The audio definition model - a flexible standardised representation for next generation audio content in broadcasting and beyond

Audio for broadcasting around the world is evolving towards new immersive and personalized audio formats, which require accompanying metadata along with the audio essence. This paper introduces the Audio Definition Model (ADM), as specified in Recommendation ITU-R BS.2076 (and EBU Tech 3364), which is an XML-based generalized metadata model that can be used to define the required metadata. The ADM is able to describe channel-based, object-based and scene-based audio in a formalized way. The ADM can be incorporated into RIFF/WAV-based files, such as BW64 (Recommendation ITU-R BS.2088), and can therefore be deployed in RIFF/WAV-based applications, handling immersive content, while maintaining compatibility to legacy content. This allows for programme production and exchange of audio programmes in these new audio formats.