Linear PCM is uncompressed (lossless) digital audio, the same format used on CDs, Digital Betacam and most studio masters.
It is the popular way to encode audio for stereo.
It can be sampled at 48 or 96 or 192 kHz with 16, 20, or 24 bits/sample (Audio CD is limited to 44.1 kHz at 16 bits.).
There can be from 1 to 8 channels. The maximum bit rate is 6.144 Mbps, which limits sample rates and bit sizes when there are 5 or more channels.
It's generally felt that the 120 dB dynamic range of 20 bits combined with a frequency response of around 22,000 Hz from 48 kHz sampling is adequate for high-fidelity sound reproduction. |
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However, additional bits and higher sampling rates are useful in audiophile applications DVD Audio / SACD , studio work, noise shaping, advanced digital processing, and three-dimensional sound field reproduction.
DVD players are required to support all the variations of LPCM, but many subsample 96 kHz down to 48 kHz, and some may not use all 20 or 24 bits. The signal provided on the digital output for external digital-to-analog converters may be limited to less than 96 kHz and less than 24 bits.
All DVD players can playback PCM audio. For any PCM audio encoding questions please contact client services for more information. |
