Overview of MPEG-Audio. Current and future standards of low bit-rate audio coding

Since 1988 MPEG has been working on the standardization of high quality low bit-rate audio coding. In 1992 and 1994 the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 audio standards have been completed. Current work in MPEG includes the so called "non backwards compatible" (NBC) coding of stereo or multichannel sound material and the audio part of MPEG-4. Common features as well as differences between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 audio, other current audio coding systems currently in use, and the planned work for MPEG NBC and MPEG-4 audio will be presented.