Test of audio and video products can be challenging. Traditional analog audio & video products have since years been known to possess a variety of problems. To ensure product quality, skilled test approaches are thus called upon. Problems are frequently a result of a given technology and/or transmission standard. For example, composite video like NTSC and PAL possess many problems now overcome in recent digital HDTV standards.

The advent of digital audio & video products has changed the challenge. Digital technology has simplified or even dismissed a number of traditional problems known from the analog domains. However, at the same time new challenges have emerged - as a result of technology solutions chosen, and as a result of higher demands, e.g. from consumers.

In analog video product testing, traditional static (still image) video analysis of parameters has proven optimal in securing quality (e.g. tests of a range of linear and non-linear problems that may be present). For digital video, such tests have become less of an issue or even at times superfluous by design. On the other hand, digital video transmission and storage build upon compression, which in turn calls upon decompression at the receiving end. Combined with picture improvement algorithms, up- and down scaling, etc. used in modern video equipment, new problems - not previously dominating in older video technologies - may instead occur. Identifying such artifacts requires advanced video streaming tests.

The domain of audio is seeing other challenges in relation to enhancing quality, e.g. compliance to a variety of new digital audio standards, reduced access to content assessment due to proprietary CODECs, electro-acoustic testing challenges, rub & buzz phenomena in many new product designs, etc. In the gray zone between audio and video, lip sync problems haunt the industry, since resulting effects have negative influence on product branding quality pursued by many vendors.

The adaptation to new standards in audio and video frequently calls upon completely restructuring of test strategies. Chamaj Consult has in-depth knowledge of present and emerging challenges in audio video testing, and has followed the transition from analog to digital closely since years. If you are looking for optimal test approaches, best-in-class solutions, have a talk with us. Your efforts will be rewarded