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New Series of Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Sound Cards Supports Digital and Analog Outputs in 5.1 Surround Sound

As the PC transforms into an entertainment platform, Creative's audio solutions are at the heart of the sound evolution, providing entertainment enthusiasts with the ultimate in digital audio. This new line of Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound cards delivers true Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound to consumers, allowing them to experience total sound immersion -- just like at the movie theater. A superior audio experience is now available to meet varying budgets and entertainment needs, thanks to Creative's full range of Dolby approved sound card solutions. Users seeking a high-end choice for digital audio creation and playback, Internet music and power gaming will find that the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 sound card offers a full-feature set of the most innovative applications and utilities available today. The Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1 and Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1 sound cards address specific gaming and music needs, making 5.1 performance available on the PC to both gaming and music lovers.

``We are constantly striving to provide our customers with the richest audio experience available. The incorporation of Dolby Digital 5.1 support in our new line of sound cards ensures that audio enthusiasts will continue to receive the most innovative solutions from Creative,'' said George Thorn, director of audio development for Creative Labs, Inc.

``The same Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that has thrilled movie-goers all over the world is now available on the PC via Creative's new line of Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound cards. Creative demonstrates its commitment to provide its users with high-end audio solutions by supporting the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound format,'' said Dennis Staats, director of computer & games technology marketing for Dolby Laboratories. ``We are very excited to approve this new line of sound cards allowing PC users to experience movie-quality sound on the desktop with Dolby Digital technology.''

Key Features of the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1, Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1, and the Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1:

    -- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Analog Surround Sound: Experience full 5.1
       surround sound in either digital or analog output.  The Sound Blaster
       Live! 5.1 series provides surround sound on your PC, with built in
       support for two-, four-, or six-speaker configurations.  You will get
       superior Dolby Digital 5.1 sound quality by connecting to speaker
       solutions such as the upcoming Cambridge SoundWorks® DeskTop
       Theater(TM) 5.1 DTT3500 Digital or the DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2200
       (both expected to ship in October) or any Dolby Digital equipped home
       theater system.  Dolby Digital content ensures the best audio support
       for next generation interactive DVD titles.
    -- The Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2200 is an affordable
       5.1 home theater solution designed to be used in conjunction with
       Creative's Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound cards.  With high quality and
       value, the DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT2200 speaker system provides the
       ideal choice for transforming the PC into a home theater system to
       experience DVD movies and games.
    -- With digital connectivity to Creative's Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound
       cards, the Cambridge SoundWorks DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT3500 Digital
       -- a powerful Dolby Digital home theater speaker solution -- provides a
       high-end 5.1 surround sound environment and delivers the ultimate
       entertainment experience.  The DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT3500 Digital
       provides a complete home theater speaker solution when listening to
       music, watching movies or playing games.
    -- Quality Digital Signal Processor:  The revolutionary EMU10K1(TM)
       Digital Signal Processor gives you all the power you need to create
       crystal-clear audio files.  Since processing and playback remain
       entirely digital, your files maintain the highest level of audio
       quality with settings optimized for headphones, two, four, or 5.1
       speakers and home stereo systems. The Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 series
       provides hardware acceleration for EAX(TM) audio technology,
       Microsoft® DirectSound® 3D and DirectSound® gaming, providing up
       to 32 3D hardware-accelerated channels, up to 64 hardware-accelerated
       channels, or up to 1024 voices.  With support for real-time digital
       effects like reverb, chorus, echo, flanger, pitch shifting, vocal
       morpher, ring modulator, auto-wah or distortion, the power provides an
       overwhelming experience.
    -- EAX(TM):  Developed by Creative's world class audio scientists and
       built into groundbreaking Personal Digital Entertainment (PDE)
       Solutions, EAX is changing the way audio is experienced.  EAX adds
       interactive, high-definition audio to the Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
       series with 3D audio technology and 5.1 analog and digital sound, for a
       premium audio experience in music, movies, and games.
    -- Complete Internet Entertainment Solution: Creative PlayCenter(TM) 2
       provides a full 320kbps encoder with up to 9X digital audio
       acceleration to allow you to create high quality, compact digital audio
       files.  It allows you to rip and organize your entire music CD
       collection into either MP3 or WMA formats, transforming your PC into a
       massive digital music jukebox.
    -- Live!Ware(TM): The Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 line is fully supported by
       the Live!Ware upgrade program.  This program is a direct vehicle to
       future product features and enhancements.  Simply visit
       www.soundblaster.com and download the latest Live!Ware software upgrade
       to continuously enhance your audio experience.

