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USB-IF Publishes Audio Over USB Type-C Specifications (anandtech.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from AnandTech: The USB Implementers Forum this week published the USB Audio Device Class 3.0 (direct download) specification, which standardizes audio over USB Type-C interface. The new spec enables hardware makers to eliminate traditional 3.5mm mini-jacks from their devices and use USB-C ports to connect headsets and other audio equipment. Makers of peripherals can also build their audio solutions, which use USB-C instead of traditional analog connectors. Developers of the standard hope that elimination of mini-jacks will help to make devices slimmer, smarter and less power hungry. As reported, the USB Audio Device Class 3.0 specification supports both analog and digital audio. Analog audio is easy to implement and it does not impact data transfers and other functionality of USB-C cables since it uses the two secondary bus (SBU) pins. The USB ADC 3.0 defines minimum interoperability across analog and digital devices in order to avoid confusion of end-users because of incompatibility. In fact, all ADC 3.0-compliant hosts should support the so-called headset adapter devices, which allow to connect analog headsets to USB-C. However, digital audio is one of the primary reasons why companies like Intel wanted to develop the USB-C audio tech on the first place, hence, expect them to promote it. According to the USB ADC 3.0 standard, digital USB-C headphones will feature special multi-function processing units (MPUs), which will, to a large degree, define the feature set and quality of headsets. The MPUs will handle host and sink synchronization (this is a key challenge for digital USB audio), digital-to-analog conversion, low-latency active noise cancellation, acoustic echo canceling, equalization, microphone automatic gain control, volume control and others. Such chips will also contain programmable amplifiers and pre-amplifiers, which are currently located inside devices. Besides, USB ADC 3.0-compatible MPUs will also support USB Audio Type-III and Type-IV formats (the latest compressed formats), but will retain compatibility with formats supported by ADC 1.0 and 2.0. Finally, among the mandated things set to be supported by USB-C Audio devices are new Power Domains (allows devices to put certain domains in sleep mode when not in use) as well as BADD (basic audio device definition) 3.0 features for saving power and simplified discovery and management of various audio equipment (each type of devices has its own BADD profile).
DRM...
I have had a USB Type A headset since forever, why is this news for Type C?
Now seen as innovative.
I'm sitting here looking at my nice Nexus 5x phone, that has a perfectly good 3.5mm jack on it. If I lose my earbuds, I can walk into most any store and buy absolutely adequate replacements for $10 or less. The Nexus 5 is already so thin that it felt funny in my hand and I had to buy a case for it that makes it thicker.
You think USB-C headphones that "will feature special multi-function processing units (MPUs)" are ever going to be $10?
You are welcome on my lawn.
This is retarded. And USB-C sucks balls.
Stay on topic or die in a fire... Your choice.
Apple: "We're removing the USB jack from our phones. Wait, we never had one? Okay, FINE, we'll remove the Lightning connector, wiseass!"
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
No really, I'm quite happy with my 3.5" port which is on my PC, PS4 controller, ipad (currently....) old spare phone, etc.
Hell, I was trying to figure out how to wire one of these up for my deskphone at my old job
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB... when I worked in a job with a fair few support calls, so I could go from music to phone call, simply by moving a cable and answering the phone.
You could put a 2.5mm jack in there for audio instead of relying upon an 8.4mm x 2.6mm jack which takes up far more actual physical space than even the 3.5mm diameter plug it wants to so badly replace.
Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
from here:
http://ww1.microchip.com/downl...
"The SBU wires are lower speed signal wires that is allocated for Alternate Mode use only. USB Power Delivery is required for Alternate Mode negotiation before these pins may be used for any purpose".
Doesn't sound like headphone power-level or analog to me.
Anybody know the mean time between failure for these plugs (The micro ones)?
I've only had a headphone jack fail once, due to some pocket lint getting in the hole, which I was able to remove.
I've gone through a number of cords and a few devices due to failure of the cord, failure of the female plug, or the female plug becoming so fatigued the solder broke attaching it to the PCB.
The 3.5mm jack is pretty solid when it comes to abuse. I've accidentally broken off USB connectors several times.
It opens a lot of possibilities. Standardised docks, single-connection car charging+audio, powered Bluetooth receivers, that sort of thing. It's a great option to add to our toolset.
But only as an option - not if it means removing the headphone jack too. If it catches on, everyone starts using USB headphones and audio jacks fall out of favour, then we can talk, but it's insane to remove such a popular connector while it's still so wisely-used.
Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
"Developers of the standard hope that elimination of mini-jacks will help to make devices slimmer, smarter and less power hungry."
