Headline: VLSI TECHNOLOGY INC - QSOUND LABS INC - Xwave Thunder 3D: Thunderous
3D Audio For Your PC [182]
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Labway Corporation proudly announces Xwave THUNDER 3D, the fastest and
most advanced gamer audio PCI card yet. The Xwave THUNDER 3D is the first
in the series of the Xwave line of high performance audio cards. Xwave
Thunder 3D utilizes the new VLSI ThunderBird128 Q3D(TM) audio processor
that incorporates QSound Labs' Q3DInteractive(TM) (Q3DI) positional audio
technology to provide true hardware acceleration, 'no nonsense' 3D
positioning for 2 or 4 speaker output and uncompromised game compatibility.
"This design win, by Labway, one of the world's largest independent
card manufacturer, is a significant endorsement of the Thunderbird's
features and quality," said David Gallagher, President, CEO of QSound Labs.
"Labway's Thunder3D fully exploits the rich feature set of the ThunderBird
Q3D including QSound's 3D Interactive technology providing a product that
will be a true gamers paradise."
TECHNOLOGY
The technology underlying the Thunder 3D is based on modern research
of the human brain's processing of audio spatial information. The advanced
on-board Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is then able to create a rich 3D
audio environment with the illusion of sounds all around the user using a
conventional pair of speakers or headphones. Although other audio cards
and multimedia software packages are able to create similar 3D audio
special effects, most also require significant system resources that often
exceed processing power offered by even the most advanced PCs. This
excessive taxing on host Central Processing Unit (CPU) has generated demand
for audio accelerator cards that relieve a machine's CPU of sound
processing duties and provide a much richer audio experience. The Xwave
THUNDER 3D is the culmination of years of research to design an advanced
audio accelerator that processes clear and complex 3D audio, while leaving
the rest of the system alone to crunch the latest games and multimedia
applications.
COMPATIBILITY
Thunder 3D offers the broadest 3D game support of any audio card on
the market. Not only is Thunder 3D compatible with DirectSound3D
applications and those using EAX(TM) extensions or A3D(TM) 1.0, it also
uses it's unique 2D-to-3D re-mapping and QMSS(TM) Stereo to Quad conversion
to transform ordinary 2D and stereo applications into 3D and quad
applications. Only Thunder 3D can envelop you in 3D sound ROM the latest
3D title, your old favorite 2D game as well as music from CD's, MP3, MIDI
files and movie soundtracks.
THUNDER 3D TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
Key features of the Xwave THUNDER 3D include concurrent processing of
up to 320 audio streams including up to 64 3D streams, 128 Direct Sound
streams, and up to 64 h/w DirectSound/music synthesis voices and up to 256
host music synthesis voices. , Thunder 3D also provides unique hardware
accelerated Q3D Interactive (Q3DI) positional audio by QSound Labs, Yamaha
XG Wavetable Synthesis, QSound Environmental Modeling(TM), and QSound
Multi-Speaker System to deliver quadraphonic sound from games, movies and
music.
While Labway engineers look to the future to provide cutting edge
technology, they have not neglected backward compatibility. Sound Blaster
Pro compatibility with 3 modes of operation ensures that your audio will
come through crystal clear even when utilizing a Windows DOS box and real
mode DOS. For those who just can't get enough of that 1970's FM (Frequency
Modulation) synth sound, Xwave THUNDER 3D also fully supports OPL-3
emulation.
HARDWARE ACCELERATION
The ThunderBird128 Q3D employs a hardware processor to handle digital
audio and synthesizer functions right on the board. What does all this
mean? Xwave THUNDER 3D handles what it knows best - Audio - and leaves the
rest of your system alone to perform other functions. The result is
smoother gameplay, higher video frame rates, higher audio quality and
higher system benchmarks.
SEAMLESS UPGRADABILITY
Add-ons or upgrade technology can be easily added in the form of a
Waveblaster style header that allows easy connection of an additional
expansion-card to the baseboard.
AVAILABILITY
The Xwave THUNDER 3D will be showcased at Computex, Asia's foremost
Computer trade show, in June. Xwave THUNDER 3D will be available in OEM
configuration in June of 1999. The full retail version of Xwave THUNDER 3D
will ship in July. Labway anticipates a $99.00 MSRP USD for the full retail
version.
ABOUT VLSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
VLSI Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VLSI) designs and manufactures custom
and semi-custom integrated circuits for leading firms in the wireless
communications, networking, consumer digital entertainment and advanced
computing markets. VLSI's value proposition is based on full-service
customer support, deep libraries of vertical market-focused IC intellectual
property, unparalleled custom circuit design expertise enabled through the
Velocity Rapid Silicon Prototyping design style, and one of the world's
most flexible and efficient custom circuit manufacturing facilities in San
Antonio, Texas. The Company is based in San Jose, California with 1998
revenues from continuing operations of $547.8 million, and approximately
2,200 employees worldwide. For more information, visit the VLSI homepage,
www.vlsi.com.
ABOUT QSOUND LABS, INC.
Founded in 1988, Calgary-based QSound Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSND), is a
technology company specializing in software audio applications for the
Internet, PC/multimedia, Consumer Electronics and Healthcare industries.
Its patented technologies provide these industries with immersive,
realistic sound environments that include positional audio, stereo
enhancement and virtual surround sound solutions. A key contributing
factor to the success of QSound's Internet software audio products has been
the development of a unique enabling technology,(QAP), a turnkey solution
for the marketing and sales of any product via the Internet. For more
information, visit our Web site at www.qsound.com.
ABOUT LABWAY CORPORATION
Established in 1994, Labway Corporation Ltd. has become one of the
leading manufacturers of audio, video and multimedia products. Supplying
product to many top-tier OEMs around the world. For more information,
please visit Labway's homepage at www.labway.com
For an electronic version of this press release or additional
technical information, please contact dennisj@avmtechnology.com. This
announcement relates to products whose launches are in the United States of
America. The product names, contents, prices and availability may differ
elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements. Xwave
and Thunder 3D are registered trademarks of Labway Corporation. All other
products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners and are
hereby recognized as such.
TEL: (801) 571-0967 AVM Technology, Inc.
FAX: (801) 571-3634 a division of Labway Corporation
Dennis Jenn
EMAIL: dennisj@avmtechnology.com
INET : labway.com
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