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2009-02-16 printing




AES10-2008
Revision of AES10-2003



AES Recommended Practice
for Digital Audio Engineering
Serial Multichannel Audio Digital
Interface (MADI)





Published by
Audio Engineering Society, Inc.
Copyright 2008 by the Audio Engineering Society

Abstract
This standard describes the data organization for a multichannel audio digital interface. It includes a bit-level
description, features in common with the AES3 two-channel format, and the data rates required for its
utilization. The specification provides for the serial digital transmission of 32, 56, or 64 channels of linearly
represented digital audio data at a common sampling frequency within the range 32 kHz to 96 kHz, having a
resolution of up to 24 bits per channel. The format makes possible the transmission and reception of the
complete 28-bit channel word (excluding preamble) as specified in AES3, providing for the validity, user,
channel status, and parity information allowable under that standard. The transmission format is of the
asynchronous simplex type and is specified for a single 75- coaxial cable point-to-point interconnection or the
use of fibre-optic cables.

An AES standard implies a consensus of those directly and materially affected by its scope and provisions and
is intended as a guide to aid the manufacturer, the consumer, and the general public. The existence of an AES
standard does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether or not he or she has approved the document, from
manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using products, processes, or procedures not in agreement with the
standard. Prior to approval, all parties were provided opportunities to comment or object to any provision.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this AES standard or information document
may be the subject of patent rights. AES shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patents.
Approval does not assume any liability to any patent owner, nor does it assume any obligation whatever to
parties adopting the standards document. Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their
comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting
documentation. This document is subject to periodic review and users are cautioned to obtain the latest printing.

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AES10-2008

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2010-02-19 printing





Contents
0 Patents ......................................................................................................................................................4
1 Scope.........................................................................................................................................................4
2 Normative references.............................................................................................................................4
3 Definitions and abbreviations...............................................................................................................5
4 Format .......................................................................................................................................................6
4.1 Frame format ......................................................................................................................................6
4.2 Channel format ...................................................................................................................................7
4.3 Transmission format...........................................................................................................................9
5 Sampling frequency and data rates...................................................................................................11
5.1 Sampling frequency..........................................................................................................................11
5.2 Link transmission rate ......................................................................................................................11
5.3 Data transfer rate..............................................................................................................................11
6 Synchronization.....................................................................................................................................11
6.1 Sampling frequency synchronizing signal (synchronization signal).............................................12
6.2 Sample timing ...................................................................................................................................12
6.3 Transmitted frame start time............................................................................................................12
6.4 Received frame start time ................................................................................................................12
7 Electrical characteristics .....................................................................................................................12
7.1 Coaxial cable ....................................................................................................................................12
7.2 Fibre optic interfacing.......................................................................................................................15
Annex A (Informative) Example of link encoding...............................................................................16
Annex B (Normative)Use of 4B5B sync symbols for channel-independent data.........................17
B.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................17
B.2 Data insertion ...................................................................................................................................17
Annex C (Informative) Informative references....................................................................................18

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AES10-2008

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2010-02-19 printing



Foreword
[This forward is not part of the AES Recommended Practice for Digital Audio EngineeringSerial
Multichannel Audio Digital Interface (MADI), AES10-2008.]

Foreword to original edition
This document was prepared as a result of a desire by four manufacturers of digital audio equipment to produce
a common interface for serial transfer of digital multichannel audio in recording and broadcast studio
applications. The benefit of such an interface is the simplification of multichannel digital audio equipment
interconnection, commensurate with the obvious possibilities offered by the nature of the digitized audio signal.
Throughout the development of the interface, the following intentions have been adhered to as faithfully as
possible:

The documentation produced by the group shall enter the public domain as soon as feasibility of the interface is
established.
The interface itself shall be simple to engineer and use.
The cost and simplicity of the interface shall be such that the benefits of its use shall be easily justifiable.
The interface shall not depend on the existence of hardware or software the rights to which are owned by
any one or more members of the group.
The following individuals have contributed to the document: P. Eastty, T. Fujisawa, C. Jenkins, A. Jubb, P.
Lidbetter, R. Salter, D. Ward, and J. Wilkinson.

