Libdca

{{Lowercase title}} {{Infobox software | name = libdca | logo = | screenshot = | caption = | collapsible = | author = Gildas Bazin | developer = VideoLAN project | released = | latest release version = 0.0.6 | latest release date = {{release date|2018|5|15}} | latest preview version = | latest preview date = | frequently updated = | programming language = C | operating system = Cross-platform | platform = | size = | language = | status = | genre = Library | license = GNU General Public Licence | website = {{URL|http://www.videolan.org/developers/libdca.html}} }}

'''libdca''' (formerly '''libdts''') is a free library for decoding DTS Coherent Acoustics streams. It is released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, and is developed by Gildas Bazin of the VideoLAN team. The library is based on the DTS Coherent Acoustics standard (ETSI 102 114 v1.2.1).

The library used in the VLC media player can decode DTS audio tracks from DVDs. It can also directly decode DTS files (.dts) and DTS-WAV files (.wav). libdca can also decode DTS-ES streams; however, it can only decode the standard 6 channels, as the additional "Extended Surround" extensions (for Matrix and 6.1 Discrete) require ES Extensions to the codec.<ref name="dts-white-paper">{{cite web |url=http://www.dts.com/~/media/B962F033C9254AD4B62ECFC6293C9E86.ashx |title=DTS-HD White Paper (Section 5.1.4) |accessdate=2008-10-30 }}</ref>

libdca comes packaged with a small proof of concept decoder, '''dcadec''' (formerly '''dtsdec'''). This program can decode DTS audio streams into stereo WAV or a single multichannel WAV, which can be played back through the sound card.

The development of libdca was frozen mostly by 2007 (version 0.0.5). The 2018 update (version 0.0.6) only includes changes to the build system.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEWS · master · VideoLAN / libdca |url=https://code.videolan.org/videolan/libdca/blob/master/NEWS |website=GitLab |date=26 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> An unrelated program and library from 2016, also known as '''dcadec''', provides some extra functions, including support for the ES and HD extensions, the 96/24 format, and Master Audio streams. It has since displaced libdca in providing DCA/DTS support as an integral part of ffmpeg.<ref>{{cite web |last1=foo86 |title=DTS Coherent Acoustics decoder with support for HD extensions: foo86/dcadec |url=https://github.com/foo86/dcadec |website=GitHub |accessdate=23 June 2019 |date=24 March 2019}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Free and open-source software}} * Digital Theater System * VLC media player

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.videolan.org/developers/libdca.html libdca Project Homepage] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131023081351/http://pda.etsi.org/pda/queryform.asp ESTI Publications Download Area] - Search for "DTS Coherent Acoustics" for the ETSI standard publication

Category:C (programming language) libraries Category:Free computer libraries Category:Audio libraries