BS 6840-18

BRITISH STANDARD BS 6840-18:
1996
IEC 268-18:
1995
Sound system
equipment —
Part 18: Peak programme level meters.
Guide for digital audio level meter
ICS 17.140.50; 33.160.30

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Copyright British Standards Institution

Provided by IHS under license with BSI
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale
BS 6840-18:1996
Committees responsible for this

British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by Technical

Committee EPL/100, Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment, to
Subcommittee EPL/100/3, Equipment and systems in the field of audio, video
and audiovisual engineering, upon which the following bodies were
represented:
Association of British Theatre Technicians

Audio Engineering Society
British Broadcasting Corporation
British Educational Suppliers Association
British Federation of Audio
British Radio and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers’ Association
British Telecommunications plc
Federation of the Electronics Industry
Independent Television Association (ITVA)
Institute of Sound and Communication Engineers
Institution of Electrical Engineers
International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers
Professional Lighting and Sound Association
Royal National Institute for Deaf People
Royal Institute of British Architects
Society of Cable Television Engineers
This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Electrotechnical
Sector Board, was published
under the authority of the
Standards Board and
comes into effect on
15 July 1996 Amendments issued since publication
© BSI 07-1999 Amd. No. Date Comments
The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference EPL/100/3
Draft for comment 90/28744 DC
ISBN 0 580 26108 5
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BS 6840-18:1996
Contents
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Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Introduction 1
1 General 1
1.1 Scope 1
1.2 Reference documents 1
2 Characteristics to be specified 1
2.1 Reference indication 1
2.2 Delay time 1
2.3 Return time 1
2.4 Other characteristics 1
3 Operating conditions 1
3.1 Temperature range 1
3.2 Supply voltage 1
4 Display 1
4.1 Display form 1
4.2 Display scale 2
4.3 Precision of indication 2
4.4 Peak level and indicated value 2
4.5 Other indications 2
5 Interface 2
Annex A (informative) Other characteristics 3
Annex B (informative) Reading of meter indication and scale
marking of an incremental display 3
Annex C (informative) Relation between signal processing
precision and the indicating precision 4
Annex D Typical block diagram of a digital audio peak level meter 5
Figure B.1 — Reading of meter indication 3
Figure B.2 — Scale marking of an incremental display 4
Figure D.1 — Typical block diagram of a digital audio peak
level meter 5
Table C.1 — Relation between signal processing precision and
indicating precision 4
List of references Inside back cover

© BSI 07-1999 i
BS 6840-18:1996
National foreword
This Part of BS 6840 has been prepared by Subcommittee EPL/100/3 and is

identical with IEC 268-18:1995 Sound system equipment — Part 18: Peak
programme level meters — Digital audio peak level meter, published by the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
IEC 268-18:1995 is a technical report type 3, which is collected data of a different
kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, and
does not necessarily have to be reviewed until the data it provides is considered
to be no longer valid or useful.
BS 6840 consists of the following Parts:
— Part 1: Methods for specifying and measuring general characteristics used
for equipment performance;
— Part 2: Glossary of general terms and calculation methods;
— Part 3: Methods for specifying and measuring the characteristics of sound
system amplifiers;
— Part 4: Methods for specifying and measuring the characteristics of
microphones;
loudspeakers;
— Part 6: Methods for specifying and measuring the characteristics of auxiliary
passive elements;
headphones and earphones;
automatic gain control devices;
— Part 9: Methods for specifying and measuring the characteristics of artificial
reverberation time delay and frequency shift equipment;
— Part 10: Methods for specifying and measuring the characteristics of peak
programme level meters;
— Part 11: Specification for application of connectors for the interconnection of
sound system components;
— Part 12: Specification for application of connectors for broadcast and similar
use;
— Part 13: Guide for tests on loudspeakers;
— Part 14: Guide for circular and elliptical loudspeakers; outer frame
diameters and mounting dimensions;
— Part 15: Specification for matching values for the interconnection of sound
system components;
— Part 16: Guide to the “RASTI” method for the objective rating of speech
intelligibility in auditoria;
standard volume indicators;
— Part 18: Peak programme level meters. Guide for digital audio peak level
meter.
Cross-references
Publication referred to Corresponding British Standard
IEC 268.10:1991 BS 6840 Sound system equipment
(HD 483.10 S1:1993) Part 10:1991 Methods for specifying and measuring the
characteristics of peak programme level meters
(Identical)
IEC 958:1989 BS EN 60958:1995 Specification for digital audio
interface
(EN 60958:1990) (Identical)
ii © BSI 07-1999
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BS 6840-18:1996
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
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Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.
© BSI 07-1999
iii
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ivBritish Standards Institution

