Audio Compression for
Everyone
(Continued from page 6.).

Eric Scheirer, principle author of the MPEG-4 standard, will present an overview of this land- mark audio standard, which was completed in October 1998. MPEG-4 Audio is a new kind of audio standard that integrates many differ- ent types of audio coding: natural sound with synthetic sound, low bitrate delivery with high- quality delivery, speech with music, complex soundtracks with simple ones, and traditional content with interactive and virtual-reality con- tent.

By standardizing individually sophisticated coding tools as well as a novel, flexible framework for audio synchronization, mixing, and downloaded post-production, the develop- ers of the MPEG-4 Audio standard have creat- ed new technology for a new, interactive world of digital audio.