IEC 60958-3:2006

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.1 2009-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.1 2009-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
CR
ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-88910-352-2
– 2 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD.5

1 Scope.8

2 Normative references .8

3 Terms and definitions .8

4 Interface format .8

5 Channel status .9
5.1 General .9
5.2 Application .9
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application
of the digital audio interface .16
6 User data .21
6.1 General .21
6.2 Application .21
6.3 Information for synchronization.24

Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system .27
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder.29
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode.30
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined.34
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode .35
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode.36
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler in
the consumer mode .37
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode.38

Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode .39
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode .40
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software delivery
in the consumer mode.41
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode.42
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode .47
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode .48

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 3 –

Annex P (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc

system (DVD) in the consumer mode .49

Annex Q (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and

clock accuracy .50

Annex R (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio
systems in the consumer mode.52

Annex S (normative) Explanations of category code implementation.53

Annex T (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of

audio, video and multi-media equipments .58

Annex U (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM .63

Bibliography.65

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units .21
Figure 2 – First UI contents.22
Figure 3 – Second UI contents.23
Figure 4 – Third UI contents .23
Figure 5 – User information.23
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information .24
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment .25
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment .25
Figure 9 – Latency information.26
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment.26
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID.33
Figure Q.1 – Player and interface model .50
Figure S.1 – Multi-media player .53
Figure S.2 – Home-recorded medium player .54
Figure S.3 – Direct monitoring .54
Figure S.4 – Monitoring after recording .55
Figure S.5 – Integrated product .55
Figure S.6 – Digital/digital converter .56
Figure S.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter.56

Figure S.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder .57
Figure T.1 – Lip-sync system model.58
Figure T.2 – Lip-sync compensation .59
Figure T.3 – Time-code transmission .59
Figure T.4 – Latency parameter transmission .60
Figure T.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv.60
Figure T.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission .61
Figure T.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems.62
Figure U.1 – Relation between MPEG Surround buried data frame
and IEC 60958-3 frame.63

– 4 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

Table 1– Channel status general format for consumer use.10

Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use.12

Table 3 – Category code groups .18

Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products .18

Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing

products .19

Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products .19

Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio

with/without video signals .19

Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound .20
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information .20
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information .20
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid-state memory-based products.20
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format .28
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT .30
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system.32
Table M.1 – Layout of message number “000000”.43
Table M.2 – Deck status codes .44
Table M.3 – ITTS packet extended message example.45
Table Q.1 – Term definitions.50
Table Q.2 – Cases .51
Table Q.3 – Example .51

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 5 –

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer applications
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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International Standard IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This consolidated version of IEC 60958-3 consists of the third edition (2006) [documents
100/1009/CDV and 100/1070/RVC] and its amendment 1 (2009) [documents 100/1513/CDV
and 100/1592/RVC].
The technical content is therefore identical to the base edition and its amendment and has
been prepared for user convenience.
It bears the edition number 3.1.
A vertical line in the margin shows where the base publication has been modified by
amendment 1.
– 6 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
– Electrical and optical requirements are removed from IEC 60958-3; they should be

specified in IEC 60958-1. The third edition of IEC 60958-1 will include these.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The list of all the parts of the IEC 60958 series, under the general title Digital audio interface,

can be found on the IEC website.

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 7 –

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.

– 8 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

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 referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 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
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.
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in the annexes, 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.

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 9 –

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
standard, this first channel status bit equals “0”.
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional application 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 Table1.
– 10 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

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

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 11 –

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 whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status may 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 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.
to 5
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)
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 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
and 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.
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”.

– 12 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

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
0 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
Sampling frequency Clock accuracy
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 Audio sampling frequency coefficient
validity
bit 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
6 Information
hidden in
PCM signal
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.

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 13 –

Byte 0 as defined in 5. 2.1 , w i t h

Bit 1 “0” Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples

Bits 6 to 7 “0 0” Mode 0
Byte 1: Category code
The category code indicates the kind of equipment that generates the digital audio interface

signal. See the relevant annexes for the assignments. Bit 8 = LSB, bit 15 = MSB.

Byte 2: Source and channel number
Bits 16 to 19 Source number, bit 16 = LSB, bit 19 = MSB
Bit 16 17 18 19
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account
“1 0 0 0” 1
“0 1 0 0” 2
“1 1 0 0” 3
............
“1 1 1 1” 15
Bits 20 to 23 Channel number (audio channel), bit 20 = LSB, bit 23 = MSB.
Bit 20 21 22 23
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account.
“1 0 0 0” (left channel for stereo channel format)
“0 1 0 0” (right channel for stereo channel format)
“1 1 0 0”
................
“1 1 1 1”
NOTE 1 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
Byte 3: Sampling frequency and clock accuracy
Bits 24 to 27 Sampling frequency
Bit 24 25 26 27
State “0 0 1 0” 22,05 kHz
“0 0 0 0” 44,1 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 88,2 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 176,4 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 24 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 48 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 96 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 192 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 32 kHz
“1 0 0 0” Sampling frequency not indicated
“1 0 0 1” 768 kHz
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
– 14 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

Bits 28 to 29 Clock accuracy.
Bit 28 29
State “0 0” Level II
“1 0” Level I
“0 1” Level III
“1 1” Interface frame rate not matched to sampling frequency.

Bits 30 to 31 Sampling frequency extension with sampling frequency bits 24 to 27

Bit 24 25 26 27 30 31 Sampling frequency

State “1 0 1 0 0 0” 384 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 0” 1 536 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 1” 1 024 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 0” 352,8 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 1” 705,6 kHz
“1 0 1 1 1 0” 1 411,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 0” 64 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 1” 128 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 0” 256 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 1” 512 kHz
NOTE 2 The sampling frequency over 192 kHz is not actual. It represents frame rate for compressed audio
transmission, and it is used for high bit rate transmission using IEC 60958 protocol. For example, IEC 61883-6 can
transmit a high bit rate of IEC 61937 using IEC 60958 comformant format defined in IEC 61883-6.
Byte 4: Word length and original sampling frequency
Bit 32 “0” Maximum audio sample word length is 20 bits
“1” Maximum audio sample word length is 24 bits

Bits 33 to 35 Sample word length
Bit 33 34 35 Audio sample word length if Audio sample word length if
maximum length is 24 bits as maximum length is 20 bits as
indicated by bit 32 indicated by bit 32
State “0 0 0” Word length not indicated Word length not indicated
(default) (default)
“1 0 0” 20 bits 16 bits
“0 1 0” 22 bits 18 bits
“0 0 1” 23 bits 19 bits
“1 0 1” 24 bits 20 bits
“0 1 1” 21 bits 17 bits
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 3 The first edition of IEC 60958 had bits 32 to 35 reserved and set to zero. Therefore, the all zero state for
these bits on a received signal may be an indicator that the word length indication has not been implemented.

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 15 –

Bits 36 to 39 Original sampling frequency

Bit 36 37 38 39
State “1 1 1 1” 44,1 kHz
“1 1 1 0” 88,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1” 22,05 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 176,4 kHz
“1 0 1 1” 48 kHz
“1 0 1 0” 96 kHz
“1 0 0 1” 24 kHz
“1 0 0 0” 192 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 128 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 8 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 11,025 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 12 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 32 kHz
“0 0 1 0” 64 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 16 kHz
“0 0 0 0” Original sampling frequency not indicated (default)

NOTE 4 The original sampling frequency field may be used to indicate the sampling frequency of a signal prior to
sampling frequency conversion in a consumer playback system.
NOTE 5 Many of the values indicated for a frequency in the original sampling frequency field in byte 4 are
complementary to the values used for that frequency in the sampling frequency field in byte 3.
Byte 5: CGMS-A
Bits 40 to 41 CGMS-A
Bit 40 41
State “0 0” Copying is permitted without restriction
“0 1” Condition not be used
“1 0” One generation of copies may be made
“1 1” No copying is permitted
Bit 42 CGMS-A validity
Bit 42
State “0” No indication
“1” CGMS-A valid
– 16 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

Bits 44 to 47 Audio sampling frequency coefficient

Bit 44 45 46 47
State “0 0 0 0” No indication
“0 0 0 1” Equal to transmission sampling frequency

“0 0 1 0” 1/2
“0 0 1 1” 1/4
“0 1 0 0” 1/8
“0 1 0 1” 1/16
“0 1 1 0” 1/32
“0 1 1 1” Reserved
“1 0 0 0” Reserved
“1 0 0 1” Reserved
“1 0 1 0” Reserved
“1 0 1 1” x32
“1 1 0 0” x16
“1 1 0 1” x8
“1 1 1 0” x4
“1 1 1 1” x2
NOTE 6 CGMS-A information from other IEC standards (for example, IEC 61880) can be carried.
Byte 6: Information hidden in PCM signal
Bit 48 Information hidden in PCM signal
Bit 48
State “0” No indication
“1” Additional information in LSB
Bit 49 to 55 “0 0 0 0 0 0 0” Reserved

NOTE 7 Bit 48 refers to information within the audio sample word, not in the AUX bits.
NOTE 8 When bit 48 is set to 1, processing of the audio signal (such as redithering, sample rate conversion, and
change in level) should be avoided. A receiver may also use this state as a hint that it should look for extra
information (such as MPEG Surround transmitted over PCM channels as specified in ISO/IEC 23003-1, see
Annex U) in the low bits of the signal.

