24 Times More Powerful than its Predecessor, the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity
Audio Processor Provides the Extreme Power to Run New Applications that
Enhance MP3s to Sound Even Better than they do on their Original CD, and
Accelerate PC Game Play
MILPITAS, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Creative Technology
Ltd. (Nasdaq: CREAF), a worldwide leader in digital entertainment solutions
for PC users and the creator of Sound Blaster(R), today announced two major
breakthroughs in audio technology: Xtreme Fidelity, the new standard in audio,
and the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor. The combination of
Xtreme Fidelity and the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor provides
dramatic improvements to the recording and playback of MP3 music, accelerates
and improves PC game play, enhances listening experiences for movies, and
improves the capabilities, performance and quality of audio creation.
Xtreme Fidelity
Xtreme Fidelity sets a new standard for audio by supporting a combination
of 24-bit quality, stunning audio clarity with a minimum of 110db SNR and the
new CMSS(R) (Creative Multi Speaker Surround) 3D headphone and surround
speaker technology. Consumers will be able to upgrade their existing CD and
MP3 music to the Xtreme Fidelity standard, using applications that can run on
the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor. Being able to upgrade an
existing library of music to Xtreme Fidelity differentiates it from other
high-end music standards such as DVD-A and SACD, which offer limited selection
and require consumers to repurchase their music in that specific format. When
consumers upgrade their CD or MP3 music to the new Xtreme Fidelity standard,
they will be able to experience playback that sounds better than its original
CD recording.
"Xtreme Fidelity is the result of our vision of a new audio standard which
would provide a dramatic improvement in MP3 music, PC game play and digital
movies, thereby setting the stage for a whole new platform for digital
entertainment in the home," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative.
"To deliver on the vision of Xtreme Fidelity we created the Creative X-Fi
Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, which makes a quantum leap in quality, power
and performance that cuts across the entire audio space. The Creative X-Fi
Xtreme Fidelity audio processor is truly awesome, and the experience of Xtreme
Fidelity will astound people."
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor has more than 51 million
transistors, and is capable of 10,000+ MIPS. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme
Fidelity audio processor is 24 times more powerful than its predecessor, and
is designed with multiple engines, so it can dynamically direct resources
through a modular architecture to completely change the way audio is managed
for any application. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor
provides key modes that are optimized for experiences with MP3 music, gaming,
movies and audio creation. Each mode is configured to dynamically dedicate
the processor's power to deliver only the features, quality and capabilities
that the user requires.
CD and MP3 Music
All CD music is in 16-bit resolution, which is typically compressed from
an original 24-bit studio recording. When converting CD music to MP3 format,
the music is compressed yet again. These types of compression result in a
compromise of audio quality and clarity. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity
audio processor drives new applications that can enhance MP3s by bringing them
back to 24-bit quality, and allows the user to upgrade the music to multi-
channel surround sound. This enhancement enables virtually all MP3 music to
sound even better than it did on the original CDs.
PC Gaming
Game developers and PC gamers want their games to run at the fastest frame
rate. This has at times caused them to compromise audio quality and realism
by reducing the number of simultaneous effects or turning off audio
altogether, because the audio requires so much processing power that it slows
the frame rate. This significantly reduces the quality of the gaming
experience and can put gamers at a competitive disadvantage. With the power
and performance of the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, gamers
will actually be able to experience accelerated frame rates during game play
with all the effects turned on. In addition, game developers will now be able
to make their audio environments in games even more realistic as they can
build to the powerful new platform of Xtreme Fidelity.
The Xtreme Fidelity standard provides a new extension of the EAX(R)
Environmental Audio standard that was invented by Creative and is found in
virtually all top PC game titles used today. With the new Xtreme Fidelity
platform, Creative will deliver the fifth generation of EAX, which will
immediately support hundreds of top games that are already available.
DVD and Downloaded Movies
Many people who watch DVDs or downloaded movies on their PCs want to use
headphones so they can listen at whatever volume they want without bothering
others. Although this keeps the volume from disturbing others, the headphones
do not deliver the compelling surround sound experience available with a
multi-channel speaker system. With the processing power and performance of
the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, listeners will be able to
enjoy the Creative Multi Speaker Surround 3D headphone technology, which
provides the experience of a multi-channel speaker system through virtually
any headphones.
Enhanced Audio Creation
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor is designed to deliver
pristine audio recording quality, with advanced features and effects for music
and audio creation. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor
features an SRC engine that is so precise that any audio resolution is
converted to any other resolution at near transparency with 136db THD+N and
digital-matched recordings in resolutions from 44.1kHz to 96kHz. The Creative
X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor also supports ASIO recording with latency
as low as one millisecond with zero CPU load. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme
Fidelity audio processor delivers so much power, performance, quality and
capability that it will be also used by E-MU Systems, the Creative
Professional audio business, for future desktop authoring solutions designed
for professional musicians.
Experience Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor Applications at
e3
Creative will be providing a sneak preview of the new applications made
possible by the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor at e3 2005 in
Los Angeles, from May 18-20. To view the demonstrations, or to get more
information about the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor and Xtreme
Fidelity, visit booth 2228 in the West Hall during show hours.
For more information about the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio
processor and Xtreme Fidelity, visit http://www.soundblaster.com.
About Creative
Creative is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for PC
users. Famous for its Sound Blaster(R) sound cards and for launching the
multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment on the PC
platform with products like its highly acclaimed Zen(TM) and MuVo(R) MP3
players. Creative's innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications
and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-
quality digital entertainment -- anytime, anywhere.
This announcement relates to products launched in the United States. The
product names, prices and availability are subject to change without notice
and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and
requirements. Sound Blaster, Creative X-Fi, Xtreme Fidelity, EAX, CMSS, Zen
and MuVo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd.
in the United States and other countries. All other brand names are
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Creative
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Related links:
http://www.creative.com
CONTACT:
Amy Stojsavljevic of Creative Labs, Inc.,
+1-408-546-6737 or amys@creativelabs.com
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