# Perceptual Audio Coding: A 40-Year Historical Perspective

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.16223 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.16223/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 19 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 22 Apr 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [HE-NAC: High-Efficiency Neural Audio Coding via Hierarchical and Residual Multi-Band Quantization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.15243/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In the history of audio and acoustic signal processing, perceptual audio coding has certainly excelled as a bright success story by its ubiquitous deployment in virtually all digital media devices, such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, set-top-boxes, and digital radios. From a technology perspective, perceptual audio coding has undergone tremendous development from the first very basic perceptually driven coders (including the popular mp3 format) to today's full-blown integrated coding/rendering systems. This paper provides a historical overview of this research journey by pinpointing the pivotal development steps in the evolution of perceptual audio coding. Finally, it provides thoughts about future directions in this area.