5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface
5.3.1 General
Category codes are used for all consumer products that are capable of supplying a digital
signal to consumer digital audio recorders, except for products that are fully transparent from
input to output. A category code of a product is defined as a live function to make a source
data. If products have the capability to play plural recorded media that are defined in different
categories, the category code of the product should be defined as a playing medium.
These category codes have been grouped by general function of the product. This makes it
possible to take into account future digital recording products not yet defined in detail. Such a
product then deals with the group code under a general rule. These rules define whether a
digital recorder is enabled to record a copyright-protected digital signal.

60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 17 –

Unless otherwise specified, any consumer equipment capable of transferring digital audio
information from an input terminal to an output terminal, if not fully transparent and regardless

of the delay or kind of transformation of the audio content of the signal, shall copy channel

status bits 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the source. Bit 2 shall be copied from the source, unless

otherwise specified in the annexes.

Bit 15 is referred to as the “L-bit”. It indicates the “generation status” of the digital audio signal.

“Generation status” means:
• whether the signal emanates from a source that has been produced or published or
authorized by the rights owner of the material, such as commercially released pre-recorded

compact discs or DAT tapes or a digital broadcast (referred to herein as “original”) and for
which copyright has been asserted; or
• whether the signal emanates from a recording made from such “original” material (i.e. “a
home-copy of generation 1 or higher”).
Generally the L-bit is specified as:
Bit 15 “0” No indication
“1” Commercially released pre-recorded software
For historical reasons, the reverse situation is valid for the signals originating from
• laser optical products (category code “100 XXXXL”);
• broadcast reception (category codes “001 XXXXL” and “011 1XXXL”).
For these category codes the L-bit indicates:
Bit 15 “0” Commercially released pre-recorded software
“1” No indication
The generation status may be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes such as
• general (category code “000 00000”);
• analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information (category
code “011 00XXL”).
– 18 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

5.3.2 Category code groups
5.3.2.1 The category code groups are defined in Table 3.

Table 3 – Category code groups

Bits 8 to 15 Category
“000 00000” General. Used temporarily

“100 XXXXL” Laser optical products

“010 XXXXL” Digital/digital converters and signal processing products

“110 XXXXL” Magnetic tape or disc based products

“001 XXXXL” Broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio signals with or without video signals
and
“011 1XXXL”
“101 XXXXL” Musical instruments, microphones and other sources without copyright information
“011 00XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information
“011 01XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include copyright information
in the form of “Cp-bit and L-bit status”
“000 1XXXL” Solid state memory based products
“000 0001L” Experimental products not for commercial sale, and other products of these groups
and/or experimental products
“111 XXXXL” Not defined. Reserved
“000 0XXXL” Not defined. Reserved, except “000 00000” and “000 0001L”

5.3.2.2 Within a group a further indication of the kind of source is given.
5.3.2.2.1 For the general category code (“000 00000”) the following applies:
– used temporarily;
– applied specifically for digital audio broadcast reception with or without a video signal, for
example, digital satellite reception in Japan in the case where no copyright information is
transmitted (see also Annex H);
– for the group of laser optical products (category code = “100 XXXXL”), the category codes
are defined in Table 4.
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“100 00000” Compact-disc digital audio signal compatible with IEC 60908 (see Annex A)

“100 1000L” Laser optical digital audio systems for which no other category code is defined (see
Annex D)
“100 1001L” Mini-disc system (see Annex N)
“100 1100L” Digital versatile disc (DVD) (see Annex P)
“100 1111L” Other products of this category
“100 others” Reserved
60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E) – 19 –

5.3.2.2.2 For the group of digital/digital converters and signal-processing products
(category code = “010 XXXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 5.

Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter

and signal-processing products

Bits 8 to 15 Category
“010 0000L” PCM encoder/decoder (see Annex B)

“010 0100L” Digital signal mixer (see Annex E)

“010 1100L” Sampling rate converter (see Annex F)

“010 0010L” Digital sound sampler (see Annex G)
“010 1010L” Digital sound processor (see Annex O)
“010 1111L” Other products of this category
“010 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.3 For the group of magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products (category code
= “110 XXXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 6.
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“110 0000L” DAT (see annex C)
“110 1000L” Video tape recorder with digital sound
“110 0001L” Digital compact cassette (see Annex M)
“110 1100L” Magnetic disc digital audio system (see Annex R)
“110 1111L” Other products of this category
“110 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.4 For the group of broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio with/without
video signals (category code = “001 XXXXL” or “011 1XXXL”), the category
codes are defined in Table 7.
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“001 0000L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (Japan) (see Annex H)
“001 1000L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (Europe) (see Annex J)
“001 0011L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (USA) (see Annex K)
"001 0001L" Electronic software delivery (see Annex L)
“001 0010L” Used by another standard (see note)
“001 1111L” Other products of this category
“001 others” Reserved
“011 1XXXL” Reserved
NOTE The code "001 0010L" is under consideration for use in connection with IEC 62105.

– 20 – 60958-3 © IEC:2006+A1:2009(E)

5.3.2.2.5 For the group of musical instruments, microphones and other sources that

create original sound (category code = “101 XXXXL”), the category codes are

defined in Table 8.
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and

other sources that create original sound

Bits 8 to 15 Category
“101 0000L” Synthesizer
“101 1000L” Microphone
“101 1111L” Other products of this category

“101 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.6 For the group of analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without
copyright information (category code = “011 00XXL”), the category codes are
defined in Table 9.
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals
without copyright information
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“011 0000L” A/D converter
“011 0011L” Other products of this category
“011 00 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.7 For the group of analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include
copyright information in the form of “Cp-bit and L-bit status” (category code =
“011 01XXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 10.
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals
with copyright information
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“011 0100L” A/D converter
“011 0111L” Other products of this category
“011 01 others Reserved
5.3.2.2.8 For the group of solid state memory based products (category code = “000
1XXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 11.
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid state memory based products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“000 1000L" Digital audio recorder and player using solid state memory
“000 1111L”
...

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INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
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Part 3: Consumer applications
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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.2 2015-06
CONSOLIDATED VERSION
REDLINE VERSION
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Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1 . 7
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 2 . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Interface format . 8
5 Channel status . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Application . 9
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 16
6 User data . 20
6.1 General . 20
6.2 Application . 20
6.3 Information for synchronization . 24

Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 28
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 30
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 31
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined. 35
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode . 36
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode. 37
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode. 38
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode . 39
Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 40
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 41
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software delivery
in the consumer mode. 42
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 43
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 48
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 49
Annex P (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 50

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Annex Q (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and
clock accuracy . 51
Annex R (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio
systems in the consumer mode . 53
Annex S (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 54
Annex T (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of
audio, video and multi-media equipments . 59
Annex U (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM . 65
Bibliography . 67

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 21
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 22
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 22
Figure 4 – Third UI contents . 23
Figure 5 – User information. 23
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 24
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 24
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 25
Figure 9 – Latency information . 25
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 26
Figure 11 – Loudness information . 26
Figure 12 – Loudness information alignment . 27
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 34
Figure M.1 – Marker mode . 43
Figure M.2 – Extended mode . 44
Figure Q.1 – Player and interface model . 51
Figure S.1 – Multi-media player . 54
Figure S.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 55
Figure S.3 – Direct monitoring . 55
Figure S.4 – Monitoring after recording . 56
Figure S.5 – Integrated product . 56
Figure S.6 – Digital/digital converter . 57
Figure S.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 57
Figure S.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder . 58
Figure T.1 – Lip-sync system model . 59
Figure T.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 60
Figure T.3 – Time-code transmission . 60
Figure T.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 61
Figure T.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv. 61
Figure T.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 63
Figure T.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 64
Figure U.1 – Relation between MPEG Surround buried data frame and IEC 60958-3
frame . 65

