More news today on SNIC. Hasn't done much for the stock, but that was "yesterdays" play as I have been told. Long term on this board is 4 hours!
Sonic and Sony Team to Develop World's First Multi-Channel Direct Stream Digital Editing System; SonicStudio HD-DSD First To Enable Super Audio CD Production
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 1999--Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq:SNIC) announced today at the Audio Engineering Society Convention (AES), that it plans to introduce the world's first digital audio workstation based on Sony's new Direct Stream Digital(TM) (DSD) technology.
The new system, SonicStudio HD-DSD(TM), is being developed in cooperation with Sony Corporation and will provide the recording industry with a tool to master in the new Super Audio CD format.
"The early DSD editing systems Sonic introduced in 1998 were used to support this year's very successful launch of Super Audio CD," said Robert Doris, President of Sonic Solutions. "Now, in close collaboration with Sony, Sonic is extending DSD and Super Audio CD to deliver DSD audio in full surround. Based on Sonic's advanced HDSP technology, the new SonicStudio HD-DSD systems push the envelope of recording technology with the ultimate in high-resolution and multi-channel sound."
SonicStudio HD-DSD combines Sonic's powerful HDSP audio array processor with Sony's custom-developed DSD technology - embodied in a CXD-2750Q processor chip - to deliver four edited channels of DSD audio (two board sets are used to provide eight-channel surround). Using an advanced, PCM-sampled, proxy audio technique for functions such as screen display, SonicStudio HD-DSD provides mastering engineers with the capability to record, edit and audition the 64x-oversampled one-bit DSD signal (2.8224MHz) in real-time with the speed, precision and ease-of-use that have made SonicStudio the standard for CD premastering.
"We are delighted to be working with Sonic Solutions, an acknowledged leader in audio disc premastering systems," said David Kawakami, Director, Corporate Strategy for Sony Electronics. "Sonic assisted greatly in the successful launch of Super Audio CD earlier this year by providing early versions of its DSD editing systems to support preparation of the first Super Audio CD titles. We look forward to the introduction of the SonicStudio HD-DSD system which will accelerate the adoption of DSD technology and the Super Audio CD format."
SonicStudio HD-DSD provides a full range of premastering capabilities, including editing of DSD programs, application of automated EQ and gain changes, mixing of DSD channels, and down-conversion into PCM audio, as well as standard machine control, and interface functions. It also supports the direct transfer of edited DSD streams directly to SACD authoring systems. Sonic expects commercial deliveries of SonicStudio HD-DSD workstations to begin next year.
About Direct Stream Digital
Direct Stream Digital uses an oversampled, delta-sigma-modulated analog-to-digital converter to generate a 64fs one-bit signal (2.8224Mhz), a rate chosen as a simple multiple of the most common PCM sample rate used for CD recordings, 44.1kHz. In most current-day conventional PCM systems, analog audio is first converted to digital by 64x oversampling delta-sigma modulation. The resulting one-bit digital stream is then immediately decimated into a multi-bit PCM code. Direct Stream Digital records the one-bit pulse directly, without decimation. This approach eliminates several intermediate steps in the signal flow, yielding better fidelity and extending the frequency response beyond 100kHz. DSD technology is used for the SACD format in addition to being a high-resolution archiving format.
About Super Audio CD
Super Audio Compact Disc is a next-generation audio format developed by Philips and Sony to take advantage of Direct Stream Digital technology while maintaining compatibility with existing CD players. The Super Audio CD format supports a hybrid disc consisting of two layers - one layer containing the DSD audio data while the other contains standard Red Book CD audio. The DSD layer can contain two audio areas: the first stores two channels of stereo audio, while the second stores up to six channels of audio for surround DSD programs. SACD supports a playing time of 74 minutes and also provides support for supplementary data that is synchronous with audio. The 1.0 version of the SACD specification book (Scarlet Book) is available from Philips.
About SonicStudio HD
SonicStudio HD is the latest version of SonicStudio - the most widely used digital audio workstation for CD premastering, and also provides the foundation for DVD Creator AV, the world's only completely-integrated system for DVD-Audio and DVD-Video title production. SonicStudio HD consists of a high-performance HDSP audio array processor, digital and analog I/O and converters, and a powerful suite of applications for recording, editing, processing and formatting digital audio. SonicStudio is used today by major record labels, recording studios and mastering houses to premaster more than two out of every three commercially released CDs. SonicStudio users have consistently won Grammy, Emmy and Oscar awards for their exceptional sound work.
About Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC)
Based in Marin County, California, Sonic Solutions designs and manufactures DVD publishing systems used by video, audio and multimedia professionals around the world to prepare music, video, film, graphics and entertainment software. Sonic DVD Creator and DesktopDVD are the leading systems for producing content for the DVD format, and have been used to create thousands of DVD titles worldwide, for applications ranging from feature film releases to corporate and industrial titles. Sonic Solutions' SonicStudio is the leading digital audio workstation used by audio professionals to prepare recorded sound for release on DVD and CD, as well as for film and video soundtracks and broadcast. Sonic is a leader in advancing DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technology and is a full voting-member of the DVD Forum, the standards-setting body for the DVD format. Sonic Solutions can be contacted on the web at: sonic.com.
Sonic, Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, High-density Audio, SonicStudio and MultiMaster are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications, pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.
The above paragraphs of this press release contain forward looking statements that are based upon current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties including, among others, the timely introduction and acceptance of new products, costs associated with new product introductions, the transition of products to new hardware configurations and platforms and other factors, including those discussed in the Company's annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results.
CONTACT:
Sonic Solutions
Paul Lefebvre, 415/893-8000
paul-lefebvre@sonic.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA NEW YORK |
