Abstract: Playback by a decoder of a lossy compressed digital media file without quantization gaps is disclosed. The digital media file can be formed of a number of audio samples grouped into a corresponding number of audio frames. As a method, one embodiment can be carried out by identifying an encoder used to compress the digital media file; obtaining an encoder delay value for the identified encoder; obtaining a decoder delay value for the decoder; determining a audio sample count corresponding to a last valid audio sample; setting a re-synchronization after seek option marker N audio frames from the last valid audio sample; and decoding valid audio samples using the encoder delay value, the decoder delay value, and the sample count corresponding to the last valid audio sample.

Abstract: Automatically normalizing a perceived loudness for a digitally encoded audio track formed of a number of channels during playback on a multimedia asset player is described. A number of auditory selectivity frequency bands are selected and for each channel in the track, a power value for each of the number of selectivity frequency bands is computed. Each of the power values is weighted by a sensitivity weighting factor and a sum value of all the weighted power values is then calculated. For the track, a perceived acoustic power value is calculated based upon the sum value for each of the channels and a normalization gain factor based upon the perceived acoustic power is calculated and associated with the track. During playback, the normalization gain factor is applied to the track.

Abstract: Playback by a decoder of a lossy compressed digital media file without quantization gaps, wherein the digital media file is formed of a number of audio samples grouped into a corresponding number of audio frames. As a method, the invention is carried out by identifying an encoder used to compress the digital media file; obtaining an encoder delay value for the identified encoder; obtaining a decoder delay value for the decoder; determining a audio sample count corresponding to a last valid audio sample; setting a re-synchronization after seek option marker N audio frames from the last valid audio sample; and decoding only valid audio samples using the encoder delay value, the decoder delay value, and the sample count corresponding to the last valid audio sample.

Abstract: Automatically normalizing a perceived loudness for a digitally encoded audio track formed of a number of channels during playback on a multimedia asset player is described. A number of auditory selectivity frequency bands are selected and for each channel in the track, a power value for each of the number of selectivity frequency bands is computed. Each of the power values is weighted by a sensitivity weighting factor and a sum value of all the weighted power values is then calculated. For the track, a perceived acoustic power value is calculated based upon the sum value for each of the channels and a normalization gain factor based upon the perceived acoustic power is calculated and associated with the track. During playback, the normalization gain factor is applied to the track.