– 4 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Table 1– Channel status general format for consumer use . 10
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 12
Table 3 – Category code groups . 17
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 18
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing
products . 18
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 18
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals . 19
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 19
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information . 19
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 20
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid state memory based products . 20
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 29
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 31
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 33
Table M.1 – Layout of message number “000000” . 44
Table M.2 – Deck status codes . 45
Table M.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 46
Table Q.1 – Term definitions . 51
Table Q.2 – Cases . 52
Table Q.3 – Example . 52

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
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,
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Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
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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
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3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
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4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
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between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
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5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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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expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
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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 consolidated version of the official IEC Standard and its amendments has been prepared
for user convenience.
IEC 60958-3 edition 3.2 contains the third edition (2006-05) [documents 100/1009/CDV and
100/1070/RVC], its amendment 1 (2009-10) [documents 100/1513/CDV and 100/1592/RVC] and its
amendment 2 (2015-06) [documents 100/2464/FDIS and 100/2494/RVD].
In this Redline version, a vertical line in the margin shows where the technical content is
modified by amendments 1 and 2. Additions and deletions are displayed in red, with deletions
being struck through. A separate Final version with all changes accepted is available in this
publication.
– 6 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
International Standard IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
– Electrical and optical requirements are removed from IEC 60958-3; they should be
specified in IEC 60958-1. The third edition of IEC 60958-1 will include these.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all the parts of the IEC 60958 series, under the general title Digital audio interface,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendments will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication 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 publication using a colour printer.

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
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.

– 8 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
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 referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 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.
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in the annexes, 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”.

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
• 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
standard, this first channel status bit equals “0”.
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional application 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 Table1.
– 10 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
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

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
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 whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status may 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 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.
to 5
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)
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 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
and 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.
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”.

– 12 – IEC 60958-3:2006
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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
0 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
7 General channel assignment channel
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
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

+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Byte 0 as defined in 5.2.1, with
Bit 1 “0” Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples
Bits 6 to 7 “0 0” Mode 0
Byte 1: Category code
The category code indicates the kind of equipment that generates the digital audio interface
signal. See the relevant annexes for the assignments. Bit 8 = LSB, bit 15 = MSB.
Byte 2: Source and channel number
Bits 16 to 19 Source number, bit 16 = LSB, bit 19 = MSB
Bit 16 17 18 19
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account
“1 0 0 0” 1
“0 1 0 0” 2
“1 1 0 0” 3
............
“1 1 1 1” 15
Bits 20 to 23 Channel number (audio channel), bit 20 = LSB, bit 23 = MSB.
Bit 20 21 22 23
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account.
“1 0 0 0” (left channel for stereo channel format)
“0 1 0 0” (right channel for stereo channel format)
“1 1 0 0”
................
“1 1 1 1”
NOTE 1 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
Byte 3: Sampling frequency and clock accuracy
Bits 24 to 27 Sampling frequency
Bit 24 25 26 27
State “0 0 1 0” 22,05 kHz
“0 0 0 0” 44,1 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 88,2 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 176,4 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 24 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 48 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 96 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 192 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 32 kHz
“1 0 0 0” Sampling frequency not indicated
“1 0 0 1” 768 kHz
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
– 14 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Bits 28 to 29 Clock accuracy.
Bit 28 29
State “0 0” Level II
“1 0” Level I
“0 1” Level III
“1 1” Interface frame rate not matched to sampling frequency.
Bits 30 to 31 Sampling frequency extension with sampling frequency bits 24 to 27
Bit 24 25 26 27 30 31 Sampling frequency
State “1 0 1 0 0 0” 384 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 0” 1 536 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 1” 1 024 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 0” 352,8 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 1” 705,6 kHz
“1 0 1 1 1 0” 1 411,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 0” 64 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 1” 128 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 0” 256 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 1” 512 kHz
NOTE 2 The sampling frequency over 192 kHz is not actual. It represents frame rate for compressed audio
transmission, and it is used for high bit rate transmission using IEC 60958 protocol. For example, IEC 61883-6 can
transmit a high bit rate of IEC 61937 using IEC 60958 comformant data format defined in IEC 61883-6.
Byte 4: Word length and original sampling frequency
Bit 32 “0” Maximum audio sample word length is 20 bits
“1” Maximum audio sample word length is 24 bits

Bits 33 to 35 Sample word length
Bit 33 34 35 Audio sample word length if Audio sample word length if
maximum length is 24 bits as maximum length is 20 bits as
indicated by bit 32 indicated by bit 32
State “0 0 0” Word length not indicated Word length not indicated
(default) (default)
“1 0 0” 20 bits 16 bits
“0 1 0” 22 bits 18 bits
“0 0 1” 23 bits 19 bits
“1 0 1” 24 bits 20 bits
“0 1 1” 21 bits 17 bits
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 3 The first edition of IEC 60958 had bits 32 to 35 reserved and set to zero. Therefore, the all zero state for
these bits on a received signal may be an indicator that the word length indication has not been implemented.
Bits 36 to 39 Original sampling frequency
Bit 36 37 38 39
State “1 1 1 1” 44,1 kHz
“1 1 1 0” 88,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1” 22,05 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 176,4 kHz
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
“1 0 1 1” 48 kHz
“1 0 1 0” 96 kHz
“1 0 0 1” 24 kHz
“1 0 0 0” 192 kHz
“0 1 1 1” Reserved 128 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 8 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 11,025 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 12 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 32 kHz
“0 0 1 0” Reserved 64 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 16 kHz
“0 0 0 0” Original sampling frequency not indicated (default)
NOTE 4 The original sampling frequency field may be used to indicate the sampling frequency of a signal prior to
sampling frequency conversion in a consumer playback system.
NOTE 5 Many of the values indicated for a frequency in the original sampling frequency field in byte 4 are
complementary to the values used for that frequency in the sampling frequency field in byte 3.
Byte 5: CGMS-A
Bits 40 to 41 CGMS-A
Bit 40 41
State “0 0” Copying is permitted without restriction
“0 1” Condition not be used
“1 0” One generation of copies may be made
“1 1” No copying is permitted
Bit 42 CGMS-A validity
Bit 42
State “0” No indication
“1” CGMS-A valid
Bits 44 to 47 Audio sampling frequency coefficient
Bit 44 45 46 47
State “0 0 0 0” No indication
“0 0 0 1” Equal to transmission sampling frequency
“0 0 1 0” 1/2
“0 0 1 1” 1/4
“0 1 0 0” 1/8
“0 1 0 1” 1/16
“0 1 1 0” 1/32
“0 1 1 1” Reserved
“1 0 0 0” Reserved
“1 0 0 1” Reserved
“1 0 1 0” Reserved
“1 0 1 1” x32
“1 1 0 0” x16
“1 1 0 1” x8
“1 1 1 0” x4
“1 1 1 1” x2
NOTE 6 CGMS-A information from other IEC standards (for example, IEC 61880) can be carried.

– 16 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Byte 6 and byte 7: Information hidden in PCM signal and general channel assignment channel
number
Bit 48 Information hidden in PCM signal
Bit 48
State “0” No indication
“1” Additional information in LSB
Bits 49 to 53 General channel assignment channel number for A channel
Bit 49 50 51 52 53 54
State “0 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 1
“1 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 2

“1 1 1 1 1 0” Channel number 32
Bit 54 to 58 General channel assignment channel number for B channel
Bit 55 56 57 58 59 60
State “0 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 1
“1 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 2

