diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index f9ea9542e8c1fc6898caa583ca92c82f17dbbb54..76d7b937aeeda09a8b1c3933cf300b480d75f41a 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ variables:
       - 'default'
       - 'test-be-release'
       - 'test-long-self-test'
+  REF_COMMIT:
+    description: "Ref commit id or ref release tag. To be used by Manual pipelines: 'test-be-release'"
+    value: ''
+  CUT_COMMIT:
+    description: "Cut commit id or cut release tag. To be used by Manual pipeline:'test-be-release'"
+    value: ''
 
 
 default:
@@ -46,7 +52,7 @@ workflow:
         IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Web run pipeline: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'test-be-release'
       variables:
-        IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Test BE to release pipeline: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
+        IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Test BE to release pipeline: $REF_COMMIT vs $CUT_COMMIT'
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'test-long-self-test'
       variables:
         IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Test long self-test against main pipeline: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
@@ -330,7 +336,7 @@ build-codec-instrumented-linux:
   extends:
     - .build-job-linux
     - .rules-basis
-  timeout: "6 minutes"
+  timeout: "7 minutes"
   script:
     - *print-common-info
     - bash ci/build_codec_instrumented_linux.sh
@@ -1168,35 +1174,185 @@ codec-comparison-on-main-push:
 # Manual jobs
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
-test-be-to-release:
+.print-common-info-ref-vs-cut: &print-common-info-ref-vs-cut
+  - |
+    echo "Printing common information for build job."
+    echo "REF_COMMIT: $REF_COMMIT."
+    echo "CUT_COMMIT: $CUT_COMMIT."
+    echo "Current job is run on commit $CI_COMMIT_SHA"
+    echo "Commit time was $CI_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP"
+    date | xargs echo "System time is"
+
+.comparison-setup-codec-ref-vs-cut:
+  &comparison-setup-codec-ref-vs-cut
+    - git checkout $REF_COMMIT
+    - $winoutdata = $null
+    - MSBuild.exe .\Workspace_msvc\Workspace_msvc.sln /property:Configuration=Debug /m | tee -variable winoutdata
+    - $winoutdata | Out-File $BUILD_OUTPUT -Encoding Utf8
+    - mv IVAS_cod.exe IVAS_cod_ref.exe
+    - mv IVAS_dec.exe IVAS_dec_ref.exe
+    - mv IVAS_rend.exe IVAS_rend_ref.exe
+    - mkdir ref_hrtf_bin
+    - cp scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data/* ref_hrtf_bin
+
+    - git checkout $CUT_COMMIT
+    - MSBuild.exe .\Workspace_msvc\Workspace_msvc.sln /property:Configuration=Debug /m | tee -variable winoutdata
+    - $winoutdata | Out-File $BUILD_OUTPUT -Encoding Utf8
+    - mv IVAS_cod.exe IVAS_cod.exe
+    - mv IVAS_dec.exe IVAS_dec.exe
+    - mv IVAS_rend.exe IVAS_rend.exe
+    - mkdir cut_hrtf_bin
+    - cp scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data/* cut_hrtf_bin
+
+    # switch to $CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA where the scripts reside
+    - git checkout $CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+
+.rules-manual-pipeline:
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE =~ 'default'
+
+.rules-test-be-release:
+  extends: .rules-manual-pipeline
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'test-be-release' && $REF_COMMIT && $CUT_COMMIT
+
+test-be-to-release-stereo:
   stage: test
   tags:
-    - ivas-windows
+    - test-be-to-release-windows
   resource_group: ivas-be-to-release-test-resource
-  timeout: "20 minutes"
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'test-be-release'
+  timeout: "22 hours"  # to be reviewed
+  extends:
+    - .rules-test-be-release
   script:
+    - *comparison-setup-codec-ref-vs-cut
+    - mkdir logs
 
-    - echo "$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH"
-    - MSBuild.exe .\Workspace_msvc\Workspace_msvc.sln /property:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=win32 /m | tee -variable winoutdata
-    - $winoutdata | Out-File $BUILD_OUTPUT -Encoding Utf8
-    - ("& python ci/check_for_warnings.py '$BUILD_OUTPUT'") | Invoke-Expression
-    - ("exit $LASTEXITCODE") | Invoke-Expression
+    - mkdir tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\ref
+    - mkdir tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\dut
 
