On New Audio Codec Specifications

This contribution presents the work in 3GPP on the standardization of a new audio codec for mobile multimedia applications including Packet-Switched Streaming (PSS), Multimedia Messaging (MMS) and Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS). Design constraints, performance requirements, test plans, selection rules were finalized first. Next, extensive subjective listening testing was conducted. The test results showed good performance for the enhanced AAC+ and for the AMR-WB+ candidates. Enhanced AAC+ and AMR-WB+ are recommended for 3GPP Rel6 mobile multimedia services PSS, MMS, and MBMS. Both fixed-point and floating-point specifications are given in 3GPP in form of a C-code for both encoder and decoder. Conformance testing methods are specified as well.