“1 1 1 1 1 0” Channel number 32

NOTE 7 Bit 48 refers to information within the audio sample word, not in the AUX bits.
NOTE 8 When bit 48 is set to 1, processing of the audio signal (such as redithering, sample rate conversion, and
change in level) should be avoided. A receiver may also use this state as a hint that it should look for extra
information (such as MPEG Surround transmitted over PCM channels as specified in ISO/IEC 23003-1, see
Annex U) in the low bits of the signal.
IEC 62574 specifies the general channel assignment. The channel number 1 to 32
assignments are specified in Table 1 of IEC 62574:2011
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface
5.3.1 General
Category codes are used for all consumer products that are capable of supplying a digital
signal to consumer digital audio recorders, except for products that are fully transparent from
input to output. A category code of a product is defined as a live function to make a source
data. If products have the capability to play plural recorded media that are defined in different
categories, the category code of the product should be defined as a playing medium.
These category codes have been grouped by general function of the product. This makes it
possible to take into account future digital recording products not yet defined in detail. Such a
product then deals with the group code under a general rule. These rules define whether a
digital recorder is enabled to record a copyright-protected digital signal.
Unless otherwise specified, any consumer equipment capable of transferring digital audio
information from an input terminal to an output terminal, if not fully transparent and regardless
of the delay or kind of transformation of the audio content of the signal, shall copy channel
status bits 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the source. Bit 2 shall be copied from the source, unless
otherwise specified in the annexes.
Bit 15 is referred to as the “L-bit”. It indicates the “generation status” of the digital audio signal.
“Generation status” means:
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
• whether the signal emanates from a source that has been produced or published or
authorized by the rights owner of the material, such as commercially released pre-recorded
compact discs or DAT tapes or a digital broadcast (referred to herein as “original”) and for
which copyright has been asserted; or
• whether the signal emanates from a recording made from such “original” material (i.e. “a
home-copy of generation 1 or higher”).
Generally the L-bit is specified as:
Bit 15 “0” No indication
“1” Commercially released pre-recorded software
For historical reasons, the reverse situation is valid for the signals originating from
• laser optical products (category code “100 XXXXL”);
• broadcast reception (category codes “001 XXXXL” and “011 1XXXL”).
For these category codes the L-bit indicates:
Bit 15 “0” Commercially released pre-recorded software
“1” No indication
The generation status may be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes such as
• general (category code “000 00000”);
• analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information (category
code “011 00XXL”).
5.3.2 Category code groups
5.3.2.1 The category code groups are defined in Table 3.
Table 3 – Category code groups
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“000 00000” General. Used temporarily
“100 XXXXL” Laser optical products
“010 XXXXL” Digital/digital converters and signal processing products
“110 XXXXL” Magnetic tape or disc based products
“001 XXXXL” Broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio signals with or without video signals
and
“011 1XXXL”
“101 XXXXL” Musical instruments, microphones and other sources without copyright information
“011 00XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information
“011 01XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include copyright information
in the form of “Cp-bit and L-bit status”
“000 1XXXL” Solid-state memory-based products
“000 0001L” Experimental products not for commercial sale, and other products of these groups
and/or experimental products
“000 0001L” Other products of this groups and/or experimental products
“111 XXXXL” Not defined. Reserved
“000 0XXXL” Not defined. Reserved, except for “000 00000” and “000 0001L”

– 18 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
5.3.2.2 Within a group a further indication of the kind of source is given.
5.3.2.2.1 For the general category code (“000 00000”) the following applies:
– used temporarily;
– applied specifically for digital audio broadcast reception with or without a video signal, for
example, digital satellite reception in Japan in the case where no copyright information is
transmitted (see also Annex H);
– for the group of laser optical products (category code = “100 XXXXL”), the category codes
are defined in Table 4.
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“100 00000” Compact-disc digital audio signal compatible with IEC 60908 (see Annex A)
“100 1000L” Laser optical digital audio systems for which no other category code is defined (see
Annex D)
“100 1001L” Mini-disc system (see Annex N)
“100 1100L” Digital versatile disc (DVD) (see Annex P)
“100 1111L” Other products of this category
“100 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.2 For the group of digital/digital converters and signal-processing products
(category code = “010 XXXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 5.
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter
and signal-processing products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“010 0000L” PCM encode
...

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.0 2006-05
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 3.0 2006-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX XB
ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-1521-0

– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Interface format . 7
5 Channel status . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Application . 8
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 14
6 User data . 18
6.1 General . 18
6.2 Application . 18
6.3 Information for synchronization . 22

Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 25
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 27
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 28
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined. 32
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode . 33
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode. 34
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode. 35
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode . 36
Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 37
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 38
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software delivery
in the consumer mode. 39
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 40
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 45
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 46

Annex P (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 47
Annex Q (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and
clock accuracy . 48
Annex R (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio
systems in the consumer mode . 50
Annex S (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 51
Annex T (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of
audio, video and multi-media equipments . 56

Bibliography . 61

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 19
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 20
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 20
Figure 4 – Third UI contents . 21
Figure 5 – User information. 21
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 22
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 22
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 23
Figure 9 – Latency information . 23
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 24
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 31
Figure M.1 – Marker mode . 40
Figure M.2 – Extended mode . 41
Figure Q.1 – Player and interface model . 48
Figure S.1 – Multi-media player . 51
Figure S.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 52
Figure S.3 – Direct monitoring . 52
Figure S.4 – Monitoring after recording . 53
Figure S.5 – Integrated product . 53
Figure S.6 – Digital/digital converter . 54
Figure S.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 54
Figure S.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder . 55
Figure T.1 – Lip-sync system model . 56
Figure T.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 57
Figure T.3 – Time-code transmission . 57
Figure T.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 58
Figure T.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv. 58
Figure T.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 59
Figure T.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 60

– 4 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
Table 1– Channel status general format for consumer use . 9
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 11
Table 3 – Category code groups . 15
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 16
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing
products . 16
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 16
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals . 17
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 17
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information . 17
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 18
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid-state memory-based products . 18
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 26
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 28
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 30
Table M.1 – Layout of message number “000000” . 41
Table M.2 – Deck status codes . 42
Table M.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 43
Table Q.1 – Term definitions . 48
Table Q.2 – Cases . 49
Table Q.3 – Example . 49

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, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their 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 provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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.
International Standard IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This bilingual version (2014-07) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in
2006-05.This third edition of IEC 60958-3 cancels and replaces the second edition published
in 2003 and constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
– Electrical and optical requirements are removed from IEC 60958-3; they should be
specified in IEC 60958-1. The third edition of IEC 60958-1 will include these.

– 6 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
100/1009/CDV 100/1070/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all the parts of the IEC 60958 series, under the general title Digital audio interface,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication 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 referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 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
IEEE 1394:2004, IEEE standard for high-performance serial bus bridges
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60958-1 apply.
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in the annexes, 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.

– 8 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
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
standard, this first channel status bit equals “0”.
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional application 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 Table1.
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

– 10 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
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 whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status may 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 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.
to 5
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)
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 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
and 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.
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
0 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
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
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 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
Byte 0 as defined in 5.2.1, with
Bit 1 “0” Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples
Bits 6 to 7 “0 0” Mode 0
Byte 1: Category code
The category code indicates the kind of equipment that generates the digital audio interface
signal. See the relevant annexes for the assignments. Bit 8 = LSB, bit 15 = MSB.
Byte 2: Source and channel number
Bits 16 to 19 Source number, bit 16 = LSB, bit 19 = MSB
Bit 16 17 18 19
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account
“1 0 0 0” 1
“0 1 0 0” 2
“1 1 0 0” 3
............
“1 1 1 1” 15
Bits 20 to 23 Channel number (audio channel), bit 20 = LSB, bit 23 = MSB.
Bit 20 21 22 23
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account.
“1 0 0 0” (left channel for stereo channel format)
“0 1 0 0” (right channel for stereo channel format)
“1 1 0 0”
................
“1 1 1 1”
NOTE 1 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
Byte 3: Sampling frequency and clock accuracy
Bits 24 to 27 Sampling frequency
Bit 24 25 26 27
State “0 0 1 0” 22,05 kHz
“0 0 0 0” 44,1 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 88,2 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 176,4 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 24 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 48 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 96 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 192 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 32 kHz
“1 0 0 0” Sampling frequency not indicated
“1 0 0 1” 768 kHz
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
Bits 28 to 29 Clock accuracy.
Bit 28 29
State “0 0” Level II
“1 0” Level I
“0 1” Level III
“1 1” Interface frame rate not matched to sampling frequency.
NOTE 2 The sampling frequency over 192 kHz is not actual, it is used for high bit-rate transmission using the
IEC 60958 protocol. For example, IEC 61883-6 can transmit a high bit rate of IEC 61937 using IEC 60958
comformant data format defined in IEC 61883-6.
Byte 4: Word length and original sampling frequency
Bit 32 “0” Maximum audio sample word length is 20 bits
“1” Maximum audio sample word length is 24 bits

Bits 33 to 35 Sample word length
Bit 33 34 35 Audio sample word length if Audio sample word length if
maximum length is 24 bits as maximum length is 20 bits as
indicated by bit 32 indicated by bit 32
State “0 0 0” Word length not indicated Word length not indicated
(default) (default)
“1 0 0” 20 bits 16 bits
“0 1 0” 22 bits 18 bits
“0 0 1” 23 bits 19 bits
“1 0 1” 24 bits 20 bits
“0 1 1” 21 bits 17 bits
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 3 The first edition of IEC 60958 had bits 32 to 35 reserved and set to zero. Therefore, the all zero state for
these bits on a received signal may be an indicator that the word length indication has not been implemented.
Bits 36 to 39 Original sampling frequency
Bit 36 37 38 39
State “1 1 1 1” 44,1 kHz
“1 1 1 0” 88,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1” 22,05 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 176,4 kHz
“1 0 1 1” 48 kHz
“1 0 1 0” 96 kHz
“1 0 0 1” 24 kHz
“1 0 0 0” 192 kHz
“0 1 1 1” Reserved
“0 1 1 0” 8 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 11,025 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 12 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 32 kHz
“0 0 1 0” Reserved
“0 0 0 1” 16 kHz
“0 0 0 0” Original sampling frequency not indicated (default)

