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News Release from: Tensilica | Subject: HiFi 2 Audio Engine
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 09 May 2007
SoC audio engine gains HD support
Virtual sound audio technology improves Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio Engine for Xtensa processors and the Diamond Standard 330HiFi Audio Processor.
SRS Labs has ported its TruSurround HD virtual sound audio technology to Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio Engine for Xtensa processors and the Diamond Standard 330HiFi Audio Processor SRS TruSurround HD is ideal for designers of system-on-chip (SoC) devices for the midrange and high-end digital television and digital home entertainment markets
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Oct 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Embedded audio processor moves up to 24bit
The Xtensa HiFi 2 audio engine is a new an addon package for Tensilica's proven Xtensa LX processor, optimised specifically for today's consumer audio functions.
Audio engine gains mobile support
Two key mobile solutions, SRS WOW XT and SRS Xspace 3D, are now available on Tensilica's HiFi 2 audio engine.
Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio Engine is the most popular commercial audio processor core for SoC designs, and this year Tensilica's customers are forecasting they will ship 100 million HiFi Audio Engine enabled processor cores in a wide variety of consumer devices.
SRS TruSurround HD accepts any input source, up to a seven-channel (6.1) audio source, and renders surround sound from 2.0 to 3.1 speaker configurations.
When televisions featuring SRS TruSurround HD receive multichannel or left/right content, TruSurround HD virtualises the channels, creating "phantom" speakers that appear to extend all around the listener, providing a superior multichannel surround sound effect.
Further reading
Audio engine is sound choice for GPU
The Xtensa HiFi 2 audio engine drives the high-quality 24bit audio processing in the recently introduced Nvidia GoForce 5500 handheld graphics processing unit.
Audio cores add Ogg Vorbis support
Tensilica has added an Ogg Vorbis decoder for its popular Xtensa HiFi 2 audio engine and Diamond 330HiFi processor core.
Audio engine gains speech codec for VoIP
Tensilica has introduced another codec for its popular HiFi 2 Audio Engine and Diamond Standard 330HiFi processor core which are specifically optimised for audio in mobile multimedia devices.
When the audio source is mono or stereo, TruSurround HD creates an expansive three-dimensional sound field, provides definition to high frequencies, and offers a centre control feature to adjust the mix of centre information.
SRS TruSurround HD uses proprietary algorithms to enhance signal clarity and improve the intelligibility of dialog, while psychoacoustic techniques maximise the perceived bass response.
TruSurround HD is designed to compensate for a system that does not include tweeters for high-frequency performance by including a definition processor to provide maximum high-frequency clarity.
TruSurround HD also includes bass management for subwoofer and centre speaker designs.
The final result is immersive sound that surrounds the listener, bass that rumbles and crystal clear high-frequency reproduction.
Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio Engine is optimised with hundreds of specialised audio instructions to increase code density (reducing memory requirements) and lower power (reducingMHz requirements), making it very efficient for a wide range of audio-enabled consumer products.
By adding SRS TruSurround HD to its library of available audio decoders and encoders, Tensilica expects to expand the popularity of its HiFi 2 Audio Engine to designers of popular digital television sets.
The SRS TruSurround HD decoder provides SoC designers with a drop-in, proven, high-quality 24bit audio hardware solution with over 20 encoders and decoders for a variety of different audio standards.
"Tensilica's customers plan to deliver optimal audio solutions for the home entertainment market based on the HiFi 2 Audio Engine".
"TruSurround HD will provide a best-in-class audio experience and the available port from SRS Labs will provide a time to market advantage", stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica's Director of Mobile Multimedia.
"SRS WOW XT and SRS Xspace 3D, two very popular mobile sound solutions, are also available for the HiFi 2 Audio Engine".
"By utilising the audio-optimised instructions in the HiFi 2 Audio Engine, we were able to create a very efficient port of our TruSurround HD technology in a few weeks versus more typically months for other architectures", said Lenka Koloma, Senior Director, Strategic IC Partner and Sales, SRS Labs.
"Tensilica's proven HiFi 2 Audio Engine coupled with TruSurround HD provides SoC designers with a quick way to add an enhanced audio subsystem that will be valued by consumers".
TruSurround HD is available directly from SRS Labs for licensees of Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio Engine or Diamond 330HiFi Audio Processor.
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