Leading Supplier of Audio Tools for Gaming Audio Development Licenses
Technology for Consumer Audio Systems
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE --
WAVES LTD., a leading provider of audio signal processing solutions, announced
today that its MaxxBass(R) technology is enabling the Spherex Xbox(R) 5.1
Surround Sound System to make the audio in video games and home theater
systems sound dramatically better than ever before. MaxxBass is a Waves
patented audio technology that dramatically extends the bass frequency
response of a loudspeaker system. The Xbox 5.1 utilizes a six channel
MaxxBass implementation to enable both extended subwoofer frequency response
as well as mid-bass frequencies on the satellite channels lacking in other
home theater systems. When combined with Spherex/API's patented Omnipolar(TM)
satellite speaker design, the Xbox 5.1 system provides unmatched sonic realism
for video game and home theater applications. Waves will demonstrate its
MaxxBass technology from March 24-26 in Booth #1447 at the Game Developers
Conference in San Jose, CA.
The Spherex Xbox 5.1 system subwoofer uses a custom 8 inch, 100 Watt rms
system. This type of driver typically plays down to 50 or 60Hz, which is
common in home theater systems. However, with MaxxBass processing on the Xbox
5.1 system subwoofer, it can reproduce frequencies down to 25Hz, providing
much deeper, richer and more emotionally powerful sound during game play and
action movies. Producing this type of frequency response normally requires a
12 or 15 inch driver with much more power, which dramatically increases the
size, weight and cost of the system.
Each of the Xbox 5.1 system's five satellite speakers also includes
MaxxBass processing to fill the mid-bass frequency hole found in home theater
systems. Normally, small satellite speakers roll-off at over 200Hz, making
them unable to reproduce the frequencies between the subwoofer crossover at
120Hz and the 200Hz roll-off. However, the Xbox 5.1 system's satellite
speakers use MaxxBass technology to fill this hole and provide continuous
frequency response.
"As a gamer myself for the last 30 years, I've always been frustrated by
the poor sound quality of gaming audio both in software and matching
reproduction systems," said Alex Romanov, president and CEO of Spherex Inc.
"Today's action packed games now provide wide frequency and dynamic range, but
the audio systems have not kept up. The Xbox 5.1 system solves these
challenges by using Waves MaxxBass. Furthermore, our Omnipolar satellite
speakers radiate sound in a 360 degree pattern to provide a dramatically
improved sweet spot for gaming and home theater."
Waves MaxxBass, sold as a plug-in for developers under the name
Renaissance Bass, has been a standard development tool for many years. "If
you are working in game audio, there are a few plugins that have risen to the
top of the heap that no sound designer or mixing engineer should do without,"
said Tim Larkin, an audio director who has created music and sound design for
Lord of the Rings, Middle Earth, Roberta, Prince of Persia and many more. "In
my opinion, the Waves L1 and Renaissance Bass plugins have helped game audio
and music more than any other signal processing tools. Audio from computer
systems has long been the nemesis of any game composer or sound designer from
a perspective of perceived loudness and bass response. We have had to do
battle on these fronts harder than any other industry, and I can't imagine
doing this without the Waves tools." Larkin, who has more than ten years of
experience in the game audio industry, is currently the audio director for
Cyan Worlds, the makers of Myst(R), Riven(TM), and now Uru(TM): Ages Beyond
Myst.
Not a Bass Boost Technology
MaxxBass is not a bass boost technology, but instead uses a Waves patented
psychoacoustic algorithm to allow you to hear bass far below the physical
limitation of the speakers by taking advantage of the latest research in how
sound is perceived. MaxxBass allows you to hear frequencies up to 1.5 octaves
below what is generated. This enables subwoofers to generate much lower
frequencies, allowing them to dramatically shrink in size.
Xbox 5.1 Surround Sound System Recognized as a Revolutionary Product
The Xbox 5.1 Surround Sound System was recently honored at the 2004
Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center from
January 8-12, 2004. After examining tens of thousands of products on the show
floor, the Xbox 5.1 system was named as a finalist in the Home Audio and Video
category for the TechTV Best of CES 2004 award.
The Xbox 5.1 system is a multimedia audio platform created for use as a
game audio and home theater solution, consisting of a 5.1 speaker system with
Apogee's DDX(R) digital power amplification, surround sound processing,
multiple audio inputs and networking capability. The 300 watt (RMS) amplifier
drives 5 identical OMNIPOLAR(TM) satellite speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer.
The speaker design is based on API's patented Mirage OMNIPOLAR technology,
which disperses sound in a 360 degree pattern, to create the most realistic
immersive experience for gaming.
Spherex is a subsidiary of Audio Products International Corp. (API), one
of the largest loudspeaker manufacturers in the world, and has a global
licensing agreement with Microsoft Corporation to produce and market the Xbox
5.1 branded speaker system.
About Waves Ltd:
Waves is the world's leading provider of audio signal processing tools for
professionals. Its processors are used to improve sound quality in the
creation of practically all of the world's most popular music, movie
soundtrack and multimedia titles. Waves offers both award-winning embedded
software for digital audio workstations and various hardware products tools to
the world's most successful and demanding audio professionals. http://www.waves.com
With more than a decade of leadership in the development of psychoacoustic
signal processor algorithms, Waves now offers a variety of solutions under the
Maxx(R) brand to manufacturers of consumer electronics to dramatically improve
performance or reduce system costs. These solutions include custom
semiconductor devices and licensing Waves proprietary algorithms to DSP and
computer platforms. Its Maxx solutions are rapidly being adopted by firms
such as Altec Lansing, Audio Products International, Directed Electronics,
Samsung, Sanyo, Sony, and many other top consumer electronic firms.
For more information on the benefits and products available using MaxxBass
technology, visit http://www.maxxbass.com or call the toll-free number 866-MaxxBass.
About Xbox:
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com ) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings
people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences.
Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware
and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play
together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital
entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe
and Australia.
The Xbox 5.1 system is manufactured under license by Spherex Inc.
Maxx, MaxxBass and Renaissance Bass are trademarks of Waves Ltd.
Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries and
are used under license from Microsoft.
Other product and trade names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their
respective owners.
Waves Contacts:
North America Offices:
Waves, Inc., 306 West Depot Avenue, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37917;
Tel: 865-546-6115, Fax: 865-546-8445, Email: info@waves.com , Web:
http://www.waves.com
Corporate Headquarters Israel
Waves Ltd., Azrieli Center, The Round Tower, 21st Floor, Tel-Aviv 67011,
Israel;
Tel: 972-3-6081648, Fax: 972-3-6081656, Email: info@waves.com, Web:
http://www.waves.com
Waves Public Relations
Alan Weinkrantz And Company, 3737 Broadway, Suite 280, San Antonio, TX
78209
Tel: 210-820-3070, Fax: 210-820-3080, Email: alan@weinkrantz.com ,
Web: http://www.weinkrantz.com
Waves is exhibiting at Booth #1447 at the Game Developers Conference in
San Jose, CA.
Press Contact: Alan Weinkrantz
Alan Weinkrantz And Company
alan@weinkrantz.com
1-210-820-3070 x 103 voice
1-210-820-3070 fax
SOURCE Waves Ltd.
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Related links:
http://www.waves.com
http://www.maxxbass.com http://www.gdconf.com
http://www.weinkrantz.com http://www.xbox.com
CONTACT:
Alan Weinkrantz of Alan Weinkrantz And
Company, +1-210-820-3070 ext. 103, or fax, +1-210-820-3070, or
alan@weinkrantz.com , for Waves Ltd.
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