– 14 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
NOTE 4 The original sampling frequency field may be used to indicate the sampling frequency of a signal prior to
sampling frequency conversion in a consumer playback system.
NOTE 5 Many of the values indicated for a frequency in the original sampling frequency field in byte 4 are
complementary to the values used for that frequency in the sampling frequency field in byte 3.
Byte 5: CGMS-A
Bits 40 to 41 CGMS-A
Bit 40 41
State “0 0” Copying is permitted without restriction
“0 1” Condition not be used
“1 0” One generation of copies may be made
“1 1” No copying is permitted
NOTE 6 CGMS-A information from other IEC standards (for example, IEC 61880) can be carried.
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface
5.3.1 General
Category codes are used for all consumer products that are capable of supplying a digital
signal to consumer digital audio recorders, except for products that are fully transparent from
input to output. A category code of a product is defined as a live function to make a source
data. If products have the capability to play plural recorded media that are defined in different
categories, the category code of the product should be defined as a playing medium.
These category codes have been grouped by general function of the product. This makes it
possible to take into account future digital recording products not yet defined in detail. Such a
product then deals with the group code under a general rule. These rules define whether a
digital recorder is enabled to record a copyright-protected digital signal.
Unless otherwise specified, any consumer equipment capable of transferring digital audio
information from an input terminal to an output terminal, if not fully transparent and regardless
of the delay or kind of transformation of the audio content of the signal, shall copy channel
status bits 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the source. Bit 2 shall be copied from the source, unless
otherwise specified in the annexes.
Bit 15 is referred to as the “L-bit”. It indicates the “generation status” of the digital audio signal.
“Generation status” means:
• whether the signal emanates from a source that has been produced or published or
authorized by the rights owner of the material, such as commercially released pre-recorded
compact discs or DAT tapes or a digital broadcast (referred to herein as “original”) and for
which copyright has been asserted; or
• whether the signal emanates from a recording made from such “original” material (i.e. “a
home-copy of generation 1 or higher”).
Generally the L-bit is specified as:
Bit 15 “0” No indication
“1” Commercially released pre-recorded software
For historical reasons, the reverse situation is valid for the signals originating from
• laser optical products (category code “100 XXXXL”);
• broadcast reception (category codes “001 XXXXL” and “011 1XXXL”).

For these category codes the L-bit indicates:
Bit 15 “0” Commercially released pre-recorded software
“1” No indication
The generation status may be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes such as
• general (category code “000 00000”);
• analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information (category
code “011 00XXL”).
5.3.2 Category code groups
5.3.2.1 The category code groups are defined in Table 3.
Table 3 – Category code groups
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“000 00000” General. Used temporarily
“100 XXXXL” Laser optical products
“010 XXXXL” Digital/digital converters and signal processing products
“110 XXXXL” Magnetic tape or disc-based products
“001 XXXXL” Broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio signals with or without video signals
and
“011 1XXXL”
“101 XXXXL” Musical instruments, microphones and other sources without copyright information
“011 00XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information
“011 01XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include copyright information
in the form of “Cp-bit and L-bit status”
“000 1XXXL” Solid-state memory-based products
“000 0001L” Experimental products not for commercial sale
“000 0001L” Other products of this groups and/or experimental products
“111 XXXXL” Not defined. Reserved
“000 0XXXL” Not defined. Reserved, except for “000 00000” and “000 0001L”

5.3.2.2 Within a group a further indication of the kind of source is given.
5.3.2.2.1 For the general category code (“000 00000”) the following applies:
– used temporarily;
– applied specifically for digital audio broadcast reception with or without a video signal, for
example, digital satellite reception in Japan in the case where no copyright information is
transmitted (see also Annex H);
– for the group of laser optical products (category code = “100 XXXXL”), the category codes
are defined in Table 4.
– 16 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“100 00000” Compact-disc digital audio signal compatible with IEC 60908 (see Annex A)
“100 1000L” Laser optical digital audio systems for which no other category code is defined (see
Annex D)
“100 1001L” Mini-disc system (see Annex N)
“100 1100L” Digital versatile disc (DVD) (see Annex P)
“100 1111L” Other products of this category
“100 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.2 For the group of digital/digital converters and signal-processing products
(category code = “010 XXXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 5.
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter
and signal-processing products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“010 0000L” PCM encoder/decoder (see Annex B)
“010 0100L” Digital signal mixer (see Annex E)
“010 1100L” Sampling rate converter (see Annex F)
“010 0010L” Digital sound sampler (see Annex G)
“010 1010L” Digital sound processor (see Annex O)
“010 1111L” Other products of this category
“010 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.3 For the group of magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products (category code
= “110 XXXXL”), the category codes are defined in Table 6.
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“110 0000L” DAT (see annex C)
“110 1000L” Video tape recorder with digital sound
“110 0001L” Digital compact cassette (see Annex M)
“110 1100L” Magnetic disc digital audio system (see Annex R)
“110 1111L” Other products of this category
“110 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.4 For the group of broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio with/without
video signals (category code = “001 XXXXL” or “011 1XXXL”), the category
codes are defined in Table 7.
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“001 0000L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (Japan) (see Annex H)
“001 1000L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (Europe) (see Annex J)
“001 0011L” Digital audio broadcast signal with or without a video signal (USA) (see Annex K)
"001 0001L" Electronic software delivery (see Annex L)
“001 0010L” Used by another standard (see note)
“001 1111L” Other products of this category
“001 others” Reserved
“011 1XXXL” Reserved
NOTE The code "001 0010L" is under consideration for use in connection with IEC 62105.

5.3.2.2.5 For the group of musical instruments, microphones and other sources that
create original sound (category code = “101 XXXXL”), the category codes are
defined in Table 8.
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and
other sources that create original sound
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“101 0000L” Synthesizer
“101 1000L” Microphone
“101 1111L” Other products of this category
“101 others” Reserved
5.3.2.2.6 For the group of analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without
copyright information (category code = “011 00XXL”), the category codes are
defined in Table 9.
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals
without copyright information
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“011 0000L” A/D converter
“011 0011L” Other products of this category
“011 00 others” Reserved
– 18 – IEC 60958-3:2006 © IEC 2006
5.3.2.2.7 For the group of analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include
copyright information in the form of “Cp-bit and L-bit status” (category code =
“011 01XXL”), the category co
...

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Edition 3.1 2009-10
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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.1 2009-10
CONSOLIDATED
VERSION
VERSION
CONSOLIDÉE
colour
inside
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 978-2-8322-1754-2

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.1 2009-10
REDLINE VERSION
VERSION REDLINE
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5

INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1 . 7

1 Scope . 8

2 Normative references . 8

3 Terms and definitions . 8

4 Interface format . 8

5 Channel status . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Application . 9
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 16
6 User data . 20
6.1 General . 20
6.2 Application . 20
6.3 Information for synchronization . 24

Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 27
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 29
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 30
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined. 34
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode . 35
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode. 36
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode. 37
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode . 38

Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 39
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 40
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software delivery
in the consumer mode. 41
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 42
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 47
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 48
Annex P (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 49

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
Annex Q (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency and

clock accuracy . 50

Annex R (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio

systems in the consumer mode . 52

Annex S (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 53

Annex T (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of

audio, video and multi-media equipments . 58

Annex U (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM . 64

Bibliography . 66

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 21
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 22
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 22
Figure 4 – Third UI contents . 23
Figure 5 – User information. 23
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 24
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 24
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 25
Figure 9 – Latency information . 25
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 26
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 33
Figure M.1 – Marker mode . 42
Figure M.2 – Extended mode . 43
Figure Q.1 – Player and interface model . 50
Figure S.1 – Multi-media player . 53
Figure S.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 54
Figure S.3 – Direct monitoring . 54
Figure S.4 – Monitoring after recording . 55
Figure S.5 – Integrated product . 55
Figure S.6 – Digital/digital converter . 56
Figure S.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 56