Copyright
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BS 6840-18:1996
Introduction 2 Characteristics to be specified

Digital processing of audio signals is a common 2.1 Reference indication
practice in the music industry, in audio equipment The reference indication is the indication
for consumer use and in broadcasting. It is corresponding to the full-scale level of the circuit to
necessary to monitor overload in digital sections which the indicator is connected. The indication on
after A/D conversion as well as overload in analogue the scale shall be marked 0 in terms of decibels (dB).
sections in such digital equipment. The overload in
a digital section, even if it occurs only 2.2 Delay time
instantaneously, produces very annoying distortion The delay time is the time interval between the
effects which cannot be compensated by level application of the reference input signal and the
adjustment in a later section. Accordingly, check moment when the indicator passes a point 1 dB
and measurement of the peak levels of both below reference indication. This may include the
analogue and digital signals is an essential function time delay which occurs in the electronic circuit as a
of a digital audio system such as a digital audio result of signal processing.
mixer or a digital audio recorder. The delay time shall be less than 150 ms.
The indication of peak level of an analogue signal 2.3 Return time
can be carried out by means of an analogue peak
programme meter which is already standardized in The return time is the time interval between the
IEC 268-10. It is necessary to study a method to removal of a steady-state input signal (normally
check, measure and to indicate the peak level of corresponding to the reference indication) and the
digital signals because such a standard has not moment when the indication passes a specified
previously been developed since digital equipment lower threshold of the scale. The return time shall
came on the market. It may be stated that the peak be 1,7 s ± 0,3 s if the lower point is 20 dB below
level of an analogue signal can also be measured by reference indication. The return speed should be
simply adding an A/D converter in front of such a approximately constant. On instruments intended
digital audio peak level meter. The indicated peak for monitoring multichannel programmes, the
level in fix case may be slightly different from its difference in return time should be less than 0,1 s.
true value; however, the accuracy of this method is When the maximum level is indicated on a
sufficient for all practical purposes. numerical indicator or in a special mode of the
In accordance with these considerations, this incremental display, the hold time shall
technical report offers specifications for the be 1,0 s ± 0,5 s.
characteristics and performance of a peak digital NOTE If the maximum peak value of the programme is to be
coding level indicator, intended to measure the peak held until it is manually reset, the indicator does not have to
conform to the return time requirements.
level of a digital signal at any desired point of a
digital audio signal system. 2.4 Other characteristics
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See Annex A.
1 General
1.1 Scope 3 Operating conditions
This technical report describes a digital audio peak 3.1 Temperature range
level indicator for professional and consumer use to The coding level meter shall function in a
indicate the peak levels of sampled and quantized temperature range between 0 °C and + 50 °C.
audio signals. 3.2 Supply voltage
The purpose of this technical report is to establish a
The supply voltage to a meter shall be clearly
basic plan for standards development concerning
identified.
the characteristics to be specified and the relevant
methods of measurement for a digital audio peak
4 Display
level meter.
4.1 Display form
1.2 Reference documents
IEC 268-10:1991, Sound system equipment — Incremental dot or bar type displays or numerical
displays shall be used. They are used individually or
Part 10: Peak programme level meters.
in combination (including selectable display by a
IEC 958:1989, Digital audio interface. switch). The type of display should be clearly
identified.

