Analog Devices' New Audio CODEC Increases Sound Quality and Lowers System Cost For PCs
--AD1981 CODEC sets new benchmark for cost, size, sound quality and manufacturing ease for universal commercial/consumer PC motherboards
NORWOOD, Mass., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI - news), a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, today unveiled the AD1981, a new AC'97-compatible audio CODEC that allows PC OEMs, motherboard manufacturers and notebook manufacturers to design higher quality PC audio subsystems at a substantially lower cost than previous AC'97 designs. Designed to address the PC manufacturers' need for universal motherboard platforms in commercial and consumer product lines, the AD1981 provides legacy operating system compatibility in commercial and consumer PCs and allows manufacturers flexibility in tuning audio subsystems for specific speakers or acoustic conditions. The AD1981 can be configured in software to improve the sound quality in all-in-one PCs, notebooks and desktop PCs bundled with inexpensive speakers, enhancing the user's acoustic experience with PC music, games, DVD movies and conferencing applications. In addition, this newest member in ADI's family of audio CODECs, the AD1981 is a featured component of SoundMAX®, a low-cost, integrated audio solution that surpasses the functionality of premium sound cards.
``The AD1981 was developed in direct response to our customers' demand for higher quality and lower cost audio systems on universal motherboards,'' said John Croteau, product line director, Computer Products and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. ``No other audio CODEC provides the combination of integrated digital audio processing and legacy compatibility for consumer and commercial PCs with such an attractive cost structure.''
About the AD1981
The AD1981 alters the historical tradeoff between design cost and audio quality by providing a high-power CODEC with software-configurable parametric speaker equalization (EQ) in a single 48-pin package. It facilitates system- level cost savings through speaker cost reduction by digitally compensating for acoustic limitations; thus, once configured by the designer, it can make even inexpensive speakers deliver premium sound. The CODEC's integrated phase-locked loop, power regulator and microphone pre-amp remove more than $.50 in external components and $1.00 or more per unit of EQ circuitry. The AD1981 also features S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital InterFace) output for connection to audio/video receivers and digital speakers. In addition, the AD1981 comes with an intuitive graphical programming tool that allows motherboard designers and OEMs to set center frequency, bandwidth, and in-band attenuation, configuring audio performance to meet system specifications.
Core Technology of SoundMAX PC Audio Subsystem
Residing on the PC's motherboard or on a Communications Network Riser (CNR) soundcard, SoundMAX consists of high-performance hardware CODECs such as the AD1981, with features such as hardware sample rate conversion (SRC), professional quality 94-dB playback and now, digital hardware speaker equalization (EQ). SoundMAX software includes Windows® device drivers and applications that supports 3D audio, Microsoft® DirectX(TM) 8.0, EAX, A3D, unlimited voice DLS-2 wavetable, 5.1 virtual theater surround, CNR multi- channel output options, and SPX ``audio animation'' technologies. Based on physical and event modeling algorithms, SPX ``audio animation'' consists of a new class of audio rendering technologies that provide immersive and hyper- realistic sound effects based on user input.
Pricing and Availability
The AD1981 is currently sampling and is slated to ship in January 2002. Pricing in OEM quantities starts at $1.80 per unit.
About Analog Devices, Inc.
With fiscal 2000 revenues of $2.58 billion, Analog Devices is a leading manufacturer of precision high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. The company is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, and employs approximately 9,400 people worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, the Philippines, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Analog Devices' stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the company is included in the S&P 500 Index.
SoundMAX is a registered trademark and SPX is a trademark of Analog Devices Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
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