Last Updated: 03.18.2008
Sonic Focus Audio Enhancement Technology
Hailed in Award Winning PC Motherboard Design
LAKE TAHOE, Calif., March 18, 2008 - Sonic Focus, an ARC International company (LSE: ARK), today announced that its audio enhancement technology was strongly praised by editors of one of the world's premier PC review organizations. Sonic Focus' Adaptive Dynamics™ audio engine powers the new P5E3 Premium motherboard from ASUStek Computer, Inc., one of the largest branded motherboard suppliers in the world. ASUStek's products can be found in one out of every three desktop PCs sold. Editors of the PC review site gave the P5E3 motherboard a "Gold Choice Award" and stated "You get one of the best sounding audio solutions we have ever heard in an integrated chipset."
ARC Acquires Sonic Focus
Platinum Record and 2008 CES Showcase Award
Winning Provider of Sound Enhancement Technology
SAN JOSE, Calif., and ST. ALBANS, England, February 12, 2008 - ARC International (LSE: ARK) today announced that it has acquired Sonic Focus, Inc., a privately held U.S. company located in Northern California. Sonic Focus provides award winning audio enhancement technology that already has achieved design wins in a number of desktop PCs and laptops, and currently is designed into a wide range of consumer electronics products. Sonic Focus's products recreate studio quality audio when audio fidelity has been degraded due to digital compression. Sonic Focus's products are widely considered to have the most robust audio solutions for music enthusiasts, and bring natural surround sound to digitally compressed stereo files. See companion announcement released today, February 12, 2008 from Sonic Focus about the integration of the two companies' products.
Together with technologies from previous acquisitions, Sonic Focus's audio enhancement software builds on ARC's ability to bring higher quality audio and video solutions to companies throughout the consumer electronics value chain. This strategy was outlined at the recently held ConfigCon™ Silicon Valley developer conference where 1,000 people registered to listen to ARC and some of its key partners, including Intel and Microsoft, talk about "Enabling the YouTube Generation." A highlight video is available at: www.youtube.com
Sonic Focus Makes its Revolutionary Audio Enhancement Technology Available on ARC® Sound and ARC Sound Advanced Subsystems
LAKE TAHOE, Calif., February 12, 2008 - Sonic Focus, an ARC International (LSE: ARK) company, today announced that it will deliver its award-winning audio enhancement technology on the ARC® Sound and ARC Sound Advanced subsystems used today in numerous SoC solutions. Accordingly, Sonic Focus will port and optimize their audio post-processing algorithms and software to ARC's audio platforms, which will be available for licensing directly by OEM companies worldwide. The combination of Sonic Focus's and ARC's solutions will enable unsurpassed audio fidelity for consumers using a wide range of electronic products including mobile handsets, and car audio and home theater systems. This announcement is part of the acquisition of Sonic Focus by ARC International that was disclosed today. For more information about the acquisition, see companion announcement released from ARC International dated February 12, 2008.
CES 2008: Bel Canto & Sonic Focus Awarded CES Innovations Honors
Analog Devices' SHARC Selected as Audio Processor
The Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK delivers audiophile quality from compressed audio sources
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Bel Canto and Sonic Focus, Inc. have been awarded CES Innovations 2008 honors in the Audio Components category for their collaborative effort on the Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK. Bel Canto and Sonic Focus will be attending the CES Unveiled press event on January 5, 2008 and can be contacted for a private demonstration throughout CES 2008.
Billed as the "premier iPod docking solution for the audiophile market," the ULTRA-DOCK uses Sonic Focus technology to upscale and refine compressed music and soundtracks to 7.1 channel / 96kHz / 24-bit quality. The ULTRA-DOCK's 24/96 digital output will optimally drive the award-winning Bel Canto DAC3 along with other DAC/processors. Internally the ULTRA-DOCK uses superior components such as Analog Devices' SHARC ADSP-21369 processor with a 32-bit floating-point DSP core and 24/96 ADC and DACs.
"We wanted to build an unrivaled iPod docking solution that would maximize the iPod experience and create a truly enjoyable 7.1 theater sound. With the help of our friends at Sonic Focus and Analog Devices, we've achieved that goal with the ULTRA-DOCK," said John Stronczer, Bel Canto's CEO.
Said Tom Paddock, CEO and founder, Sonic Focus, "Other high-end docks ignore the fundamental problem when using the iPod as a content source: audio fidelity is degraded when highly compressed music files are played back through audiophile components. Listeners don't get the great sound they deserve when compressed audio is simply passed through to the speakers with magnified compression artifacts. The ULTRA-DOCK solves that problem with a winning combination of Sonic Focus refinement and Extrapolator technologies along with superior Bel Canto hardware design."
