ADI’s SoundMAX to include Sonic Focus Adaptive Dynamics technology

In addition, this pioneering technology can restore information that is lost when MP3 and other compressed files are created, greatly improving their fidelity. By pairing their technologies, the companies will make it possible for desktop, notebook, and entertainment PC OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and ODMs (original design manufacturers) to offer consumers the best PC audio experience possible. The agreement with ADI marks the first time that Sonic Focus has licensed its technology to an audio codec manufacturer. SoundMAX with Sonic Focus is available now for PC OEMs and ODMs shipping the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.

Look for PC audio to get a big upgrade as a result of this agreement, said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group. Analog Devices has long championed better motherboard audio with SoundMAX. And with Sonic Focus, a mainstream PC can reproduce sound that rivals custom audio equipment.

Analog Devices is taking the SoundMAX heritage of studio-quality sound to a new generation of products, said John Croteau, general manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. By working with Sonic Focus, we will enable the high-definition audio output the PC needs to take its place as the centerpiece of the digital home.

Said Tom Paddock, CEO and founder, Sonic Focus, We've developed the most advanced and comprehensive sound refinement system available for the PC platform. Whether it’s a compressed MP3 file, a 5.1 movie or a 3D game, there is a Sonic Focus technology to optimize your audio experience. Once you turn on Sonic Focus, we believe that you won’t ever want to turn it off.

Enhanced audio capabilities that ADI and Sonic Focus are bringing to SoundMAX include:
Restoring sound quality to compressed audio -- Today’s popular audio formats, such as MP3, use compression to create smaller music files. Sonic Focus ADRS (Adaptive Dynamic Refrinment SystemTM) analyzes compressed audio streams in real time, then restores and enriches the sound to emulate the original performance qualities during playback on a PC.

Upmixing from a stereo source for multichannel playback -- 5.1 and 7.1 speaker systems are becoming more popular and affordable. The Sonic Focus Extrapolator creates lifelike, surround-sound experience from a stereo source by adding detail to the sound for each speaker individually using physical modeling, not simply by spreading out the sound among the speakers.

Downmixing from a multichannel source for stereo playback -- Using stereo speakers or headphones to listen to 5.1 source material is common for activities like watching DVD movies while on a plane. Downmixing from 5.1 to two channels can often obscure the dialogue. Sonic Focus XMatrix™ Virtualization expands the sound stage and creates a virtual center channel to emphasize and clarify dialogue, providing a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience even at low volume.

Custom listening experience -- Through convenient presets for different audio uses, listeners can refine the audio output to match their tastes and their environment. Controls are easy to use for the novice but allow the audiophile to tune extensively.