number "000000" . 49
Table L.2 – Deck status codes . 49
Table L.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 50
Table P.1 – Term definitions . 55
Table P.2 – Cases . 56
Table P.3 – Example . 56

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer 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
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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
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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.
This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made to
the previous edition IEC 60958-3:2006+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV. A vertical bar appears in
the margin wherever a change has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in
strikethrough red text.
– 8 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by technical area 20: Analogue and digital audio, of IEC
technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment. It is an
International Standard.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2006, Amendment 1:2009
and Amendment 2:2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) The relevant part of IEC 60958-5 is supported.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
100/3543/CDV 100/3594/RVC
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60958 series, published under the general title Digital audio interface,
can be found on the IEC website.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1
The revision of IEC 60958-3 (2006) has become necessary to transmit the audio signal and its
information of the current improved audio formats and systems. The revised items apply to the
small parts of IEC 60958-3.
Additional sampling frequencies have been defined for the use of audio transmission of
IEC 60958 conformant data format for the new formats of the IEC 61937 series.
CGMS-A validity is added to clarify the use of CGMS-A information.
The identification of the embedded MPEG Surround information to LPCM and its normative
Annex U are added.
Table 2 includes the new additions and Table 3 has been clarified.

INTRODUCTION to Amendment 2
The revision of IEC 60958-3:2006 has become necessary to document the protocol for
transmitting the audio signal and its information in current improved audio formats and systems.
To apply IEC 60958-3 and its IEC 60958 conformant data format transmitting as part or whole
of the multichannel audio data, a general channel assignment number specified in IEC 62574
is added to the C-bit.
Loudness information is added to the U-bit to enable loudness control.

– 10 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer applications
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60958 specifies the consumer application of the interface for the inter-
connection of digital audio equipment defined in IEC 60958-1.
NOTE When used in a consumer digital processing environment, the interface is primarily intended to carry
stereophonic programmes, with a resolution of up to 20 bits per sample, an extension to 24 bits per sample being
possible.
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 edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60841:1988, Audio recording – PCM encoder/decoder system
IEC 60908:1999, Audio recording – Compact disc digital audio system
IEC 60958-1:2004, Digital audio interface – Part 1: General
IEC 60958-5, Digital audio interface – Part 5: Consumer application enhancement
IEC 61119-1:1992, Digital audio tape cassette system (DAT) – Part 1: Dimensions and
characteristics
IEC 61119-6:1992, Digital audio tape cassette system (DAT) – Part 6: Serial copy management
system
IEC 62574:2011, Audio, video and multimedia systems – General channel assignment of
multichannel audio
IEEE 1394:2004, IEEE standard for high-performance serial bus bridges
ISO/IEC 23003-1, Information technology – MPEG audio technologies – Part 1: MPEG
Surround
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60958-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp

4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in Annex A to Annex T, the following specification is applicable.
• Audio sample word has a length of 20 bits/sample. The auxiliary sample bits are an optional
expansion of the audio sample, if not used = "0".
• User data is not used, all bits = "0".
• Channel status is identical for both subframes of the interface, with the exception of the
channel number, if that is not equal to zero.
5 Channel status
5.1 General
For every subframe, the channel status bit provides information related to the audio channel
that is carried in that same subframe.
Channel status information is organized in a 192-bit block, subdivided into 24 bytes, numbered
0 to 23 (see Table 1). The first bit of each channel status block is carried in the frame with
preamble "B".
The individual bits of a channel status block are numbered 0 to 191.
The primary application is indicated by channel status bit 0.
As stated in IEC 60958-1, for the consumer digital audio applications described in this document
and IEC 60958-5, this first channel status bit equals "0".
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional applications, this first channel status bit equals "1".
Secondary applications may be defined within the framework of these primary applications.
5.2 Application
5.2.1 Channel status general format
For each channel, the channel status block provides the information described in this clause
and summarized in Table 1.
– 12 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
Table 1 – Channel status general format for consumer use
Byte
0 a = "0" b c d Mode
bit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
bit 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
bit 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
bit 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
bit 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
bit 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
bit 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
bit 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
bit 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
bit 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79
bit 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87
bit 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
bit 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
bit 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111
bit 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119

bit 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127
bit 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135

bit 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143
bit 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151

bit 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159

bit 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167
Bit 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175

Bit 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183
Bit 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191

a: use of channel status block c: copyright information

b: linear PCM identification d: additional format information

Byte 0: General control and mode information
Control:
Bit 0 "0" Consumer use of channel status block (Notes 1 and 2)

NOTE 1 The significance of byte 0, bit 0 is such that transmission from an interface conforming to IEC 60958-4 can
be identified.
Bit 1 "0" Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples (Note 2)
"1" Audio sample word used for other purposes

NOTE 2 The functions of channel status bits 0 and 1 are defined in IEC 60958-1.