Less power hungry? Sounds like bullshit. Could someone explain how?
a lightning connector isn't totally bad, because it's the same size but thinner than a headphone jack. but USB-C is a pretty clunky little cable port/connector, twice the width of a headphone connector or lightning connector. it also fits loosely and wiggles really easy, and the connector and port both bend easier.
lightning and headphone jacks by contrast both fit really snuggly and feel secure.
the USB-C port on my LG G5 is already wiggling and wobbly after just a few months light use.
Go fuck yourselves.
Cool story, bro.
I'm confused. Which one is Trump?
Ezekiel 23:20
Why is there this stupid continued push to make phones etc thinner ? ,why can I not yet buy,at any price a mini half decent 7 Inch laptop that happens to have a com's capability built into it as well,I want the mini pcc that it is more than possible to build today,at probably near the same price point as today's flagship phones($1000+ !!) so where is it,ahh vested interests in keeping the status quo for mobile makers and and pc makers..doh,I must be stupid,someone build a device that would sell like there's no tomorrow,but only buy once every three years,Danny,no churn profit from selling g two year old kit in a slightly different shiny body !!,what was I thinking off,a firm with its customers wants as it's driveing principle and not just profit.
Someone give me a good reason why we need/want devices even thinner than the bendable,delicate weak rubbish already available ?
Battery tech is not suddenly going to improve,what ever people keep promising,we have all heard the same promises for over a decade now,we are still using the same battery tech as ten years ago,phones are so thin that they cannot hold decent capacity batteries,they bend, warp,are difficult to hold,vanish into tiny crevices and blow away in strong winds,get pulled about just by the weight of a charge or signal cable etc etc,more functionality from ports is nice,but 98% of folk are perfectly happy with 3.5 mm jacks and at least with 3.5 jacks you can charge etc a device at the same time without having to buy/carry another poxy dongle,to go with all the other un -needed/un-wanted bits,like Ian host dongles etc.
Are the makers now dominated by a user profile idea of twerps with limp wrists in Armani suits who cannot stand the slightest bulge while they pounce about posing in their Indian knock off clothing ?
What is the makers target ? A device 2 mm thick that you aren't ever put down anywhere in case it vanishes in between papers or glitters off like a leaf in the wind ? I just don't understand why this determined push to make phablet sized phones that are so vulnerable you only dare use them with a lanyard attatched to yourself !!!
Everyone seemed to cope ok when phones were an inch thick,weighed 8 ounces,had only mini usb and 3.5 mm jacks but had big fat batteries that lasted 36-48 hours,use out qwerty keyboards and some even a stylus,this push for thinner devices seems to be a huge backward step,I'm all for far more capable devices,but with everything we now slimmer,why does nobody build a device now with a full device sized slide out qwerty ? Why should I have to carry a Bluetooth mini keyboard as well,that sucks more life out of tiny capacity batteries,me,I would love a 6-7 inch device,with full device sized slide out qwerty,a stylus,big fat battery,3.5mm Jack,usb-c connectors,(why stop at one) bloody great aerials to grab lower and lower signal strength from cell towers,Wi-Fi etc,I'm still waiting for a mini laptop that can also make calls,we have multiple x86 capable ultra mini desktop boxes,but none are true laptops,you have to lug keyboards,screens,batters etc
I'm sure there will be loads of derision heaped on me for why not,and lots of tech reasons given,but except for the selling price,I can see no good reason why the above is not possible,except status quo...
Is it really that much trouble to have an extra port or two on a phone? Especially nice if one pooped out for whatever reason...imagine if that became standard.
No mention of vorbis, flac, alac or opus. Great, isn't it?
PCM_IEC60958
AC-3
MPEG-1_Layer1
MPEG-1_Layer2/3 or MPEG-2_NOEXT
MPEG-2_EXT
MPEG-2_AAC_ADTS
MPEG-2_Layer1_LS
MPEG-2_Layer2/3_LS
DTS-I
DTS-II
DTS-III
ATRAC
ATRAC2/3
WMA
E-AC-3
MAT
DTS-IV
MPEG-4_HE_AAC
MPEG-4_HE_AAC_V2
MPEG-4_AAC_LC
DRA
MPEG-4_HE_AAC_SURROUND
MPEG-4_AAC_LC_SURROUND
MPEG-H_3D_AUDIO
AC4
MPEG-4_AAC_ELD
Now before anyone freaks out, keep in mind that there is nothing in the Audio over USB-C spec that requires the device that implements it to not have a headphone jack. Its totally legit for a phone to support this spec and have a headphone jack. In fact, I suspect that most vendors will probably go this route.
