LC3 coding will have a profound impact on the next generation audio coding market

For more than 30 years, Fraunhofer IIS's Audio and Media Technology division has helped to shape global standards and technologies in the fields of audio and motion picture production. From the creation of the mp3 to the co-development of AAC and the Digital Cinema Initiative test program, a wide range of consumer electronic devices, computers and mobile phones use systems and technologies from Fraunhofer IIS.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Markus Schnell, head of the Low Latency Audio Coding Group at Fraunhofer IIS, about the impact of the new Low Complexity Communication Codec (LC3) on the next generation of Bluetooth LE Audio.

Below is a detailed Q&A with Markus Schnell

Q: What motivated you to get involved in the development of the audio specification?

Markus Schnell: I lead the technical team that develops LC3 audio. The Bluetooth technology standard makes it easy to connect devices wirelessly, but Bluetooth Classic audio is not without limitations. We participated in the hearing aid subgroup of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), worked with Ericsson to develop LC3, and worked closely with Bluetooth SIG members.

Q: What is the difference in quality between LC3 and SBC?

Markus Schnell: In terms of voice services, LC3 will upgrade Bluetooth headsets to the latest state-of-the-art audio quality, which is already being deployed in HD Voice+ VoLTE networks. The introduction of the Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) standard audio codec has brought a new level of voice and audio quality to mobile services. This level can now also be provided through Bluetooth accessories.

For music, LC3 solves two fundamental quality challenges: all audio can be transmitted with excellent quality, and it reduces data rates by 50%, thereby extending battery life or enabling the development of smaller devices.

Q: What market challenges will LE Audio help address?

Markus Schnell: All LE Audio headsets/voice devices will mandate super wideband (SWB) quality and be compatible with HD voice+. This gives consumers a good reason to buy new LE Audio devices. As more and more mobile networks support SWB, people using Skype, Facetime or any regular mobile phone calls will be able to feel the difference between previous generation devices and the new LE Audio.

Q: What is the importance of a standard and how will LE Audio help further interoperability and enable scale in the audio market?

Markus Schnell: In the past, to overcome the limitations of the SBC codec, vendors tended to develop their own proprietary audio codecs and Bluetooth transmission profiles. Regarding interoperability, this meant that consumers needed to buy their mobile phones and Bluetooth® headsets or headphones from the same vendor to ensure optimal performance. With LE Audio and LC3, vendors can switch back to standardized solutions, which opens up the market for manufacturers of playback devices.

Q: When will LE Audio products and solutions be available on the market?

Markus Schnell: I see that many companies are currently preparing LC3 implementations for the market and I am very much looking forward to buying my first LE Audio high-quality headphones to support LC3, hopefully next year.