Analog Devices unveiled the AD1981, a new AC'97-compatible audio CODEC that allows PC OEMs, motherboard manufacturers and notebook manufacturers to design PC audio subsystems at a lower cost than previous AC'97 designs. Designed to address the PC manufacturers' need for universal motherboard platforms in commercial and consumer product lines, the AD1981 provides legacy operating system compatibility in commercial and consumer PCs and allows manufacturers flexibility in tuning audio subsystems for specific speakers or acoustic conditions. The AD1981 can be configured in software to improve the sound quality in all-in-one PCs, notebooks and desktop PCs bundled with inexpensive speakers, enhancing the user's acoustic experience with PC music, games, DVD movies and conferencing applications. In addition, this newest member in ADI's family of audio CODECs, the AD1981 is a featured component of SoundMAX®, a low-cost, integrated audio solution that surpasses the functionality of premium sound cards.

"The AD1981 was developed in direct response to our customers' demand for higher quality and lower cost audio systems on universal motherboards," said John Croteau, product line director, Computer Products and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. "No other audio CODEC provides the combination of integrated digital audio processing and legacy compatibility for consumer and commercial PCs with such an attractive cost structure."

The AD1981 alters the historical tradeoff between design cost and audio quality by providing a high-power CODEC with software-configurable parametric speaker equalization (EQ) in a single 48-pin package. It facilitates system-level cost savings through speaker cost reduction by digitally compensating for acoustic limitations; thus, once configured by the designer, it can make even inexpensive speakers deliver premium sound. The CODEC's integrated phase-locked loop, power regulator and microphone pre-amp remove more than $.50 in external components and $1.00 or more per unit of EQ circuitry. The AD1981 also features S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital InterFace) output for connection to audio/video receivers and digital speakers. In addition, the AD1981 comes with an intuitive graphical programming tool that allows motherboard designers and OEMs to set center frequency, bandwidth, and in-band attenuation, configuring audio performance to meet system specifications. Core Technology of SoundMAX PC Audio Subsystem Residing on the PC's motherboard or on a Communications Network Riser (CNR) soundcard, SoundMAX consists of high-performance hardware CODECs such as the AD1981, with features such as hardware sample rate conversion (SRC), professional quality 94-dB playback and now, digital hardware speaker equalization (EQ). SoundMAX software includes Windows(R) device drivers and applications that supports 3D audio, Microsoft DirectX 8.0, EAX, A3D, unlimited voice DLS-2 wavetable, 5.1 virtual theater surround, CNR multi-channel output options, and SPX "audio animation" technologies. Based on physical and event modeling algorithms, SPX "audio animation" consists of a new class of audio rendering technologies that provide immersive and hyper-realistic sound effects based on user input.

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The virtual market dominance PC sound cards have enjoyed for more than a decade is now being eclipsed by a chip or CODEC, an analog input/output device that is integrated right on the computer motherboard, connecting the PC's system logic to the speaker. This approach, which inherently delivers a 50-percent cost, size and power savings compared to the most inexpensive sound cards, is expected to grow at an annual rate of 157% through 2004.

The PC industry is very price sensitive and the AD1981 helps designers meet the goal to reduce the bill of material. The CODEC has an integrated phase-locked loop, power regulator and microphone pre-amp that the company says helps shrink costs by more than $.50 in external components and $1.00 or more per unit of EQ circuitry. Now, SoundMAX is not new but it does provide a highly realistic interactive audio for game titles. It's used by gaming companies like Moto1, Micro Star International (MSI), a developer of PC desktop motherboards, and by Intel in its PC audio subsystem to support the new 2GHz Pentium4 processor.

Based on both physical and event modeling technologies, SoundMAX alleviates the repetitive nature of sound effects processing using advanced audio rendering techniques. Developed and supported by Analog Devices' Audio Rendering Technology Center, formerly Staccato Systems, Inc. an ADI partner for the past year, and the developer of SPX. Staccato Systems is known for "pushing the envelope" with products incorporating patented new sound synthesis and processing techniques, particularly for PC video games. Merging Staccato into the ADI family will strengthen SoundMAX as the audio concept of choice for PC OEMs.

SoundMAX, which includes Analog Devices' high-performance audio CODECs and Windows® device drivers, is an integrated digital audio solution that resides on the PC's motherboard or on a Communications Network Riser (CNR) card. In addition to providing modem and networking functions, the Communications Network Riser (CNR) soundcard adds rear surround, center, subwoofer (LFE) and digital (SPDIF) output jacks to baseline two-channel systems, enabling 4- and 5.1-multi-channel playback of Dolby Digital® soundtracks and immersive 3D games. It also brings AC'97's serial AC-link up to the riser card instead of to the pin- and cost-intensive PCI bus. With CNR, the audio controller function is embedded in the core logic's I/O Controller Hub or South Bridge, eliminating the need for DSP in hardware.

Pricing and Availability The AD1981 is currently sampling and is slated to ship in January 2002. Pricing in OEM quantities starts at $1.80 per unit.