Bit 2 "0" Software for which copyright is asserted (Note 3)
"1" Software for which no copyright is asserted

NOTE 3 Bit 2 is referred to as the "Cp-bit". It should indicate indicates whether copyright protection has been
asserted.
The copyright status may can be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes (as indicated in the annex
associated with the category code). The Cp-bit can alternate between 0 and 1 at a rate between
4 Hz and 10 Hz (see Annex A).
Bits 3 to 5 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.

When bit 1 = "0", linear PCM audio mode:
Bit 3 4 5
State "0 0 0" 2 audio channels without pre-emphasis
"1 0 0" 2 audio channels with 50 µs/15 µs pre-emphasis
"0 1 0" Reserved (for 2 audio channels with pre-emphasis)
"1 1 0" Reserved (for 2 audio channels with pre-emphasis)
"0 0 1" Assigned for IEC 60958-5
"0 1 1" Assigned for IEC 60958-5
All other states of bits 3 to 5 are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 4 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
When bit 1 = "1", other than linear PCM applications:
Bit 3 4 5
State "0 0 0" Default state for applications other than linear PCM
All other states of bits 3 to 5 are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
Bits 6 and Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
to 7 (bytes 1 to 23). There are four possible modes for each of the states of
bit 1.
Bit 6 7
State "0 0" Mode 0, refer to 5.2.2
All other states of bits 6 and 7 are reserved and shall not be used until
further defined.
– 14 – IEC 60958-3:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
The contents of bits 8 to 191 depend on the mode as indicated by bits 6 and 7. If not defined
otherwise, the default value is "0".
5.2.2 Mode 0 channel status format for digital audio equipment for consumer use
When the audio sample word represents linear PCM and the channel status mode is mode 0,
the channel status format shown in Table 2 should be applied.

Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use
Byte
a = "0" b = "0" c d Mode = "0 0"
bit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Category code
bit 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
2 Source number Channel number
bit 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
3 Sampling frequency Clock accuracy Sampling frequency
extension
bit 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
4 Word length Original sampling frequency
bit 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
5 CGMS-A CGMS-A
Auto sampling frequency coefficient
validity
bit 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
6 Information General channel assignment channel number for A channel General
hidden in channel
PCM signal assignment
channel
number for
B channel
bit 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
General channel assignment channel LFE Playback level
number for B channel
bit 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
bit 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
bit 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79
bit 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87
bit 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
...

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-1052-4

– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Interface format . 9
5 Channel status . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Application . 10
5.2.1 Channel status general format . 10
5.2.2 Mode 0 channel status format for digital audio equipment for consumer
use . 13
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 18
5.3.1 General . 18
5.3.2 Category code groups. 19
6 User data. 22
6.1 General . 22
6.2 Application . 22
6.2.1 User data bitstream . 22
6.2.2 User data message structure . 22
6.2.3 Equipment classification . 23
6.2.4 User data message length and contents . 24
6.3 Information for synchronization . 26
6.3.1 General . 26
6.3.2 SMPTE time code information . 26
6.3.3 Latency information . 27
6.3.4 Loudness information . 28
Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 30
A.1 Overview. 30
A.2 General: application-specific details . 30
A.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 30
A.4 User data: application-specific details . 30
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 32
B.1 Overview. 32
B.2 General: application-specific details . 32
B.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 32
B.4 User data: application-specific details . 32
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 33
C.1 Overview. 33
C.2 General: application-specific details . 33
C.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 33
C.4 User data: application-specific details . 34
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined . 37

D.1 Overview. 37
D.2 General: application-specific details . 37
D.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 37
D.4 User data: application-specific details . 37
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the

consumer mode . 38
E.1 Overview. 38
E.2 General: application-specific details . 38
E.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 38
E.4 User data: application specific details . 38
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode . 39
F.1 Overview. 39
F.2 General: application-specific details . 39
F.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 39
F.4 User data: application-specific details . 39
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode . 40
G.1 Overview. 40
G.2 General: application-specific details . 40
G.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 40
G.4 User data: application specific details . 40
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver

(Japan) in the consumer mode . 41
H.1 Overview. 41
H.2 General: application-specific details . 41
H.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 41
H.4 User data: application-specific details . 41
Annex I (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 42
I.1 Overview. 42
I.2 General: application-specific details . 42
I.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 42
I.4 User data: application-specific details . 42
Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 43
J.1 Overview. 43
J.2 General: application-specific details . 43
J.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 43
J.4 User data: application-specific details . 43
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software

delivery in the consumer mode . 44
K.1 Overview. 44
K.2 General: application-specific details . 44
K.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 44
K.4 User data: application-specific details . 44
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 45
L.1 Overview. 45
L.2 General: application-specific details . 45