-    # path to release candidate refs defined in config.toml
+    - echo "generate references"
 
-    - echo "Placeholder for BE test to release script"
-    - mkdir logs
+    # use ref hrtf binaries
+    - cp ref_hrtf_bin/* scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data
+
+    # ref encoder stereo
+    - $zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=0
+    - $zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=0
+
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\encoder\test_enc_const_br_stereo.py --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod_ref.exe --update_ref 1 --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_enc_const_br_stereo_ref.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_ref.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_ref.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in stereo enc ref generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_ref.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in stereo enc ref generation"}
+
+    # ref decoder stereo
+    - $zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=0
+    - $zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=0
+
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\decoder\test_dec_const_br_stereo.py --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec_ref.exe --update_ref 1 --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_ref.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_ref.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_ref.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in stereo_stereo dec ref generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_ref.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in stereo_stereo dec ref generation"}
+
+    # use cut hrtf binaries
+    - cp cut_hrtf_bin/* scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data
+
+    # cut encoder stereo
+    - echo "bitstream comparison"
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\encoder\test_enc_const_br_stereo.py --dut_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod.exe --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_enc_const_br_stereo_cut.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_cut.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_cut.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in stereo"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_stereo_cut.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in stereo ref generation"}
+
+    # cut decoder stereo
+    - echo "decoder output comparison | cut decoder stereo"
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\decoder\test_dec_const_br_stereo.py --dut_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec.exe --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_cut.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_cut.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_cut.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in stereo_stereo dec cut generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_stereo_stereo_cut.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in stereo_stereo dec cut generation"}
+
+    - IF($zero_errors_test_enc_const_br -ne 0 -or $zero_errors_test_dec_const_br -ne 0 ) {echo "Errors encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL}
+    - IF($zero_failures_test_enc_const_br -ne 0 -or $zero_failures_test_dec_const_br -ne 0 ) {echo "Errors encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL}
 
   artifacts:
-    name: "test-be-to-release--sha-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA--results"
+    name: "test-be-to-release-stereo--sha-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA--results"
     when: always
     expire_in: 1 week
     paths:
       - logs/
-    expose_as: "test-be-to-release results"
+    expose_as: "test-be-to-release stereo results"
+    reports:
+      junit:
+        - logs/report-junit-*.xml
+
+test-be-to-release-multichannel:
+  stage: test
+  tags:
+    - test-be-to-release-windows
+  resource_group: ivas-be-to-release-test-resource
+  timeout: "22 hours"  # to be reviewed
+  extends:
+    - .rules-test-be-release
+  script:
+    - *comparison-setup-codec-ref-vs-cut
+    - mkdir logs
+
+    - mkdir tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\ref
+    - mkdir tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\dut
+
+    - echo "generate references"
+
+    # use ref hrtf binaries
+    - cp ref_hrtf_bin/* scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data
+
+    # ref encoder multichannel
+    - $zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=0
+    - $zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=0
+
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\encoder\test_enc_const_br_multichannel.py --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod_ref.exe --update_ref 1 --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_ref.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_ref.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
 
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_ref.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in multichannel enc ref generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_ref.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in multichannel enc ref generation"}
+
+    # ref decoder multichannel
+    - $zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=0
+    - $zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=0
+
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\decoder\test_dec_const_br_multichannel.py --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec_ref.exe --update_ref 1 --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_ref.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_ref.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_ref.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in multichannel_multichannel dec ref generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_ref.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in multichannel_multichannel dec ref generation"}
+
+    # use cut hrtf binaries
+    - cp cut_hrtf_bin/* scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data
+
+    # cut encoder multichannel
+    - echo "cut encoder multichannel"
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\encoder\test_enc_const_br_multichannel.py --dut_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod.exe --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_cut.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_cut.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_cut.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in multichannel"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_enc_const_br_multichannel_cut.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_enc_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in multichannel ref generation"}
+
+    # cut decoder multichannel
+    - echo "cut decoder multichannel"
+    - ("& python -m pytest .\tests\codec_be_to_accepted_release\decoder\test_dec_const_br_multichannel.py --dut_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec.exe --reduction_level reduced --html=logs/report-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_cut.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_cut.xml --testcase_timeout 360 ") | Invoke-Expression
+
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_cut.xml -Pattern 'errors="0"')){$zero_errors_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Errors encountered in multichannel_multichannel dec cut generation"}
+    - IF (!(Select-String logs/report-junit-test_dec_const_br_multichannel_multichannel_cut.xml -Pattern 'failures="0"')){$zero_failures_test_dec_const_br=1; echo "Failed tests encountered in multichannel_multichannel dec cut generation"}
+
+    - IF($zero_errors_test_enc_const_br -ne 0 -or $zero_errors_test_dec_const_br -ne 0 ) {echo "Errors encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL}
+    - IF($zero_failures_test_enc_const_br -ne 0 -or $zero_failures_test_dec_const_br -ne 0 ) {echo "Errors encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL}
+
+  artifacts:
+    name: "test-be-to-release-multichannel--sha-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA--results"
+    when: always
+    expire_in: 1 week
+    paths:
+      - logs/
+    expose_as: "test-be-to-release multichannel results"
+    reports:
+      junit:
+        - logs/report-junit-*.xml
 
