DELAY SYNCHRONIZATION IN COMPRESSED AUDIO SYSTEMS

The apparatus of the invention eliminates objectionable popping and clicking when switching between conferees in a communications conferencing system employing signal compression techniques to reduce bandwidth requirements. The apparatus operates with the conventional audio decoder of such system, and with its conventional audio encoder of the type employing a look-ahead-buffer in converting a frame of sampled voice or data to a compressed bit stream. The apparatus of the invention employs its own audio decoder and audio encoder in broadcasting the digital signal samples to the various conferees on the system, but its audio encoder is devoid of any look-ahead-buffer, to achieve synchronization and time matching between the audio encoder delay and its relevant bit stream.