Figure S.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder . 57
Figure T.1 – Lip-sync system model . 58
Figure T.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 59
Figure T.3 – Time-code transmission . 59
Figure T.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 60
Figure T.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv. 60
Figure T.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 62
Figure T.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 63
Figure U.1 – Relations between MPEG Surround buried data frame and
IEC 60958-3 frame. 64

– 4 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
Table 1– Channel status general format for consumer use . 10

Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 12

Table 3 – Category code groups . 17

Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 18

Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing

products . 18

Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 18

Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio

with/without video signals . 19

Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 19
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information . 19
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 20
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid-state memory-based products . 20
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 28
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 30
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 32
Table M.1 – Layout of message number “000000” . 43
Table M.2 – Deck status codes . 44
Table M.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 45
Table Q.1 – Term definitions . 50
Table Q.2 – Cases . 51
Table Q.3 – Example . 51

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE –
Part 3: Consumer applications
FOREWORD
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This Consolidated version of IEC 60958-3 bears the edition number 3.1. It consists of

the third edition (2006-05) [documents 100/1009/CDV and 100/1070/RVC] and its
amendment 1 (2009-10) [documents 100/1513/CDV and 100/1592/RVC]. The technical
content is identical to the base edition and its amendment.
In this Redline version, a vertical line in the margin shows where the technical content
is modified by amendment 1. Additions and deletions are displayed in red, with
deletions being struck through. A separate Final version with all changes accepted is
available in this publication.
This publication has been prepared for user convenience.

– 6 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
International Standard IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
– Electrical and optical requirements are removed from IEC 60958-3; they should be

specified in IEC 60958-1. The third edition of IEC 60958-1 will include these.

The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all the parts of the IEC 60958 series, under the general title Digital audio interface,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendment will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication 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 publication using a colour printer.

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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.

– 8 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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 referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 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
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.
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in the annexes, 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.

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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
standard, this first channel status bit equals “0”.
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional application 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 Table1.
– 10 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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 whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status may 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 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.
to 5
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)
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 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
and 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.
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”.

– 12 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
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
0 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
hidden in
PCM signal
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

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
Byte 0 as defined in 5.2.1, with

Bit 1 “0” Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples

Bits 6 to 7 “0 0” Mode 0
Byte 1: Category code
The category code indicates the kind of equipment that generates the digital audio interface

signal. See the relevant annexes for the assignments. Bit 8 = LSB, bit 15 = MSB.

Byte 2: Source and channel number
Bits 16 to 19 Source number, bit 16 = LSB, bit 19 = MSB
Bit 16 17 18 19
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account
“1 0 0 0” 1
“0 1 0 0” 2
“1 1 0 0” 3
............
“1 1 1 1” 15
Bits 20 to 23 Channel number (audio channel), bit 20 = LSB, bit 23 = MSB.
Bit 20 21 22 23
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account.
“1 0 0 0” (left channel for stereo channel format)
“0 1 0 0” (right channel for stereo channel format)
“1 1 0 0”
................
“1 1 1 1”
NOTE 1 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
Byte 3: Sampling frequency and clock accuracy
Bits 24 to 27 Sampling frequency
Bit 24 25 26 27
State “0 0 1 0” 22,05 kHz
“0 0 0 0” 44,1 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 88,2 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 176,4 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 24 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 48 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 96 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 192 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 32 kHz
“1 0 0 0” Sampling frequency not indicated
“1 0 0 1” 768 kHz
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
– 14 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
Bits 28 to 29 Clock accuracy.
Bit 28 29
State “0 0” Level II
“1 0” Level I
“0 1” Level III
“1 1” Interface frame rate not matched to sampling frequency.

Bits 30 to 31 Sampling frequency extension with sampling frequency bits 24 to 27

Bit 24 25 26 27 30 31 Sampling frequency

State “1 0 1 0 0 0” 384 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 0” 1 536 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 1” 1 024 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 0” 352,8 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 1” 705,6 kHz
“1 0 1 1 1 0” 1 411,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 0” 64 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 1” 128 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 0” 256 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 1” 512 kHz
NOTE 2 The sampling frequency over 192 kHz is not actual. It represents frame rate for compressed audio
transmission, and it is used for high bit rate transmission using IEC 60958 protocol. For example, IEC 61883-6 can
transmit a high bit rate of IEC 61937 using IEC 60958 comformant data format defined in IEC 61883-6.
Byte 4: Word length and original sampling frequency
Bit 32 “0” Maximum audio sample word length is 20 bits
“1” Maximum audio sample word length is 24 bits

Bits 33 to 35 Sample word length
Bit 33 34 35 Audio sample word length if Audio sample word length if
maximum length is 24 bits as maximum length is 20 bits as
indicated by bit 32 indicated by bit 32
State “0 0 0” Word length not indicated Word length not indicated
(default) (default)
“1 0 0” 20 bits 16 bits
“0 1 0” 22 bits 18 bits
“0 0 1” 23 bits 19 bits
“1 0 1” 24 bits 20 bits
“0 1 1” 21 bits 17 bits
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 3 The first edition of IEC 60958 had bits 32 to 35 reserved and set to zero. Therefore, the all zero state for
these bits on a received signal may be an indicator that the word length indication has not been implemented.
Bits 36 to 39 Original sampling frequency
Bit 36 37 38 39
State “1 1 1 1” 44,1 kHz
“1 1 1 0” 88,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1” 22,05 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 176,4 kHz
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
“1 0 1 1” 48 kHz
“1 0 1 0” 96 kHz
“1 0 0 1” 24 kHz
“1 0 0 0” 192 kHz
“0 1 1 1” Reserved 128 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 8 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 11,025 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 12 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 32 kHz
“0 0 1 0” Reserved 64 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 16 kHz
“0 0 0 0” Original sampling frequency not indicated (default)
NOTE 4 The original sampling frequency field may be used to indicate the sampling frequency of a signal prior to
sampling frequency conversion in a consumer playback system.
NOTE 5 Many of the values indicated for a frequency in the original sampling frequency field in byte 4 are
complementary to the values used for that frequency in the sampling frequency field in byte 3.
Byte 5: CGMS-A
Bits 40 to 41 CGMS-A
Bit 40 41
State “0 0” Copying is permitted without restriction
“0 1” Condition not be used
“1 0” One generation of copies may be made
“1 1” No copying is permitted
Bit 42 CGMS-A validity
Bit 42
State “0” No indication
“1” CGMS-A valid
Bits 44 to 47 Audio sampling frequency coefficient
Bit 44 45 46 47
State “0 0 0 0” No indication
“0 0 0 1” Equal to transmission sampling frequency
“0 0 1 0” 1/2
“0 0 1 1” 1/4
“0 1 0 0” 1/8
“0 1 0 1” 1/16
“0 1 1 0” 1/32
“0 1 1 1” Reserved
“1 0 0 0” Reserved
“1 0 0 1” Reserved
“1 0 1 0” Reserved
“1 0 1 1” x32
“1 1 0 0” x16
“1 1 0 1” x8
“1 1 1 0” x4
“1 1 1 1” x2
NOTE 6 CGMS-A information from other IEC standards (for example, IEC 61880) can be carried.

– 16 – IEC 60958-3:2006
+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
Byte 6: Information hidden in PCM signal

Bit 48 Information hidden in PCM signal

Bit 48
State “0” No indication
“1” Additional information in LSB

Bit 49 to 55 “0 0 0 0 0 0 0” Reserved

NOTE 7 Bit 48 refers to information within the audio sample word, not in the AUX bits.

NOTE 8 When bit 48 is set to 1, processing of the audio signal (such as redithering, sample rate conversion, and
change in level) should be avoided. A receiver may also use this state as a hint that it should look for extra

information (such as MPEG Surround transmitted over PCM channels as specified in ISO/IEC 23003-1, see
Annex U) in the low bits of the signal.
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface
5.3.1 General
Category codes are used for all consumer products that are capable of supplying a digital
signal to consumer digital audio recorders, except for products that are fully transparent from
input to output. A category code of a product is defined as a live function to make a source
data. If products have the capability to play plural recorded media that are defined in different
categories, the category code of the product should be defined as a playing medium.
These category codes have been grouped by general function of the product. This makes it
possible to take into account future digital recording products not yet defined in detail. Such a
product then deals with the group code under a general rule. These rules define whether a
digital recorder is enabled to record a copyright-protected digital signal.
Unless otherwise specified, any consumer equipment capable of transferring digital audio
information from an input terminal to an output terminal, if not fully transparent and regardless
of the delay or kind of transformation of the audio content of the signal, shall copy channel
status bits 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the source. Bit 2 shall be copied from the source, unless
otherwise specified in the annexes.
Bit 15 is referred to as the “L-bit”. It indicates the “generation status” of the digital audio signal.
“Generation status” means:
• whether the signal emanates from a source that has been produced or published or
authorized by the rights owner of the material, such as commercially released pre-recorded
compact discs or DAT tapes or a digital broadcast (referred to herein as “original”) and for
which copyright has been asserted; or
• whether the signal emanates from a recording made from such “original” material (i.e. “a
home-copy of generation 1 or higher”).
Generally the L-bit is specified as:
Bit 15 “0” No indication
“1” Commercially released pre-recorded software
For historical reasons, the reverse situation is valid for the signals originating from
• laser optical products (category code “100 XXXXL”);
• broadcast reception (category codes “001 XXXXL” and “011 1XXXL”).