CEDIA 2007: Bel Canto to Include Sonic Focus Technology in Future Products for the Performance Audio Market
Joint collaboration to establish a new class of audiophile products for today's content
DENVER, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- CEDIA EXPO -- Bel Canto, Inc. and Sonic Focus, Inc., announce a joint collaboration to develop products for the premier audio market. Combining Bel Canto's superior audio hardware expertise with Sonic Focus' highly-acclaimed refinement technology will create a class of products to unite the convenience of today's online delivery models with the needs of the premium audio market. "Our goal is simple -- design and develop performance audio equipment that takes you closer to the original performance and the intent of the artists, engineers and producers. Sonic Focus can help us achieve that goal with today's compressed media content," says John Stronczer, Bel Canto's CEO.
Said Tom Paddock, CEO and founder, Sonic Focus, "Music and movies are migrating to the convenience of online downloads, but at the expense of audio fidelity. Sonic Focus technology helps restore the clarity, detail, and realism commonly lost in data compression. Combined with Bel Canto's superior hardware, even the most discriminating audiophiles will be able to enjoy the transportability of an iPod* without sacrificing quality."
CES Innovations Award: Audio Components
Bel Canto Design Ltd.'s Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK was selected as an Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Audio Components product category.
The Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK is the premier audiophile iPod/iPhone docking solution, utilizing Sonic Focus™ technology to upscale and refine compressed music and soundtracks to 96kHz / 24 bit quality.
Audio || By: Gary Key - 18 Sept, 2007
"The move to Windows Vista has allowed ADI to introduce Sonic Focus BlackHawk... technology. This technology encompasses the full suite of Sonic Focus's PC audio technologies, including their Adaptive Dynamics, Extrapolator, and X-Matrix processes allow the user to optimize the quality of compressed audio streams ...our subjective opinion is that it works, and works very well..."
>Read the full article
Wednesday September 5, 11:03 am ET
DENVER, Sept. 5 CEDIA EXPO -- Bel Canto, Inc. and Sonic Focus, Inc., announce a joint collaboration to develop products for the premier audio market. Combining Bel Canto's superior audio hardware expertise with Sonic Focus' highly-acclaimed refinement technology will create a class of products to unite the convenience of today's online delivery models with the needs of the premium audio market.
"Our goal is simple -- design and develop performance audio equipment that takes you closer to the original performance and the intent of the artists, engineers and producers. Sonic Focus can help us achieve that goal with today's compressed media content," says John Stronczer, Bel Canto's CEO.
Said Tom Paddock, CEO and founder, Sonic Focus, "Music and movies are migrating to the convenience of online downloads, but at the expense of audio fidelity. Sonic Focus technology helps restore the clarity, detail, and realism commonly lost in data compression. Combined with Bel Canto's superior hardware, even the most discriminating audiophiles will be able to enjoy the transportability of an iPod* without sacrificing quality."
July 9, 2007, 2:52 pm
Asus Launched Blitz Extreme and P5K Premium
Author: Visionary
...The P5K Premium also comes with built-in AI Audio 2 that features Sonic Focus Technology. Especially designed for the Windows Vista environment, this technology allows users to experience crisp and clear sounds right out of the box for digital home entertainment purposes. Sonic Focus Technology is able to restore and compensate for clarity and quality of compressed audio (up to 8 channels) in all movies, music and games. Furthermore, it provides users with stereo to multi-channel sound field expansion. This creates realistic front and rear environments during the running of all multimedia or gaming applications. Another great feature of Sonic Focus Technology is Virtualized surround sound (6 or 8 Channels to Stereo) - which adds added vocal clarity for use with stereo speakers or headphones.
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM
2 Will Get You 7.1
Author: Scott Wilkinson
Surround sound is one of the biggest advances to have been made in audio reproduction for quite some time. But what about all the existing 2-channel content? Is there a way to expand it to fill a multichannel surround-sound system? Many have tried to devise algorithms that derive center and surround channels from a 2-channel source, but most of those algorithms produce less than satisfying results.
Sonic Focus (www.sonicfocus.com) is taking a different approach to the problem. Instead of manipulating the signal's phase and delay in various ways to simulate the extra channels, the company has developed an algorithm called Extrapolator that uses physical modeling to synthesize a multichannel sound field.