Being able to plug your phone in to a single USB-C connector on your car or stereo and have it charge the battery and play music using 1 wire is a nice feature.
Stop looking at it in terms of ease of use, and flexibility. Instead what Apple did is give you a purpose in life, that purpose it running around charging batteries. And its an important purpose, because once a rechargeable has been left at zero for too long, it will never recharge.
And when the battery is built into a device, the device dies.
So you are a giver of life when you keep those rechargeable batteries charged! And now Apple and USB-C mean you have a new battery in your wireless headphones to charge too! A new life to be kept alive.
Who needs Tamagotchi's or babies, when you have devices with rechargeable batteries!
I'm confused. Which one is Trump?
The one that's bright orange, roars and generates a lot of hot air.
Got them moderator blues I blieve I walk out the do', With these mod-points I been gettin', I 'most never post no mo'
Doesn't sound like headphone power-level or analog to me.
Well, son, maybe you should try the specification.
That summary lied to you. HTH, HAND!
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If the same analog audio is delivered, I don't see how it could use less power than a jack socket.
And is it really a complete replacement? Can you still use the cable as an FM antenna?
I have had a USB Type A headset since forever, why is this news for Type C?
Precisely!!! How does a USB device class tell whether a device connected to it uses a Type C slot or a micro-USB slot? If someone made a headset w/ a micro-USB or even a mini-USB connector, rather than a Type C, what would prevent this device from working? I know that this is USB 3.0, but does that deprecate micro-USB and mini-USB? How can it, since USB is supposed to be backward compatible?
Any word on how this might affect / conflict with Overbridge multi-channel audio signal and production / presentation metadata over USB?
It's about DRM
How the fuck do you DRM sound? Seriously, please fucking explain it to me.
At some point the one and zeros have to become voltages to move magnets, connected to diaphragms, which push air. How the fuck do you DRM measuring voltages? Or for that matter air movement?
At the end of the day you can still buy CDs and rip them. Hell, even Apple (Apple!) has not had DRM on the iTunes AAC files since 2009:
* http://www.macworld.com/article/1138000/software-graphics/drm-faq.html
STFU about this already.
In reading the summary I got the impression that they were going to use the low speed data lines on the USB-C connector as analog output lines. That would make more sense to me than defining some new audio device standard. I thought the USB 2 spec contained enough audio device standards to satisfy any kind of headphone setup people might use on a phone, music player, computer, or whatever else someone might expect to find a USB-C port. With USB 2 data pins being a common and required part of any USB-C alternate mode I'd think that creating a device capable of plugging into a USB-C port and providing audio input and/or output would be trivial and essentially a solved problem. USB 2 is certainly capable, as far as I can tell, of providing multiple audio channels with high fidelity without running into issues of bandwidth or power limits. Perhaps I'm missing an important detail.
I never was a big fan of USB. I thought the spec always was second best to competition like FireWire. The lack of peer to peer was a big problem for me. The confusing connectors are such a problem that it's become a joke that nearly everyone in the world would understand, if there is a place in the world with cell phone coverage then people understand the need to flip a USB connector over 3 or 4 times before being able to plug them in right. Power limitations were also a problem from the start, which lead to many interesting non-standard means to address it. USB 3.1 and the USB-C connector fixed a lot of these problems which basically came down to, IMHO, reinventing FireWire.
While the USB people are fixing the problems with the past versions with USB 3 I have to wonder if they aren't creating more problems with their over use of the "alt mode" feature. With so many optional alternate modes I believe that there may be a problem with consumers getting confused with the capability of the ports on their device and what kind of cables, devices, and adapters they need to do what they want to do. There are three different video alternate modes for USB-C right now, DisplayPort/Thunderbolt, MHL, and HDMI/DVI. I can just imagine the frustration people could have in trying to find the right cable and/or display to connect to a device with a USB-C port.
If the USB people are going to make the audio connection capabilities as complicated as the video connection capabilities then they might be making people avoid USB-C because it offers TOO MUCH capability since people won't be sure how to use it. Ports like PS/2, eSATA, VGA, DVI, HDMI, Ethernet, and so on are simple to use and understand because they do one thing, and do them quite well. Trying to stack too much into one port might be great for the computer geek but not so much for a large portion of the public that just want things to work.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
USB 3.1 and the USB-C connector fixed a lot of these problems which basically came down to, IMHO, reinventing FireWire.
So in essence, the current spec is Firewire + USB 2.0 bolted together, because it still needs the old set of pins to stay compatible. It's "universal" because when you glue enough different physical standards together, there's a chance that one of them will fit.
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
I think not.