3DsoundSurge Press Release: Motorola Hears Sounds of Joy with New Symphony(R) Surround Module For Digital

Motorola Hears Sounds of Joy with New Symphony(R) Surround Module For Digital Audio Design

Low Cost Reference Design Enables New Multi-channel Decoder Products

AUSTIN, Texas, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced the Symphony® Surround Module (SSM), a complete, low-cost digital audio reference design, for use in the development of new multi-channel, digital signal processor (DSP) decoder systems. The module enables customers to reduce their design time and to respond more quickly to market demands. The reference design centers around Motorola's DigitalDNA solution, the DSP56362 processor running at 120 MIPs and several components from AKM Semiconductor, who jointly developed the board. The module also takes advantage of Motorola's advanced software architecture that allows auto-detection and decoding of audio algorithms such as Dolby Digital®, DTS, and MPEG. This software allows post processing phases from Motorola and third parties such as Graphic EQ, Karaoke, SRS TruSurround, Pacific Microsonics HDCD, Soundfields, and many others.

The SSM reference design has all the components found in a standard 5.1 digital decoder system and is designed to allow customers to develop very cost effective applications. The SSM features a single clock source for the DSP and audio clocking, and Dolby® certified digital volume control. In addition, the DSP itself has a number of pins that are used as general purpose interface pins, which control external components, such as codecs. These interface pins can also be used as headphone or microphone drivers or as multiple analog and digital inputs or outputs.

``Motorola's team of digital audio professionals has been working very hard to develop this reference design, and we are very pleased with the potential it brings for meeting the needs of the emerging multi-channel audio markets,'' said Valerie Hase, Operations Manager of Motorola's Digital Audio Operation. ``Interest levels for a high quality quick-turn design solution have been increasing rapidly in new audio markets like China and South America.''

Further, the SSM has been processed through all Dolby final certification procedures to assure its viability as a certifiable reference design, making it even more attractive to designers. The reference design is currently available in limited quantities as a development tool in a mother board and daughter card configuration. The motherboard has a suggested resale of $750, and the daughter card is expected to resale for $250. Documentation, including schematics and layout plots, is also available.

Motorola has the capability to produce the SSM in very high volume (250K units) with a targeted suggested resale of $30 early next year.

About Motorola

As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector offers multiple DigitalDNA(TM) solutions which enable its customers to create new business opportunities in the consumer, networking and computing, transportation, and wireless communications markets. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $7.4 billion (USD) in l999. http://sps.motorola.com/semiconductor

Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1998 were $33.1 billion (USD). http://www.motorola.com/

Symphony and DigitalDNA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.

CONTACT: Flip Lockhoof, 480-814-3670, or R16293@motorola.com, or Betsy Hughes, US and the Americas, 512-895-6503, or fax, 512-895-8719, or Betsy.Hughes@motorola.com, or Regina Cirmonova, Europe, +41-22799-1258, or r48996@email.sps.mot.com, all of Motorola, Inc.; or Koichi Yoshimura of Motorola Japan Ltd., +81-3-3280-8672 or fax, +81-3-3440-0338, or rty490@email.sps.mot.com; or Gloria Shiu, Hong Kong, of Motorola Semiconductors, +852-2661-8237, or fax, +852-2661-5709, or r42970@email.sps.mot.com; or Tabitha Baily, 818-879-5135, or fax, 818-8790-5137, or cell, 818-621-9224, or tabitha@funkypuppypr.com, or Audrey Armstrong, 408-354-9053, or fax, 408-395-8063, or audrey@funkypuppypr.com, both for Motorola.

SOURCE: Motorola SPS