austriamicrosystems Integrates SPL´s Vitalizer® Studio Sound Processing in its AS3525 Multimedia Chip
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Unterpremstaetten/Austria and Niederkruechten/Germany, May 24, 2006 - austriamicrosystems AG (SWX: AMS), a
leading supplier of high performance analog ICs, and SPL electronics GmbH (SPL) of Germany, manufacturer of highend
signal processors for the professional audio market, have concluded a collaboration to integrate SPL's Vitalizer®
studio sound processing into the AS3525 multimedia chip of austriamicrosystems.
Being the first to implement the digitized Vitalizer® application, austriamicrosystems enhances its powerful single chip
music player IC with sound processing capabilities previously only available in professional music production studios.
Portable players using the AS3525 chip will be offering a number of sound processing presets tuned by experts for
listening pleasure and user-friendly operation. The presets are adapted to the specifics of audio recordings in the past
decades, dating from today's music back to the 1950s. For each decade, sound characteristics are considered in a
preset. One general preset can be applied for all types of music and a special preset is provided for ageless classical
recordings.
Hermann Gier, Managing Director of SPL, explains "digitizing our complex Vitalizer® structures was a hard piece of work
- we worked for some years on this project to achieve the results we know from our analog processors. The next step was
to find an appropriate platform for the implementation. With the integration into the intriguing AS3525 multimedia chip
from austriamicrosystems we have found an ideal product to provide Vitalizer® processing for a very wide range of high
performance digital sound applications."
"We immediately realized the amazing potential of the digitized Vitalizer® technology the first time we listened to it", states
M. Winter from SPL's Financial Investor Equity Partners. "With the enormous growth of the Portable Audio Player market
where quality sound processing definitely is an increasingly important demand today, a partnership with
austriamicrosystems was the perfect match. Now the ultimate sound processing and the most advanced multimedia IC
have come together."
Alexander Harrer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Communications business unit at
austriamicrosystems, adds, "We are very pleased with SPL's decision to make AS3525 the platform of choice for their
expansion from a professional studio equipment supplier to serving the music player market. Our cooperation is a classic
win-win situation. The innovative development team at SPL gains a technological edge through its access to our
multimedia chips, which are particularly powerful and extremely power-saving at the same time. We, on the other hand,
can offer to the music player industry integrated circuits and reference designs with studio sound clarity and
unprecedented audio precision in a compact and portable device. SPL's algorithm has been reviewed by selected
customers and is now available as optional part of austriamicrosystems' AS3525 software development kit."
Vitalizer® Studio Sound Processing
Beyond traditional frequency or level manipulation techniques, the patented Vitalizer® processing implements
psychoacoustic and audiometric principles with a broad range of interacting processing methods. The complex algorithm is based upon a polygon of 8th order and applies loudness enhancement, frequency equalization, amplitude-dependent
phase shifting and spatial expansion techniques to improve the sound sensation of any audio source. The improvement
results in more clarity, depth, punch and transparency. Since the processing optimizes audio signals in accordance to the
human hearing and sound perception, the effect is a more natural sound impression as opposed to being processed.
Since its invention in 1988, analog Vitalizer® processors are used for sound optimization in leading professional sound
recording, mixing and mastering studios all over the world. Over the years, SPL has continuously improved the
processing in various product versions. With the digitized Vitalizer® algorithm SPL now especially aims at consumer
electronics markets.
About SPL
SPL electronics GmbH offers analog and digital audio processing solutions for the professional music, movie, multimedia
and broadcasting industries with an experience of more than 20 years. SPL products are renowned worldwide for their
innovative and user-friendly concepts as well as for unique performance specs. Besides the unique Vitalizer® processors,
milestones of the company's R&D history were the first level-independent dynamic envelope modeler "Transient
Designer", the launch of the first discrete 5.1 Surround Miking System "Atmos 5.1" already in 1998 and the development
of the SPL SUPRA Op-Amps with an unprecedented operating voltage of 120 Volt. The Supra Op-Amps are integral parts
of the SPL Mastering Series of dual- and multi-channel consoles and processors, setting new benchmarks in audio signal
processing to outperform any existing analog or digital audio format including SACD or DVD-A. Further information is
available at www.soundperformancelab.com
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining almost 25 years
of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities.
austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and
standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 850 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the
areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications,
Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on
the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS). For more information visit www.austriamicrosystems.com
For further information
SPL electronics GmbH
Hermann Gier
Tel.: +49(0) 2163-9834-14
Fax: +49(0) 2163-9834-20
hermann@soundperformancelab.com
www.soundperformancelab.com
austriamicrosystems AG
Sonja Pieber-Hascher
Tel.: +43-(0)3136/500 5968
Fax: +43-(0)3136/500 5420
sonja.pieber@austriamicrosystems.com
www.austriamicrosystems.com
