High Efficiency-Advanced Audio Coding, HE-AAC, the MPEG standard co-developed and continuously innovated by Fraunhofer IIS, is the world’s most efficient high-quality multi-channel and stereo audio codec. It has been widely deployed in bit rate sensitive platforms for IP delivered and TV / radio broadcast systems such as ISDB, SBTVD, DMB, ATSC-M/H, 3GPP, HbbTV, DAB+ and Digital Radio Mondiale. HE-AAC for DVB audio encoding is standardized by TS 101 154 and supports the full set of DVB/MPEG metadata.

Digital TV Labs has long expertise providing testing services and test suites for DVB receivers, providing test suites for over 40 different countries. The new HE-AAC DVB test suite will be built on the existing extensive test streams from both organizations. The test suite will be made available to consumer electronics manufacturers, semiconductor suppliers and broadcasters, enabling them to efficiently validate end-user platforms and ensure interoperability with broadcast audio services. Digital TV Labs will provide a compliance test service augmenting their existing wide range of CE test services.

“Fraunhofer is well known in the industry for its expertise in the development of audio coding technologies and the outstanding quality of its implementations,” said Harald Popp, head of the Audio & Multimedia Business department at Fraunhofer IIS. “ This new compliance program allows manufacturers to ensure that they offer high quality audio and multimedia experiences to the end user.”

Keith Potter, CEO of Digital TV Labs commented “We are delighted to be working with Fraunhofer IIS in rolling out this exciting program”, adding “This new development will provide for the first time a comprehensive test suite that will provide full HE-AAC coverage and compliance validation for DVB receivers.”