Rockwell Debuts Low-Cost Chipset That Combines Industry-Proven Modem
Technology And Advanced Audio Functions
Business Wire via Dow Jones
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1997--
Rockwell's RipTide Solution Puts Audio and Modem Functions on a
Single
Affordable PCI Chipset For Next-Generation
Audio-Intensive PC Communications Applications
Offering a more affordable and versatile alternative to dedicated
audio or
modem chips, Rockwell Semiconductor Systems Tuesday announced one of
the
industry's first products to combine industry-proven modem
technology with
advanced audio features in a single solution for the
high-performance PCI bus.
Rockwell's RipTide solution includes a full complement of modem
functions,
mainstream audio capabilities and advanced wavetable synthesis
features for such
next-generation, audio-intensive communications applications as 3-D
multiplayer
gaming and interactive music.
Optimized for Intel's next generation of Pentium II and MMX
processors that
are due on the market during the second half of 1998, RipTide also
leverages the
power of the 33 MHz PCI bus to boost system performance and
power-management
capabilities as compared to ISA-bus audio or modem implementations.
RipTide supports all standard modem modulations including V.34 and
K56flex,
while providing the full range of audio capabilities in support of
Intel's Audio
Codec '97 2.0 (AC97) specification for next-generation PC audio and
communications. Rockwell contributed key modem technology for this
specification, which Intel announced last month at its Developer
Forum in San
Francisco. The RipTide Audio/Modem 97 (AMC97) codec also includes
unique
features such as dedicated handset and microphone support, 3D
spatialization/bass boost and two-line modem support for enhanced
communications
capabilities.
"Audio and communications have become standard features of consumer
PCs, and
we've now taken the natural step of integrating the two to reduce
cost and power
consumption, as well as to improve system performance," said Tom
Eichenberg,
audio product line manager for Rockwell's Personal Computing
Division.
"RipTide enables the PC to truly become a command center for a
variety of
personal communications capabilities including E-mail, telephone
answering
machine, full-duplex speakerphone, simultaneous voice and data,
Internet Phone
and Video Phone," Eichenberg added.
"The integration of audio and communications hardware and software
allows for
a greatly improved system solution with total control over the
speaker and
microphone. RipTide gives system OEMs a complete, low-cost solution,
while
offering advanced communications and audio features that aren't
available with
other products."
Scaleable Architecture, Comprehensive Solution
RipTide's scaleable architecture allows it to be used on the
motherboard, in
add-in cards or custom form-factor designs. For motherboard
configurations,
RipTide's unique riser-card architecture enables OEMs to meet global
public-network homologation standards independent from their system
motherboard
design.
Key RipTide components include an integrated audio/communications
controller,
AMC97 codec, and a choice of Rockwell's patented consumer- or
professional-quality software-based wavetable synthesis solutions.
The
audio/communications controller includes high-quality Sample Rate
Converters and
digital mixers to accelerate Windows DirectSound and Win32 Driver
Model (WDM)
applications. Its modem feature set is fully equivalent to
Rockwell's RCV56HCF
and software modem products and uses the same control code. Sharing
the same
control code between different development efforts is one of the key
elements of
the RipTide program, and allows customers that have already tested
the
host-controlled modem with their standard applications to quickly
move into
production with the RipTide solution.
Other enhanced RipTide configurations include the addition of a
modem DSP for
hardware acceleration of the communications features. The superior
reliability
of Rockwell's core modem DSP technology has been proven in
widespread use as one
of the most popular modem solutions on the market, with shipments
approaching
200 million units.
Full Range of Standard and Advanced Audio Capabilities
For mainstream audio applications, RipTide provides complete legacy
audio
support over the high-performance PCI bus. RipTide's patented
emulation
technology was the first of its kind to demonstrate complete
SoundBlaster
compatibility over the PCI bus, and has been exhaustively tested
running a
library of more than 400 applications under DOS and/or a Windows DOS
box.
