(1.1) This standard defines a method of mapping up to eight synchronous streams of AES3-compliant data into a self-clocking serial interface. When used for PCM digital audio, the interface can carry up to 16 channels of linearly encoded audio and auxiliary data. Alternatively or concurrently (within the eight stream limit), the interface may be used to carry streams of compressed audio or other data that is packaged into an AES3- compliant stream. The interface is transparent to any data type that is packaged in an AES3-compliant stream that is synchronous with the multiplex. (1.2) PCM audio sampled at 48 kHz and clock-locked to video is the preferred linear baseband audio representation for studio applications and should be used whenever baseband audio is associated with video that is running at standard frame rates. However, this interface supports any frequency of operation supported by AES3, provided that all of the audio channels and/or all the non-audio (see 3.15) data streams are synchronized to a common clock. Ideally all the audio channels should be audio-synchronous (see 3.5) for guaranteed audio phase coherence. (1.3) This standard is intended to provide a reliable method of distributing multiple co-phased channels of digital audio around a studio without losing the initial relative sample-phase relationship. A mechanism is provided to allow multiple 16-channel streams to be re-aligned after a relative misalignment of up to ± 8 samples. (1.4) This interface is intended to be compatible with the complete range of digital television scanning standards and standard film rates.