R. A. Finger, chair
AES Standards Committee Working Group on Digital Input/Output Interfacing, 1989 September

Foreword to second edition, 2003
This revision recognizes other uses to which the interface has been put, notably distributed routing and hence
the increase in channels to the maximum of 64 at 48 kHz, the introduction of 96-kHz sampling in digital audio
origination and the use of data transmission in the carrier system.

In this edition, figures 3 through 8 of AES10-1991 have been renumbered to figures 5 through 10. Clauses 2
though 6 of AES10-1991 have been renumbered to clauses 3 through 7, according to IEC guidelines.

This edition has been written by a writing group of SC-02-02. Contributors include R. Caine, C. Travis, R.
Silfvast, and others.

J. Dunn, chair
R. A. Finger, vice-chair
SC-02-02 Working Group on Digital Input/Output Interfacing, 2002-09-23

Foreword to third edition, 2008
This revision includes minor changes to conform to recent revisions of AES3 and AES5 and provides
clarifications of sync reference signals and link transmission-rate tolerance, and references for 'NRZI' and the
4B5B coding scheme. The writing group included: R.Caine, C. Travis, M. Yonge,

J. Grant.
Chair, SC-02-02 Working Group on Digital Input/Output Interfacing, 2008-10-28
Note on normative language
In AES standards documents, sentences containing the word shall are requirements for compliance with the
document. Sentences containing the verb should are strong suggestions (recommendations). Sentences giving
permission use the verb may. Sentences expressing a possibility use the verb can.
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AES10-2008

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2010-02-19 printing






AES Recommended Practice
for Digital Audio Engineering
Serial Multichannel Audio Digital
Interface (MADI)

0 Patents
The Audio Engineering Society draws attention to patents concerning the functionality described in annex B.
Those contemplating making use of this functionality should consider that any such use of sync symbols may
be subject to patents. Applicable patents include GB2276796, US5487067 and JP7015458.

The AES holds no position concerning the evidence, validity and scope of these patent rights.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this AES standard may be the subject of patent
rights other than those identified herein. AES shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
1 Scope
This standard describes the data organization and electrical characteristics for a multichannel audio digital
interface (MADI). It includes a bit-level description, features in common with the two-channel format of the
AES3, AES Recommended Practice for Digital Audio Engineering Serial Transmission Format for Linearly
Represented Digital Audio Data, and the data rates required for its utilization. The specification provides for the
serial digital transmission over coaxial or fibre-optic lines of 28, 56, or 64 channels of linearly represented
digital data at a common sampling frequency within the range of 32 kHz to 96 kHz having a resolution of up to
24 bits per channel. Only single-point to single-point interconnections from one transmitter to one receiver are
supported.
2 Normative references
AES3-1992 (r1997) AES Recommended Practice for Digital Audio Engineering -- Serial transmission format
for two-channel linearly represented digital audio data.

AES11-1997 AES Recommended practice for digital audio engineering Synchronization of digital audio
equipment in studio operations.

ISO/IEC 9314-3 (1990-12) Information processing systems - Fibre Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) - Part 3:
Physical Layer Medium Dependent (PMD). Geneva CH: International Electrotechnical Commission.

IEC 60169-8 (1978-01) Radio-frequency connectors. Part 8: R.F. coaxial connectors with inner diameter of
outer conductor 6.5 mm (0.256 in) with bayonet lock - Characteristic impedance 50 ohms (Type BNC). Geneva
CH: International Electrotechnical Commission.

NOTE 2010-02-19
A new multi-part revision of AES3 was published in 2009. Its technical content is intended to be identical to the
relevant parts of the 2003 edition as amended by Amendment 5 (2008) and Amendment 6 (2008).