Glossary definition of 'Channel Status'

(CS) Status information embedded in an AES3 or S/PDIF digital interface, one bit per channel per sample-period, which accumulate into a 192-bit frame for each channel every 192 sample-periods. The frame is arbitrarily split into many fields of various lengths, with diverse functions as described in the appropriate interface standard document. The definitions of the fields and their meanings are different for 'Consumer' Channel Status (where the first bit of the frame is 0, used in S/PDIF) and 'Professional' Channel Status (where the first bit is 1, used in AES3). Originally conceived to add functionality to digital equipment interconnects, the proliferation of outputs with sloppy Channel Status implementation and inputs which mute if any unexpected Channel Status is received has led, like the Babel Fish, to much entirely unnecessary conflict.