+AMD1:2009 CSV © IEC 2014
For these category codes the L-bit indicates:

Bit 15 “0” Commercially released pre-recorded software

“1” No indication
The generation status may be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is

therefore not valid in combination with some category codes such as

• general (category code “000 00000”);

• analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information (category

code “011 00XXL”).
5.3.2 Category code groups
5.3.2.1 The category code groups are defined in Table 3.
Table 3 – Category code groups
Bits 8 to 15 Category
“000 00000” General. Used temporarily
“100 XXXXL” Laser optical products
“010 XXXXL” Digital/digital converters and signal processing products
“110 XXXXL” Magnetic tape or disc based products
“001 XXXXL” Broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio signals with or without video signals
and
“011 1XXXL”
“101 XXXXL” Musical instruments, microphones and other sources without copyright information
“011 00XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information
“011 01XXL” Analogue/digital converters for analogue signals which include cop
...

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IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.2 2015-06
CONSOLIDATED VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
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Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

INTERNATIONAL
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COMMISSION
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ELECTROTECHNIQUE
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ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-7412-5

IEC 60958-3 ®
Edition 3.2 2015-06
CONSOLIDATED VERSION
REDLINE VERSION
VERSION REDLINE
colour
inside
Digital audio interface –
Part 3: Consumer applications
Interface audionumérique –
Partie 3: Applications grand public

– 2 – IEC 60958-3:2006+AMD1:2009
+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1 . 7
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 2 . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Interface format . 8
5 Channel status . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Application . 9
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface . 16
6 User data . 20
6.1 General . 20
6.2 Application . 20
6.3 Information for synchronization . 24
Annex A (normative) Application of the digital audio interface in the compact disc
digital audio system . 28
Annex B (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel PCM
encoder/decoder . 30
Annex C (normative) Application of the digital interface in the 2-channel digital audio
tape recorder in the consumer mode . 31
Annex D (normative) Application of the digital interface in laser optical digital audio
systems for which no other category code is defined. 35
Annex E (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital audio mixer in the
consumer mode . 36
Annex F (normative) Application of the digital interface with a sampling rate converter
in the consumer mode. 37
Annex G (normative) Application of the digital interface with a digital sound sampler
in the consumer mode. 38
Annex H (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Japan) in the consumer mode . 39
Annex J (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(Europe) in the consumer mode . 40
Annex K (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital broadcast receiver
(USA) in the consumer mode . 41
Annex L (normative) Application of the digital interface for electronic software delivery
in the consumer mode. 42
Annex M (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital compact cassette
system in the consumer mode . 43
Annex N (normative) Application of the digital interface in the mini-disc system in the
consumer mode . 48
Annex O (normative) Application of the digital interface in a digital sound processor in
the consumer mode . 49
Annex P (normative) Application of the digital interface in the digital versatile disc
system (DVD) in the consumer mode . 50

+AMD2:2015 CSV © IEC 2015
Annex Q (informative) Use of original sampling frequency, sampling frequency
and clock accuracy . 51
Annex R (normative) Application of the digital interface in magnetic disc digital audio

systems in the consumer mode . 53
Annex S (normative) Explanations of category code implementation . 54
Annex T (informative) Application of the digital audio interface for synchronization of
audio, video and multi-media equipments . 59
Annex U (normative) MPEG Surround over PCM . 65
Bibliography . 67

Figure 1 – Example of message structure using information units . 21
Figure 2 – First UI contents . 22
Figure 3 – Second UI contents . 22
Figure 4 – Third UI contents . 23
Figure 5 – User information. 23
Figure 6 – SMPTE time code information . 24
Figure 7 – LTC information alignment . 24
Figure 8 – VITC information alignment . 25
Figure 9 – Latency information . 25
Figure 10 – Latency information alignment . 26
Figure 11 – Loudness information . 26
Figure 12 – Loudness information alignment . 27
Figure C.1 – Example of different combinations of start-ID and shortening-ID . 34
Figure M.1 – Marker mode . 43
Figure M.2 – Extended mode . 44
Figure Q.1 – Player and interface model . 51
Figure S.1 – Multi-media player . 54
Figure S.2 – Home-recorded medium player . 55
Figure S.3 – Direct monitoring . 55
Figure S.4 – Monitoring after recording . 56
Figure S.5 – Integrated product . 56
Figure S.6 – Digital/digital converter . 57
Figure S.7 – Integrated product including digital/digital converter . 57
Figure S.8 – Integrated product including magnetic disc recorder . 58
Figure T.1 – Lip-sync system model . 59
Figure T.2 – Lip-sync compensation . 60
Figure T.3 – Time-code transmission . 60
Figure T.4 – Latency parameter transmission . 61
Figure T.5 – Latency parameter transmission with TLv. 61
Figure T.6 – Example of latency parameter transmission . 63
Figure T.7 – Another example for solving lip-sync problems . 64
Figure U.1 – Relation between MPEG Surround buried data frame and IEC 60958-3
frame . 65

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Table 1– Channel status general format for consumer use . 10
Table 2 – Mode 0 channel status format for consumer use . 12
Table 3 – Category code groups . 17
Table 4 – Category code groups for laser optical products . 18
Table 5 – Category code groups for digital/digital converter and signal-processing
products . 18
Table 6 – Category code groups for magnetic tape or magnetic disc based products . 18
Table 7 – Category code groups for broadcast reception of digitally encoded audio
with/without video signals . 19
Table 8 – Category code groups for musical instruments, microphones and other
sources that create original sound . 19
Table 9 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals without
copyright information . 19
Table 10 – Category code groups for A/D converters for analogue signals with
copyright information . 20
Table 11 – Category code groups for solid state memory based products . 20
Table A.1 – Example of 2-channel compact disc format . 29
Table C.1 – Use of Cp-bit, L-bit and category code for DAT . 31
Table C.2 – User data application in the DAT system . 33
Table M.1 – Layout of message number “000000” . 45
Table M.2 – Deck status codes . 45
Table M.3 – ITTS packet extended message example . 46
Table Q.1 – Term definitions . 51
Table Q.2 – Cases . 52
Table Q.3 – Example . 52

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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, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their 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 provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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.
This consolidated version of the official IEC Standard and its amendments has been prepared
for user convenience.
IEC 60958-3 edition 3.2 contains the third edition (2006-05) [documents 100/1009/CDV and
100/1070/RVC], its amendment 1 (2009-10) [documents 100/1513/CDV and 100/1592/RVC] and its
amendment 2 (2015-06) [documents 100/2464/FDIS and 100/2494/RVD].
In this Redline version, a vertical line in the margin shows where the technical content is
modified by amendments 1 and 2. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red
text. A separate Final version with all changes accepted is available in this publication.

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International Standard IEC 60958-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
– Electrical and optical requirements are removed from IEC 60958-3; they should be
specified in IEC 60958-1. The third edition of IEC 60958-1 will include these.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all the parts of the IEC 60958 series, under the general title Digital audio interface,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of the base publication and its amendments will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication 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 publication using a colour printer.

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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.

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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 referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 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.
4 Interface format
The interface format as defined in IEC 60958-1 shall be used.
Unless otherwise specified in the annexes, 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”.

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• 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
standard, this first channel status bit equals “0”.
NOTE As stated in IEC 60958-1, for professional application 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 Table1.
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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

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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 whether copyright protection has been asserted.
The copyright status may 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 Additional format information, meaning depends on bit 1.
to 5
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)
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 Channel status mode, indicates one of four possible channel status formats
and 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.
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”.