– 4 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
L.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 45
L.4 User data: application-specific details . 45
L.4.1 General . 45
L.4.2 Marker mode . 45
L.4.3 Extended mode. 46
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 50
M.1 Overview. 50
M.2 General: application-specific details . 50
M.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 50
M.4 User data: application-specific details . 50
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 51
N.1 Overview. 51
N.2 General: application-specific details . 51
N.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 51
N.4 User data: application-specific details . 51
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 52
O.1 Overview. 52
O.2 General: application-specific details . 52
O.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 52
O.4 User data: application-specific details . 52
Annex P (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and
clock accuracy . 53
Annex Q (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio
systems in the consumer mode . 55
Q.1 Overview. 55
Q.2 General: application-specific details . 55
Q.3 Channel status: application-specific details . 55
Q.4 User data: application-specific details . 55
Annex R (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 56
R.1 Multi-media player . 56
R.2 Home-recorded medium player . 56
R.3 Monitoring output from a recorder . 57
R.3.1 Real-time monitoring (direct monitoring) . 57
R.3.2 Monitoring after recording . 57
R.4 Integrated products . 58
R.5 Implementation rule of category code groups for digital/digital converter and
signal-processing products . 58
R.5.1 Discrete product worked as a digital/digital converter or a signal

processing unit . 58
R.5.2 Integrated product including a digital/digital converter or a signal
processing unit . 58
R.6 Magnetic disc recorder unit inside an integrated product . 59
R.7 Category code assignment . 59
R.7.1 No category code in a corresponding category code group . 59
R.7.2 No category code group for a corresponding product . 59
R.8 Other assignment of integrated products . 60

Annex S (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of
audio, video and multi-media equipment . 61
S.1 General . 61
S.2 Lip-sync system model . 61
S.3 How to compensate lip-sync . 61
S.3.1 General . 61
S.3.2 Detection methods . 62
S.4 Use of time code . 63
S.5 Use of latency information. 64
S.6 Example of latency parameter transmission method with TL . 64
v
S.6.1 An example for solving lip-sync problems . 64
S.6.2 Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 65
Annex T (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM . 66
T.1 Format of MPEG Surround buried data frames . 66
T.2 MPEG Surround detection. 66
Bibliography . 67

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 23
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 24
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 24
Figure 4 – Third UI contents. 25
Figure 5 – User information . 25
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 26
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 26
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 27
Figure 9 – Latency information . 27
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 28
Figure 11 – Loudness information . 28
Figure 12 – Loudness information alignment . 29
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 36
Figure L.1 – Marker mode . 45
Figure L.2 – Extended mode . 46
Figure P.1 – Player and interface model . 53
Figure R.1 – Multi-media player . 56
Figure R.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 57
Figure R.3 – Direct monitoring . 57
Figure R.4 – Monitoring after recording . 57
Figure R.5 – Integrated product . 58
Figure R.6 – Digital/digital converter . 58
Figure R.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 59
Figure R.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder . 59
Figure S.1 – Lip-sync system model. 61
Figure S.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 62
Figure S.3 – Time-code transmission . 62
Figure S.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 63

– 6 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
Figure S.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv . 63
Figure S.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 64
Figure S.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 65
Figure T.1 – Relation between MPEG Surround buried data frame and IEC 60958-3
frame . 66

Table 1 – Channel status general format for consumer use . 11
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 13
Table 3 – Category code groups . 19
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 20
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing

products. 20
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 20
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals . 21
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 21
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information . 21
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 21
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid state memory based products . 22
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 31
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 33
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 35
Table L.1 – Layout of message number "000000" . 46
Table L.2 – Deck status codes . 47
Table L.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 48
Table P.1 – Term definitions . 53
Table P.2 – Cases . 54
Table P.3 – Example . 54

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer 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, Technical Reports,
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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 itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
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.
IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by technical area 20: Analogue and digital audio, of IEC
technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment. It is an
International Standard.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2006, Amendment 1:2009
and Amendment 2:2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) The relevant part of IEC 60958-5 is supported.

