ISO IEC 13818-7-2006 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information — Part 7: Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). This part of ISO/IEC 13818 specifies the MPEG‑2 Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) bitstream formats, decoder tools, profiles and interoperability rules for high‑quality multichannel audio and describes how to combine MPEG‑2 AAC with Spectral Band Replication (SBR) technologies from related standards.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 13818-7:2006 defines the MPEG‑2 AAC audio coding system designed to deliver multi‑channel high‑quality audio (e.g., ITU‑R “indistinguishable” quality at about 320 kbit/s for five full‑bandwidth channels). It specifies bitstream formats (ADIF, ADTS and raw), core coding tools (noiseless coding, inverse quantization, filterbank, TNS, prediction, joint coding, etc.), profiles and program configuration elements, plus guidance on combining AAC with SBR.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; reviewed and confirmed in later systematic reviews).
• Publication date: January 2006 (Edition 4, 2006).
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (developed under ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29).
• ICS / categories: 35.040.40 (information technology — audio/video coding).
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (2006). Amendments and corrigenda exist (for example Amd 1:2007 and subsequent corrigenda).
• Number of pages: 194 pages.

Scope

This part specifies the syntax and semantics of MPEG‑2 AAC bitstreams, defines required and optional decoder tools, sets out profiles and interoperability rules, and includes program configuration elements and element types used for multichannel audio. It also provides supplementary information on using Spectral Band Replication (SBR) in conjunction with MPEG‑2 AAC as defined in related MPEG‑4 audio standards. The standard targets efficient, high‑quality multichannel audio coding for broadcasting, storage and streaming applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Bitstream formats and framing: ADIF, ADTS and raw data structures for AAC streams.
• Core coding tools: noiseless coding, inverse quantization, scalefactors, filterbank and block switching, Temporal Noise Shaping (TNS), prediction, joint stereo (M/S, intensity), coupling and gain control.
• Profiles, levels and interoperability rules: definitions that ensure compatible encoder/decoder behavior.
• Program configuration and channel elements: SCE, CPE, LFE, PCE, DSE and related signaling.
• Integration guidance: use of SBR (bandwidth extension) from ISO/IEC 14496‑3 and later amendments for MPEG Surround transport.
• Normative tables and implementation details (Huffman codebooks, syntax tables) plus informative annexes on encoders, patents and registration information.

Typical use and users

Primary users are codec implementers (encoder and decoder developers), broadcast and streaming engineers, consumer electronics manufacturers (set‑top boxes, TVs, AV receivers, mobile devices), multimedia software developers (players, transcoders, authoring tools) and standards/testing laboratories performing conformance and interoperability verification. The standard is used to ensure interoperable, high‑quality multichannel audio delivery in broadcasting, satellite, IPTV, streaming and storage contexts.

Related standards

Related and cross‑referenced standards include other parts of the ISO/IEC 13818 (MPEG‑2) suite (Parts 1–6, 9, etc.), ISO/IEC 14496‑3 (MPEG‑4 AAC and SBR integration) and MPEG spatial/audio extensions such as ISO/IEC 23003 (MPEG Surround). Amendments and corrigenda to ISO/IEC 13818‑7 (for example Amd 1:2007 and technical corrigenda in 2009 and 2010) provide additional transport and extension definitions.

Keywords

ISO/IEC 13818-7, MPEG‑2 AAC, Advanced Audio Coding, ADIF, ADTS, multichannel audio, SBR, profiles, program configuration, MPEG Surround, audio codec.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 13818‑7:2006 is the MPEG‑2 Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) part of the ISO/IEC 13818 family; it specifies AAC bitstreams, decoder tools, profiles and interoperability rules for high‑quality multichannel audio.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers AAC bitstream formats (ADIF, ADTS, raw), core and optional decoding tools (TNS, prediction, joint coding, etc.), profiles and program configuration elements, and guidance for using SBR with AAC. It also contains normative tables and informative annexes relevant to implementation.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Codec developers, broadcasters, streaming and multimedia platform engineers, consumer electronics manufacturers, and standards/testing laboratories use this standard to implement and verify interoperable AAC encoders and decoders.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2006 edition (Edition 4) is published and was later reviewed/confirmed in subsequent ISO systematic reviews; the document has amendments and corrigenda (e.g., Amd 1:2007, corrigenda in 2009 and 2010) that modify or correct the 2006 text. Users should check the latest corrigenda/amendments when implementing.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 7 of the ISO/IEC 13818 (MPEG‑2) series, which includes Parts for Systems, Video, Audio, DSM‑CC extensions, conformance and other related components.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: AAC, MPEG‑2, ADIF, ADTS, multichannel audio, SBR, profiles, program configuration, Temporal Noise Shaping, joint stereo, decoder tools.