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20. Tonmeistertagung - Pressemitteilung

PEAQ - Perceptual Evaluation of Audio Quality -

The new "electronic ear" to provide yardstick values for audio quality

20.11.1998 -- Karlsruhe/Geneva – The rapid deployment of advanced audio coding systems in the telecom, broadcasting and computer industries has put the focus on the missing link - a relevant objective measurement method of perceived audio quality. The ITU has approved a new measurement method that will provide, for the first time, an objective method for assessing audio quality. During the 20. Tonmeistertagung in Karlsruhe, the session and roundtable on Sunday afternoon, 22. November 1998, will deal with this new measurement method. In addition to the session, a prototype will be displayed in the front of the small hall of the concerthouse by the members of the PEAQ-Platform.

The development work started in 1994 when with the introduction of advanced low bit-rate codecs like MPEG, designed to match the human auditory system, the problems with the old measurement methods such as SNR and THD became clearly apparent. Audio coding systems are at the core of a whole range of applications ranging from lower audio quality services such as those used on the Web to higher ones like
those used by Digital audio broadcasting or Digital television systems.

In response to an industry requirement, the ITU tasked a group of experts (ITU-R Task Group 10/4) to come up with a measurement method no later than 1998. "One of the first actions was to issue an Open Call for Proposals", said Mr. Thomas Rydén, the TG 10/4 Chairman. "We were fortunate and received 6 different proposals, representing both well-known methods as well as some new and very promising ones" he added.

More than 20 partners from North America, Asia and Europe representing broadcasters, telecom and broadcast network operators, research institutes, universities and manufacturers have been involved during the four years of intensive development work.

The new method will for example enable a continuous and automatic check of the audio quality at levels agreed upon between the broadcaster and the broadcast network operator. It will also detect any malfunction of an audio coding system during the set-up phase of international long distance circuits, before they are put into service. In addition, the recommendation will also provide a powerful tool to developers to further improve audio coding systems and to end-consumers in their choice of audio-based services.

"The task was a real challenge and we are very satisfied to be able to both finish the work on time and to submit one single method" said Mr. Rydén after the adoption of the recommendation. The first measurement systems are expected to be on the market in less than 6 months.

For more information, please join the session on "Audio Coding and its Quality Evaluation" on Sunday afternoon, 22. November. In particularly the the roundtable will deal with the practical aspects of using this new method, the typical applications, i.e. monitoring, testing of codec implementations, aid to develop new coding methods, etc. Further, the restrictions will be discussed as well. If you want to play with the first prototype implementation of PEAQ, please visit the PEAQ-Platform booth in front of the small hall in the concerthouse next to the Tonmeister exhibition hall and talk directly to the developers of this new audio measurement standard.

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