– 8 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
100/3543/CDV 100/3594/RVC
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60958 series, published under the general title Digital audio
interface, can be found on the IEC website.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer applications
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60958 specifies the consumer application of the interface for the inter-
connection of digital audio equipment defined in IEC 60958-1.
NOTE When used in a consumer digital processing environment, the interface is primarily intended to carry
stereophonic programmes, with a resolution of up to 20 bits per sample, an extension to 24 bits per sample being
possible.
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 edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60958-1, Digital audio interface – Part 1: General
IEC 60958-5, Digital audio interface – Part 5: Consumer application enhancement
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60958-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in Annex A to Annex T, the following specification is applicable.
• Audio sample word has a length of 20 bits/sample. The auxiliary sample bits are an optional
expansion of the audio sample, if not used = "0".
• User data is not used, all bits = "0".
• Channel status is identical for both subframes of the interface, with the exception of the
channel number, if that is not equal to zero.
5 Channel status
5.1 General
For every subframe, the channel status bit provides information related to the audio channel
that is carried in that same subframe.

– 10 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
Channel status information is organized in a 192-bit block, subdivided into 24 bytes, numbered
0 to 23 (see Table 1). The first bit of each channel status block is carried in the frame with
preamble "B".
The individual bits of a channel status block are numbered 0 to 191.
The primary application is indicated by channel status bit 0.
As stated in IEC 60958-1, for the consumer digital audio applications described in this document
and IEC 60958-5, this first channel status bit equals "0".
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional applications, this first channel status bit equals "1".
Secondary applications may be defined within the framework of these primary applications.
5.2 Application
5.2.1 Channel status general format
For each channel, the channel status block provides the information described in this clause
and summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 – Channel status general format for consumer use
Byte
0 a = "0" b c d Mode
bit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
bit 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
bit 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
bit 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
bit 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
bit 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
bit 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
bit 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
bit 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
bit 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79
bit 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87
bit 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
bit 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

bit 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111
bit 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119

bit 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127
bit 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135

bit 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143

bit 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151
bit 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159

bit 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167
Bit 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175

Bit 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183
Bit 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191

a: use of channel status block c: copyright information
b: linear PCM identification d: additional format information

– 12 – IEC 60958-3:2021 © IEC 2021
Byte 0: General control and mode information
Control:
Bit 0 "0" Consumer use of channel status block (Notes 1 and 2)

NOTE 1 The significance of byte 0, bit 0 is such that transmission from an interface conforming to IEC 60958-4 can
be identified.
Bit 1 "0" Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples (Note 2)
"1" Audio sample word used for other purposes

NOTE 2 The functions of channel status bits 0 and 1 are defined in IEC 60958-1.

Bit 2 "0" Software for which copyright is asserted (Note 3)
"1" Software for which no copyright is asserted

NOTE 3 Bit 2 is referred to as the "Cp-bit". It indicates whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status can be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes (as indicated in the annex
associated with the category code). The Cp-bit can alternate between 0 and 1 at a rate between
4 Hz and 10 Hz (see Annex A).
Bits 3 to 5 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.

When bit 1 = "0", linear PCM audio mode:
Bit 3 4 5
State "0 0 0" 2 audio channels without pre-emphasis
"1 0 0" 2 audio channels with 50 µs/15 µs pre-emphasis
"0 1 0" Reserved (for 2 audio channels with pre-emphasis)
"1 1 0" Reserved (for 2 audio channels with pre-emphasis)
"0 0 1" Assigned for IEC 60958-5
"0 1 1" Assigned for IEC 60958-5
All other states of bits 3 to 5 are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 4 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
When bit 1 = "1", other than linear PCM applications:
Bit 3 4 5
State "0 0 0" Default state for applications other than linear PCM
All other states of bits 3 to 5 are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
Bits 6 to 7 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
(bytes 1 to 23). There are four possible modes for each of the states of
bit 1.
Bit 6 7
State "0 0" Mode 0, refer to 5.2.2
All other states of bits 6 and 7 are reserved and shall not be used until
further defined.
The contents of bits 8 to 191 depend on the mode as indicated by bits 6 and 7. If not defined
otherwise, the default value is "0".

5.2.2 Mode 0 channel status format for digital audio equipment for consumer use
When the audio sample word represents linear PCM and the channel status mode is mode 0,
the channel status format shown in Table 2 should be applied.
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use
Byte
a = "0" b = "0" c d Mode = "0 0"
bit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Category code
bit 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
2 Source number Channel number
bit 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
3 Sampling frequency Clock accuracy Sampling frequency
extension
bit 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
4 Word length Original sampling frequency
bit 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
5 CGMS-A CGMS-A
Auto sampling frequency coefficient
validity
bit 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
Information General channel assignment channel number for A channel General
hidden in channel
PCM signal assignment
channel
number for
B channel
bit 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
7 General channel assignment channel LFE Playback level
number for B channe
...