The ADX-3981 can simultaneously process up to 32 channels of audio (16 channels from the embedded audio input plus others generated internally). Functions include downmixing, proc amp, channel shuffling and mixing. Options include automatic loudness control (ALC), dynamic processing (limiter, compressor and expander) and loudness measurement. The ADX-3981 generates audio/video fingerprints (via an iControl option) to detect and measure lip-sync errors in a broadcast facility.

The ADX-3981 has one on-board socket for optional modules, which can offer Dolby decoding, Dolby encoding and stereo upmixing using Linear Acoustic upMAX technology. One other module provides ALC using AEROMAX technology by Linear Acoustic, capable of maintaining constant loudness across different audio programs.