Guitar greats collaborate on gigabit network

Two of the world's leading names in audio technology are to develop and deliver a new generation of digital audio networking products beginning in 2006.

Two of the world's leading names in audio technology - instrument giant Gibson Guitar Corp and chipmaker Cirrus Logic - are to develop and deliver a new generation of digital audio networking products beginning in 2006.

Building on Cirrus Logic's leading CobraNet technology and Gibson's popular Magic technology, the new products will provide high-channel-count media transport solutions for professional markets, while enabling secure multiroom distribution of media content in consumer markets.

Gibson and Cirrus Logic will focus on the development of next-generation gigabit-Ethernet-based products designed to provide high bandwidth, ultralow latency and secure audio and video transport.

Such technologies will dramatically improve distribution and management of digital content for use in such fields as recording, live music distribution and network-based consumer content delivery, while providing the foundation for media content protection.

"The world has migrated to digital media formats, but many audio/video manufacturers continue to endorse old analogue or proprietary connectivity methods", said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson.

"Gibson is committed to leveraging existing networking infrastructure as the basis for the high-quality, secure and open method of transporting digital media".

"By working with Gibson, Cirrus Logic looks forward to extending our leadership position in networked digital audio markets through a new generation of products for Gigabit Ethernet networks", said David D French, President and CEO, Cirrus Logic.

"Through CobraNet technology, Cirrus Logic has established a leading position as an IC supplier for professional and commercial audio markets".

"By working with Gibson, our next-generation of products will further extend our opportunity into the home, where consumer networks demand high-bandwidth capacity for distributing audio, video and data traffic".

As part of the agreement, Cirrus Logic and Gibson will jointly develop specifications for the new software protocol that will form the basis for the new products, with Cirrus Logic's engineering teams driving the development of the resulting ICs.

The new protocol will provide backward compatibility with CobraNet technology as well as Gibson's Magic technology.

This will help ensure existing customers an easy migration path that can use the ultrahigh bandwidth provided by gigabit Ethernet networks.

In addition to the new products under development, Gibson will continue to offer Magic on a royalty-free basis, further increasing the opportunities for companies to develop network media offerings.

Additionally, Cirrus Logic will continue to develop and market its CobraNet Silicon Series of ICs and modules.

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