 test-long-self-test:
   tags:
diff --git a/scripts/tools/Linux/eid-xor b/scripts/tools/Linux/eid-xor
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9d820fff7d84a75839e24c160dbec5ef43799461
Binary files /dev/null and b/scripts/tools/Linux/eid-xor differ
diff --git a/scripts/tools/Win32/eid-xor.exe b/scripts/tools/Win32/eid-xor.exe
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..34bd7ab904e4da13e6306df6315f3150e0919a2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tools/Win32/eid-xor.exe
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:1689409062362bad5ac812e27ba5a9c0211fd16f1c335b53f5081adafe1dc422
+size 66048
diff --git a/tests/codec_be_to_accepted_release/decoder/__init__.py b/tests/codec_be_to_accepted_release/decoder/__init__.py
index 817d2d14bc55bc919a6824a3668fb52beb392c14..7590611fc8a86d28f8134dde2e2adf8d2ea111c4 100644
--- a/tests/codec_be_to_accepted_release/decoder/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/codec_be_to_accepted_release/decoder/__init__.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ the United Nations Convention on Contracts on the International Sales of Goods.
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
+import platform 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import Union
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -140,9 +141,25 @@ def get_bitstream_and_options(
         bitstream_out = Path(tmp_dir).joinpath(bitstream.stem + f".{processing}.192")
         if processing == BS_PROC_FER_15:
             ep_path = TESTV_PATH.joinpath("ltv_ep_015.192")
+            
+            # get the pathname to the eid-xor tool respecting the running platform
+            if platform.system() == "Windows":
+                eid_xor_binary = [
+                    HERE.joinpath(
+                        "../../scripts/tools/Win32/eid-xor.exe"
+                    )
+                ]
+            elif platform.system() in ["Linux", "Darwin"]:
+                eid_xor_binary = [
+                    HERE.joinpath(
+                        "../../scripts/tools/Linux/eid-xor"
+                    )
+                ]
+            else:
+                assert False, f"eid-xor not available for {platform.system()}"
+            
             cmd = [
-                # TODO: adapt for windows
-                "eid-xor",
+                str(eid_xor_binary),
                 "-fer",
                 "-vbr",
                 str(bitstream),
@@ -156,10 +173,26 @@ def get_bitstream_and_options(
                 "../../scripts/dly_error_profiles/dly_error_profile_5.dat"
             )
             tracefile_path = Path(tmp_dir).joinpath(bitstream_out.with_suffix(".trace"))
-            # TODO: adapt for windows
+            
+            # get the pathname to the networkSimulator_g192 tool respecting the running platform
+            if platform.system() == "Windows":
+                networkSimulator_g192_binary = [
+                    HERE.joinpath(
+                        "../../scripts/tools/Win32/networkSimulator_g192.exe"
+                    )
+                ]
+            elif platform.system() in ["Linux", "Darwin"]:
+                networkSimulator_g192_binary = [
+                    HERE.joinpath(
+                        "../../scripts/tools/Linux/networkSimulator_g192"
+                    )
+                ]
+            else:
+                assert False, f"networkSimulator_g192 not available for {platform.system()}"
+            
             # TODO: get number of frames per packet from error profile name
             cmd = [
-                "networkSimulator_g192",
+                str(networkSimulator_g192_binary),
                 str(dly_profile_path),
                 str(bitstream),
                 str(bitstream_out),