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DSDIFF, Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format, Version 1.5
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Format Description Properties
• ID: fdd000245
• Short name: DSDIFF_1_5
• Content categories: sound
• Format category: file format
• Last significant update: 2006-08-30
• Draft status: full
Identification and description 
| Full name | Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format, DSDIFF, Version 1.5 |
| Description |
Format for the storage or exchange of one-bit delta sigma modulated audio, often called Direct Stream Digital, or for the losslessly compressed version called Direct Stream Transfer (DST).
As of 2006, delta sigma modulation is almost exclusively disseminated
to endusers on the tangible media format called Super Audio CDs (SACDs),
developed by SONY in association with Philips. The DSDIFF_1_5 file format
is used by music producers to store DSD content or to deliver it "to
the label" for reproduction on SACDs. |
| Relationship to other formats | |
| Subtype of | IFF, IFF (EA Interchange File Format 1985) |
| May contain | DSD, One-bit Delta Sigma Audio Encoding |
| May contain | DST, Direct Stream Transfer format for lossless encoded DSD audio, not documented at this Web site |
| May contain | Marker information, in what is called a Time File, use to support certain editorial or production workflows, not documented at this Web site |
Local use
| LC experience or existing holdings | None, although the collections of the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division include SACDs. |
| LC preference | For waveform sound in file form: WAVE_LPCM_BWF or WAVE_LPCM. |
Sustainability factors
| Disclosure | Developed by Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands. |
| Documentation | Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format, DSDIFF, Version 1.5 (2004). This specification and Recommended Usage of DSDIFF Version 1.5 are linked from this Philips Web page. |
| Adoption | Adoption of file version unknown. |
| Licensing and patent claims | Not investigated. |
| Transparency | Transparent wrapper. DSD bitstream is relatively transparent; DST is likely to be less so. |
| Self-documentation | See IFF. |
| External dependencies | Not investigated. |
| Technical protection considerations | None indicated in specification. |
Quality and functionality factors (sound)
| Normal rendering | Details unknown; this is a very specialized format for professional producers. |
| Fidelity (support for high audio resolution) | See DSD |
| Support for multiple sound channels | DSDIFF_1_5
files can be structured for 2 channels or for "5- or 6-channels"
(presumably for 5.1 mixes). SACDs may contain a 2-channel stereo mix, a surround mix (usually the 5.1 layout), or both. |
| Support for downloadable or user-defined sounds, samples, and patches | Not applicable |
| Functionality beyond normal sound rendering | Not fully investigated. DSDIFF_1_5 files can be divided into ten Division Files to overcome size limits imposed by some operating systems. |
File type signifiers
| Tag type | Value | Note |
| Filename Extension | dff | Indicated in Recommended Usage, p. 16 |
| Filename Extension | dft | For a DSDIFF_1_5 Time File; see Recommended Usage, p. 18 |
| Filename Extension | dfn (n is an integer from 0 to 9) | For a DSDIFF_1_5 Division Files, not to exceed ten in number; see Recommended Usage, p. 16 |
| Internet Media Type | None found | Comments welcome |
| Magic Numbers | None found | Comments welcome |
Notes
Format specifications
URLs
• Philips Web page with links to Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format, DSDIFF, Version 1.5 (2004) and and Recommended Usage of DSDIFF Version 1.5 (http://www.licensing.philips.com/information/sacd/documents1237.html)
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Useful references
URLs
• Support KnowledgeBase from Sonic Studio. Sonic Studio is responsible for future development of DSD and SACD, having acquired the complete portfolio of products and services from the ProTECH subsidiary of Philips. (http://www.sonicstudio.com/support/kbase.html)
• See also DSD
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Last Updated: 03/ 7/2007
