Sonic Network to enable high fidelity, engaging music playback on a wide range of consumer devices including wireless, mobile PC, games and toys

For Release on February 12,2004

Boston, MA/February 12, 2004 --- Sonic Network, Inc., a music industry veteran providing audio synthesis technology and high quality instrument wavetables, announced today that Texas Instruments has licensed Sonic’s Embedded Audio System (EAS) technology for use in the TI DA260 semiconductor chip for mobile and other consumer devices.  This can also be used in the TMS32OC55x(tm) DSP core-based programmable devices, which includes several of TI's OMAP processors.

“We are delighted to be working with Sonic because of the excellent quality of Sonic's EAS," said Curt Waters, cellular media business manager for TI's imaging and audio group.  "Sonic has a proven track record of working with semiconductor manufacturers and leadership in MIDI.”

As the EAS technology is a software rather than hardware solution, consumer device manufacturers utilizing the Sonic EAS solution and TI DSPs now have the ability to add significant value while reducing chip count, power requirements and costs.  Jennifer Hruska, President of Sonic Network, states, “Another huge benefit of this solution is that it gives device developers the ability to customize the MIDI audio solution for each customer; options such as sample rate and polyphony are selectable as compile time options rather than hard coded, and sound sets can be stylized by the developer or personalized by the end user.”

In fact, unlike other vendors of embedded MIDI solutions, Sonic has an 18-year history of designing and manufacturing award winning soundsets and wavetables, in addition to providing synthesizer and audio effects. All wavetables are recorded, produced and optimized in Sonic’s own recording studios in Boston, MA, and clients may choose the size, specifications and even the style of the wavetables according to their needs.

This is of particular importance to the cellular phone industry, as MIDI is currently a core requirement for ringtone generation and gaming sound effects, and is one of the predominant multimedia functions that handset manufacturers and carriers are demanding.

“Cellular handset manufactures are constantly looking for ways to differentiate their products.  One way to accomplish this is by providing better and higher quality musical ringtones”, says Waters. Consumers in the market for a new handset continue to demand higher quality audio and multimedia performance, and manufacturers are responding by bundling more media processing capability onto their platforms. Sonic Network’s flexible audio solution enables manufacturers to come to market with high-quality MIDI performance products, which is what consumers are looking for.”

These benefits extend well beyond the cellular handset industry into the game, PDA, toy and other consumer device industries. For instance, the Sonic solution using TI DSPs can provide low-cost, high-quality alert tones in automobiles, pleasant-sounding user customizable alarm clocks, musical toys, and numerous other applications.

Consumer device developers utilizing the combined TI and Sonic EAS technology will benefit from the high-fidelity and inherent musicality that is currently in use with top Hollywood composers, award-winning studio musicians and world-class semiconductor manufacturers. As Sonic’s technology is based on the premise of providing digitally controlled musical instrument reproduction, not merely sampled audio, the company has gained a well-deserved reputation of providing superb "next generation quality audio."

About Sonic Network:
Sonic Network, Inc. provides embedded audio technology and content (music and sounds) that enable high quality, engaging audio and multi-media playback. The company licenses its products in a wide variety of markets including Wireless Devices, Semiconductors, PC Soundcards, Games, and Music Synthesizers. Consumers enjoy crystal clear music and multi-media playback on all devices, despite a particular platform's memory, processing or functional constraints. For this reason, Sonic has gained a well-deserved reputation of providing superb next-generation quality audio.

Sonic Network also maintains an active retail product line of over 200 Sound Library and Music products called “Sonic Implants” which are used by musicians and composers writing for film, TV, games and wireless audio applications. Sonic Network technology and content is market-proven and currently resides in tens of millions of consumer and professional devices.

Sonic is a member of TI’s OMAP™ Developer Network, a group of leading software developers porting advanced applications to TI’s high performance, power-efficient OMAP processors. Handset manufacturers adopting OMAP devices enjoy the rapid deployment of compelling wireless applications – including streaming audio and video, multimedia messaging, gaming, security, speech recognition, location based services and mobile commerce – across all leading operating systems. Systems level integration services are also provided worldwide by independent OMAP Technology Centers. The OMAP platform has been selected by leading manufacturers, such as Nokia, NEC, Fujitsu, LG Electronics, Hewlett-Packard, Palm, Motorola, and many more, for their 2.5 and 3G wireless devices. For more information, please visit www.omap.com.

About Sonic Network, Inc.:
Sonic Network, Inc. provides embedded audio technology and content (music and sounds) that enable high quality, engaging audio and multi-media playback. The company licenses its products in a wide variety of markets including Wireless Devices, Semiconductors, PC Soundcards, Games, and Music Synthesizers. Consumers enjoy crystal clear music and multi-media playback on all devices, despite a particular platform's memory, processing or functional constraints. For this reason, Sonic has gained a well-deserved reputation of providing superb next-generation quality audio. 

HTML: http://www.sonicnetworkinc.com/press_releases.htm
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KEYWORDS: OMAP, DSP, ARM, embedded audio, MIDI ringtones, wavetable, audio synthesis
SOURCE: Sonic Network, Inc.