The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1

The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 offers the ultimate audio solution delivering a high-quality feature set. Setting itself apart from the pack, the Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1, comes equipped with the innovative Live!(TM) Drive IR which allows for simultaneous connection to both digital and analog devices such as MIDI instruments, MiniDisc players, external digital audio devices, and headphones -- each from the front of your PC instead of the back. The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 also comes with an easy to use wireless remote control for simple navigation of audio and video playback. The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 is bundled with all the same software that comes with both the Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1 and the Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1. These hardware and software solutions make it possible to convert the PC into an entertainment system ideal for a home theater environment and beyond.

The Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1

Designed with the music lover in mind, the Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1 makes it easy to create, customize and listen to Internet audio files utilizing stereo signals that are upmixed into 5.1 for immersive surround sound. The Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1 is bundled with the following software that allows you to master music on the Internet: Creative PlayCenter 2, Sonic Foundry® Sound Forge® XP 4.5, Mixman® Technologies Mixman Studio 3.0, Cakewalk's Cakewalk® Express Gold 8.0, Mixmeister Technology's Mixmeister 2.0, PixAround.com®'s PixMaker(TM) (Creative Edition), and Creative MediaRing Talk(TM). Also included are Vorton Technologies' Kool Karaoke, Mindmaker's Prody Parrot, Game Commander SE and a special selection of 5.1 digital music mixes.

The Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1

The Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1 offers an affordable solution to the hard-core gamer who demands the most intense, multi-dimensional gaming experience. With the ability to connect to Dolby Digital equipped receivers, multi-channel digital speaker systems or directly to analog audio devices, the Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1 delivers true 5.1 surround sound creating earth shaking PC games. For intense gameplay right out of the box, the Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1 comes complete with four full version, EAX-enhanced game titles. The bundled software includes: Interplay®'s MDK2(TM), Eidos® Interactive's Deus Ex(TM), Epic Games®' Unreal Tournament(TM), Eidos Interactive's Thief II: The Metal Age(TM), and Creative PlayCenter 2.

Pricing and Availability

The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 is now available through Creative's extensive network of distributors and resellers worldwide at a suggested retail price of US$199.99 and the Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ and the Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer 5.1 are now available at a suggested retail price of US$99.99. Visit www.soundblaster.com  for more information.

About Creative

Creative Technology Ltd., a global leader in PC entertainment products, expands the power of the personal computer with Personal Digital Entertainment (PDE) Solutions, comprising desktop products, Internet appliances and Internet applications and services. Leveraging in-house technology, partnerships and value-added investments, Creative markets its solutions to consumers and system integrators, with worldwide distribution through traditional marketing channels, OEMs and the Internet. Creative's mission is to expand upon its leadership role in PDE, utilizing innovative technology, broadband and leading edge designs for technically progressive consumers and entertainment enthusiasts. Explore PDE at www.creative.com.

NOTE: This announcement relates to products launched in the United States of America. The product names, contents, prices and availability are subject to change and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.

Sound Blaster and Blaster are registered trademarks and EAX, Live!Ware, Sound Blaster Live!, Live!, PlayCenter and EMU10K1 are trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the US and/or other countries. Cambridge SoundWorks is a registered trademark of Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc. All other brand names and products mentioned herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby recognized as such.

SOURCE: Creative Technology Ltd.