© BSI 07-1999 1
BS 6840-18:1996
NOTE Numerical indicators normally indicate the margin 4.5 Other indications
(headroom) in decibels from the digital full-scale level of 0 dB. On
the other hand, they are permitted to indicate codes or When the input signal is pre-emphasized, the
percentages of voltage values or decibels referred to 0,775 V indication does not correctly correspond to the
(dBu) of the input analog signals, etc. sound level. If the presence of pre-emphasis is
4.2 Display scale flagged in the input data stream, a clear display
The full-scale indication of a display shall be 0. An shall inform the user that the signal being
example of an incremental bar type display is monitored is pre-emphasized. Alternatively, a
provided in Annex B. de-emphasis circuit may be employed prior to level
indication; in this case it shall be clearly indicated
In the case of numerical indicators, two types of
that the indicator is de-emphasizing the signal
display scales are recommended. The high precision
being monitored.
type display shall have three digits (two digits
before the decimal point and one digit after the
5 Interface
decimal point, excluding negative sign display) with
a maximum resolution of 0,1 dB. The low precision The interface to a digital audio peak level meter
type display shall have two digits (two digits before shall conform to IEC 958.
the decimal point, excluding negative sign display) Excluded from this requirement is the case where
with a maximum resolution of 1 dB. The type of the meter is incorporated in digital sound system
display shall be clearly indicated. equipment.
NOTE When another scale is used for the indication, the
relation between indicated 0 dB on the scale and the reference
level (full-scale level) shall be indicated beside the display.
4.3 Precision of indication
The precision shall be specified at the high range
levels (0 to – 20 dB) and at the low range levels
(below – 20 dB).
NOTE As the precision of indication is determined theoretically
by the precision of the signal processing and scaling, the
calculated precision value should be clearly marked
(see Annex C).
4.4 Peak level and indicated value
In the case of numerical indicators, the indication
shall be 0 for the input signal corresponding to the
reference level. Whenever the input level is lowered,
the indicated value shall be maintained until the
input signal level becomes the next lower indication
level. The same relation applies to all levels which
can be indicated.
In the case of incremental indicators, the next lower
level element and below shall be lit until the peak
input level reaches the level to be indicated. The
peak indication element shall be lit only when the
input signal level reaches the indicated value.
2
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© BSI 07-1999
BS 6840-18:1996
Annex A (informative)
Other characteristics
Digital level meters which do not include any mechanical part, do not produce an error of integration time,
overswing, or amplitude-frequency response with a practical significance. In spite of this fact, permitted
values of these characteristics are provided here to match the form of this report to the form of IEC 268-10.
A.1 Integration time
The duration of a burst of a 5 kHz sinusoidal signal at reference level, which results in an indication 2 dB
below reference indication. It shall be less than 5 ms.
A.2 Overswing
The transient overshoot of the indication after a 1 000 Hz input signal, which would result in – 10 dB
steady-state indication, has been applied.
A.3 Amplitude-frequency response
The difference, expressed in decibels, between the indicated level and the input level as a function of
frequency, referred to the value at a specified frequency, preferably 1 000 Hz.
It shall be within ± 0,5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. However, a response irregularity may occur at specific
frequencies related to the sampling frequency. The requirement therefore does not apply at these
exceptional frequencies.
The amplitude-frequency response shall be measured at a level which realizes the highest resolution on the
indication scale.
Annex B (informative)
Reading of meter indication and scale marking of an incremental display
Figure B.1 — Reading of meter indication
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© BSI 07-1999
3
BS 6840-18:1996
Figure B.2 — Scale marking of an incremental display
Annex C (informative)
Relation between signal processing precision and the indicating precision
The relation between the signal processing precision and the indicating precision is given in Table C.1.
Table C.1 — Relation between signal processing precision and indicating precision
Number of upper bits Indication precision
in processing absolute value codes
(bits) level Near maximum level Minimum
dB dB
8 0,034 – 48,2
9 0,017 – 54,2
10 0,008 – 60,2
11 0,004 – 66,2
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12 0,002 – 72,2
13 0,001 – 78,3
14 0,0005 – 84,3
15 0,0003 – 90,3
16 0,00013 – 96,3
17 0,000066 – 102,4
n
n 20 log10 (1 + 1/2 ) 20 log10 (1 + 1/2n)
NOTE The number of bits shows the number of significant bits after conversion from 2’s complement code to absolute value codes.
In the absolute value code, MSB is not a level information bit, but a sign bit. Therefore, in the 16-bit system, 15 bits (excluding the
MSB) determine the dynamic range of the level indication.
This annex gives the results of fixed point processing, not floating point processing, and applies only to
a 16-bit system. Data for a system involving other than a 16-bit system may be obtained by calculation.
4 © BSI 07-1999
Annex D (informative)
© BSI 07-1999
Typical block diagram of a digital audio peak level meter

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BS 6840-18:1996
Figure D.1 — Typical block diagram of a digital audio peak level meter
5

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6
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BS 6840-18:1996
List of references
See national foreword.
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© BSI 07-1999
BS 6840-18:
1996
IEC 268-18: BSI — British Standards Institution
1995
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British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
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BRITISH STANDARD BS 6840-18:

ICS 17.140.50; 33.160.30

Copyright British Standards Institution

Committees responsible for this

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by Technical

Association of British Theatre Technicians

This British Standard, having

© BSI 07-1999 Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

ISBN 0 580 26108 5

Copyright British Standards Institution

Copyright British Standards Institution

This Part of BS 6840 has been prepared by Subcommittee EPL/100/3 and is

Copyright British Standards Institution

ivBritish Standards Institution

Introduction 2 Characteristics to be specified

Copyright British Standards Institution

Figure B.1 — Reading of meter indication

Figure B.2 — Scale marking of an incremental display

Typical block diagram of a digital audio peak level meter

Copyright British Standards Institution

See national foreword.

British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of

In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the

BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and

Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments

If permission is granted, the terms may include royalty payments or a licensing

Copyright British Standards Institution

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