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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
0 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
7 General channel assignment channel
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
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

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Byte 0 as defined in 5.2.1, with
Bit 1 “0” Audio sample word represents linear PCM samples
Bits 6 to 7 “0 0” Mode 0
Byte 1: Category code
The category code indicates the kind of equipment that generates the digital audio interface
signal. See the relevant annexes for the assignments. Bit 8 = LSB, bit 15 = MSB.
Byte 2: Source and channel number
Bits 16 to 19 Source number, bit 16 = LSB, bit 19 = MSB
Bit 16 17 18 19
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account
“1 0 0 0” 1
“0 1 0 0” 2
“1 1 0 0” 3
............
“1 1 1 1” 15
Bits 20 to 23 Channel number (audio channel), bit 20 = LSB, bit 23 = MSB.
Bit 20 21 22 23
State “0 0 0 0” Do not take into account.
“1 0 0 0” (left channel for stereo channel format)
“0 1 0 0” (right channel for stereo channel format)
“1 1 0 0”
................
“1 1 1 1”
NOTE 1 The single and dual channel operating modes are defined with the frame format in IEC 60958-1.
Byte 3: Sampling frequency and clock accuracy
Bits 24 to 27 Sampling frequency
Bit 24 25 26 27
State “0 0 1 0” 22,05 kHz
“0 0 0 0” 44,1 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 88,2 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 176,4 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 24 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 48 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 96 kHz
“0 1 1 1” 192 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 32 kHz
“1 0 0 0” Sampling frequency not indicated
“1 0 0 1” 768 kHz
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
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Bits 28 to 29 Clock accuracy.
Bit 28 29
State “0 0” Level II
“1 0” Level I
“0 1” Level III
“1 1” Interface frame rate not matched to sampling frequency.
Bits 30 to 31 Sampling frequency extension with sampling frequency bits 24 to 27
Bit 24 25 26 27 30 31 Sampling frequency
State “1 0 1 0 0 0” 384 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 0” 1 536 kHz
“1 0 1 0 1 1” 1 024 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 0” 352,8 kHz
“1 0 1 1 0 1” 705,6 kHz
“1 0 1 1 1 0” 1 411,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 0” 64 kHz
“1 1 0 1 0 1” 128 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 0” 256 kHz
“1 1 0 1 1 1” 512 kHz
NOTE 2 The sampling frequency over 192 kHz is not actual. It represents frame rate for compressed audio
transmission, and it is used for high bit rate transmission using IEC 60958 protocol. For example, IEC 61883-6 can
transmit a high bit rate of IEC 61937 using IEC 60958 comformant data format defined in IEC 61883-6.
Byte 4: Word length and original sampling frequency
Bit 32 “0” Maximum audio sample word length is 20 bits
“1” Maximum audio sample word length is 24 bits

Bits 33 to 35 Sample word length
Bit 33 34 35 Audio sample word length if Audio sample word length if
maximum length is 24 bits as maximum length is 20 bits as
indicated by bit 32 indicated by bit 32
State “0 0 0” Word length not indicated Word length not indicated
(default) (default)
“1 0 0” 20 bits 16 bits
“0 1 0” 22 bits 18 bits
“0 0 1” 23 bits 19 bits
“1 0 1” 24 bits 20 bits
“0 1 1” 21 bits 17 bits
All other combinations are reserved and shall not be used until further
defined.
NOTE 3 The first edition of IEC 60958 had bits 32 to 35 reserved and set to zero. Therefore, the all zero state for
these bits on a received signal may be an indicator that the word length indication has not been implemented.
Bits 36 to 39 Original sampling frequency
Bit 36 37 38 39
State “1 1 1 1” 44,1 kHz
“1 1 1 0” 88,2 kHz
“1 1 0 1” 22,05 kHz
“1 1 0 0” 176,4 kHz
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“1 0 1 1” 48 kHz
“1 0 1 0” 96 kHz
“1 0 0 1” 24 kHz
“1 0 0 0” 192 kHz
“0 1 1 1” Reserved 128 kHz
“0 1 1 0” 8 kHz
“0 1 0 1” 11,025 kHz
“0 1 0 0” 12 kHz
“0 0 1 1” 32 kHz
“0 0 1 0” Reserved 64 kHz
“0 0 0 1” 16 kHz
“0 0 0 0” Original sampling frequency not indicated (default)
NOTE 4 The original sampling frequency field may be used to indicate the sampling frequency of a signal prior to
sampling frequency conversion in a consumer playback system.
NOTE 5 Many of the values indicated for a frequency in the original sampling frequency field in byte 4 are
complementary to the values used for that frequency in the sampling frequency field in byte 3.
Byte 5: CGMS-A
Bits 40 to 41 CGMS-A
Bit 40 41
State “0 0” Copying is permitted without restriction
“0 1” Condition not be used
“1 0” One generation of copies may be made
“1 1” No copying is permitted
Bit 42 CGMS-A validity
Bit 42
State “0” No indication
“1” CGMS-A valid
Bits 44 to 47 Audio sampling frequency coefficient
Bit 44 45 46 47
State “0 0 0 0” No indication
“0 0 0 1” Equal to transmission sampling frequency
“0 0 1 0” 1/2
“0 0 1 1” 1/4
“0 1 0 0” 1/8
“0 1 0 1” 1/16
“0 1 1 0” 1/32
“0 1 1 1” Reserved
“1 0 0 0” Reserved
“1 0 0 1” Reserved
“1 0 1 0” Reserved
“1 0 1 1” x32
“1 1 0 0” x16
“1 1 0 1” x8
“1 1 1 0” x4
“1 1 1 1” x2
NOTE 6 CGMS-A information from other IEC standards (for example, IEC 61880) can be carried.

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Byte 6 and byte 7: Information hidden in PCM signal and general channel assignment channel
number
Bit 48 Information hidden in PCM signal
Bit 48
State “0” No indication
“1” Additional information in LSB
Bits 49 to 53 General channel assignment channel number for A channel
Bit 49 50 51 52 53 54
State “0 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 1
“1 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 2

“1 1 1 1 1 0” Channel number 32
Bit 54 to 58 General channel assignment channel number for B channel
Bit 55 56 57 58 59 60
State “0 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 1
“1 0 0 0 0 0” Channel number 2

“1 1 1 1 1 0” Channel number 32

NOTE 7 Bit 48 refers to information within the audio sample word, not in the AUX bits.
NOTE 8 When bit 48 is set to 1, processing of the audio signal (such as redithering, sample rate conversion, and
change in level) should be avoided. A receiver may also use this state as a hint that it should look for extra
information (such as MPEG Surround transmitted over PCM channels as specified in ISO/IEC 23003-1, see
Annex U) in the low bits of the signal.
IEC 62574 specifies the general channel assignment. The channel number 1 to 32
assignments are specified in Table 1 of IEC 62574:2011.
5.3 Copyright management guidelines for consumer application of the digital
audio interface
5.3.1 General
Category codes are used for all consumer products that are capable of supplying a digital
signal to consumer digital audio recorders, except for products that are fully transparent from
input to output. A category code of a product is defined as a live function to make a source
data. If products have the capability to play plural recorded media that are defined in different
categories, the category code of the product should be defined as a playing medium.
These category codes have been grouped by general function of the product. This makes it
possible to take into account future digital recording products not yet defined in detail. Such a
product then deals with the group code under a general rule. These rules define whether a
digital recorder is enabled to record a copyright-protected digital signal.
Unless otherwise specified, any consumer equipment capable of transferring digital audio
information from an input terminal to an output terminal, if not fully transparent and regardless
of the delay or kind of transformation of the audio content of the signal, shall copy channel
status bits 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the source. Bit 2 shall be copied from the source, unless
otherwise specified in the annexes.
Bit 15 is referred to as the “L-bit”. It indicates the “generation status” of the digital audio signal.
“Generation status” means:
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• whether the signal emanates from a source that has been produced or published or
authorized by the rights owner of the material, such as commercially released pre-recorded
compact discs or DAT tapes or a digital broadcast (referred to herein as “original”) and for
which copyright has been asserted; or
• whether the signal emanates from a recording made from such “original” material (i.e. “a
home-copy of generation 1 or higher”).
Generally the L-bit is specified as:
Bit 15 “0” No indication
“1” Commercially released pre-recorded software
For historical reasons, the reverse situation is valid for the signals originating from
• laser optical products (category code “100 XXXXL”);
• broadcast reception (category codes “001 XXXXL” and “011 1XXXL”).
For these category codes the L-bit indicates:
Bit 15 “0” Commercially released pre-recorded software
“1” No indication
The generation status may be unknown for certain applications. The above interpretation is
therefore not valid in combination with some category codes such as
• general (category code “000 00000”);
• analogue/digital converters for analogue signals without copyright information (category
code “011 00XXL”).
5.3.2 Category code groups
...