RipTide also supports analog and digital joystick interfaces, an
MPU-401
interface and game port, and sample-rate tracking ports, making it
an ideal
audio solution for mainstream consumer gaming and infotainment
applications.
For higher-fidelity music playback in games or music applications,
RipTide's
WaveStream 64-voice MMX software wavetable technology combines the
highest
level
of reliability and efficiency with stunningly realistic music
quality.
Rockwell's WaveStream technology has been proven in more than two
years of
commercial use under license to leading PC makers and add-in card
manufacturers.
It resides as a software module in the Windows operating system, and
uses system
memory to hold the required instruments which are read from a hard
disk-based
sample library. A DOS game emulation mode under Windows lets
WaveStream bring
realistic music to consumer games. Additionally, real-time playback
support via
an external MIDI device allows consumers to attach a keyboard so
they can learn
and perform music on their PC.
RipTide also utilizes Rockwell's Endless Wave software technology
which takes
music quality beyond all traditional music synthesis solutions,
making PC-based
digital instruments practically indistinguishable from their
real-life
counterparts. Endless Wave utilizes a patented data streaming and
caching
technology to enable real-time access to nearly unlimited sample-set
libraries
residing on multi-gigabyte mass storage devices. Introduced in early
1997, it
represented a major breakthrough for music synthesis, where quality
is dictated
by the size of the sample library. Endless Wave offers the highest
possible
realism using sample techniques such as Behavioral Sampling,
instrument layering
and stereo samples. Endless Wave surpasses the sample-access
capabilities even
of professional rack-mount systems, which are limited to much
smaller sample
library sizes.
RipTide is fully compliant with Microsoft's PC'98 specifications, in
addition
to supporting Intel's AC97 2.0 enhanced audio and communications
specification.
Driver support includes Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 and WDM.
RipTide will be available in sample quantities in December, and
Rockwell plans
to begin volume production in the second quarter of 1998. Pricing is
$36 for
the basic two-chip solution and $49 with the addition of the modem
DSP. Pricing
is based on quantities of 10,000 units.
NOTE: Rockwell Semiconductor Systems and Electronic Commerce, based
in
Newport Beach, Calif., is a leading worldwide provider of
semiconductor system
solutions for personal communications electronics and systems,
software and
services for the global call center industry. Rockwell Semiconductor
Systems
comprises five divisions -- Personal Computing, Network Access,
Personal
Imaging, Wireless Communications, and Digital Infotainment.
Personal Computing is a leading supplier of communications and media
processing products for the PC. Network Access offers a broad line
of
high-bandwidth communications and networking devices including
central site
modems, xDSL, LAN, ATM and T1/E1 transceiver products. Digital
Infotainment
focuses on products for the digital consumer electronics information
and
entertainment markets. Personal Imaging is the world leading
supplier of devices
for facsimile products and develops and manufactures semiconductors
for
multifunctional peripherals, printers, personal video and digital
imaging
products. Wireless Communications develops cordless and cellular
chipsets, GPS,
power amplifier and front end receiver components for all major
wireless
standards. The Electronic Commerce Division, based in Wood Dale,
Ill., is a
leading supplier of call center systems and personalized electronic
commerce
applications software.
Rockwell is a global electronics company with leadership positions
in
industrial automation, semiconductor systems, and avionics and
communications,
with projected FY97 sales of approximately $8 billion and 45,000
employees.
Rockwell's world headquarters is located in Costa Mesa, in Orange
County, Calif.
NOTE: K56flex is a trademark of Rockwell International and Lucent
Technologies. RipTide is a trademark of Rockwell International.
Other products
identified are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
CONTACT: Rockwell Semiconductor Systems
Eileen Algaze, 714/221-6849
eileen.algaze@rss.rockwell.com
or
The Benjamin Group Inc.
Carolyn Fromm or Lisa Thielmann
714/245-7500
cfromm or lthielma@oc.tbgi.com
08:07 EST NOVEMBER 4, 1997 |
