The reference model architecture for MPEG spatial audio coding

Recently, technologies for parametric coding of multichannel audio signals have received wide attention under the name of "Spatial Audio Coding." In contrast to a fully discrete representation of multichannel sound, these techniques allow for a backward compatible transmission at bit rates only slightly higher than common rates currently used for mono/stereo sound. Motivated by this prospect, the MPEG Audio standardization group started a new work item on Spatial Audio Coding. The paper reports on the reference model zero architecture, as it emerged from the MPEG Call for Proposals (CfP) and the subsequent evaluation of the submissions. The architecture combines the strong features of the two submissions to the CfP that were found best in the evaluation process.