Extrapolator is part of a software-based, floating-point DSP engine called BlackHawk, which includes several functional elements. Unlike many other DSP algorithms, BlackHawk does not reduce the dynamic range of the input to allow headroom for the processing math in order to avoid clipping distortion. Instead, the Sonic Focus algorithms are based on a look-ahead analysis, which allows a greater dynamic range and lower distortion.
The input signal first encounters the SmartStream block, which uses four sophisticated fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms to analyze the audio waveform in real time. This allows BlackHawk to select which of the 20 available DSP algorithms will be applied to the signal.
FIG. 1: Sonic Focus's Extrapolator uses physical modeling to create a virtual front sound field that emphasizes the vocals and solo instruments, and a virtual rear sound field that minimizes those elements and adds detail to the background sounds and ambience.
The next block is called Adaptive Dynamics Refinement System (ADRS), which identifies the qualities that are typically lost in digital compression schemes (such as MP3, AAC, and WMA) and reconstructs that information in an effort to reverse the effects of lossy compression. It also separates the vocal and solo instruments from the background and ambience information.
Then the signal enters Extrapolator, which creates two virtual acoustic environments: one in front of the listener and the other behind (see Fig. 1). The front sound field emphasizes vocals and solo instruments, and the rear sound field adds detail to the background effects and overall ambience while minimizing the vocals and solo instruments. Using physical-modeling techniques, the algorithm can simulate various acoustic environments while avoiding the picket-fencing effect (vector-based dropouts at certain positions in the sound field) common to surround-sound simulators that rely on phase and delay. In addition, Extrapolator does not depend on preencoded matrix information, which means it works with all forms of audio.
The resulting 5.1- or 7.1-channel signal passes through another new algorithm called StudioEQ, the final element of the BlackHawk DSP signal chain. StudioEQ has 8 channels of 32-bit, real-time equalization for final mastering. The algorithm uses tube modeling based on high-end studio equalizers to generate filters of any shape, a feature not available on low-cost EQs until now. Upon leaving StudioEQ, the signal can drive a 5.1- or 7.1-channel surround system.
BlackHawk can be implemented on various hardware platforms. For example, Sonic Focus is working with Analog Devices to port it to the latter's chip sets. It can also run on the latest generation of general-purpose processors under the upcoming Windows Vista operating system. It will be optimized with SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) streaming and parallel instructions for multicore processors, and the projected overhead is less than 15 percent of the CPU's bandwidth.
Sonic Focus intends to demonstrate a prototype of BlackHawk at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2007, with commercial products to follow later in the year. The new algorithms could usher in a whole new era of high-quality multichannel audio from low-cost tools — a trend I heartily applaud.
The State of PC Audio
ExtremeTech Article, 11/28/2006
The Software Story
The best PC hardware in the world is a doorstop without good software. That's certainly the case with PC sound hardware, be it integrated audio or discrete sound cards.
As PC processors have become more capable, the integrated audio purveyors have been able to add more software capabilities to their products. We mentioned automatic jack sensing, above, which eases confusion when connecting microphones, speakers, and other devices.
Software to modify sound streams on the fly is also becoming more popular. These include Sonic Focus, which modifies an audio stream in the time domain to create a broader sound stage and enhance compressed digital music to restore the clarity that's often lost with aggressive compression. A base version of Sonic Focus is bundled with some motherboards from Intel and ASUS (the Intel version is known as Intel Audio Studio.)
...Creative's answer to Sonic Focus is known as Crystallizer....
ADI, Sonic Focus Team Up to Enhance Entertainment PC
Electronic News, 10/23/2006
By Jessica Davis
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) and Sonic Focus are combining their technologies to enable what they
say will offer enhanced clarity, brilliance, depth and warmth of audio playback.
ADI's SoundMAX integrated motherboard audio will now include Sonic Focus Adaptive Dynamics technology.
In addition to the better sound, the technology can also restore information lost when MP3 and other
compressed files are created, improving their fidelity.
..."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, in a statement. "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."
Audio Reference: On-Board, Consumer, and Pro Solutions
Author: Derek Wilson
"Audio enhancement software by Sonic Focus actually does a good job of delivering on its promises where all other software of a similar sort (that this reviewer has heard) falls short."
ASUS Announces Striker Extreme with Sonic Focus DailyTech.com
Author: Anh Huynh (Blog)
The Striker Extreme features plenty of extras to
please enthusiasts as well. ASUS has equipped the Striker Extreme
with an LCD Poster on the back I/O for easy system boot-process
diagnostics. In addition to the LCD Poster the back I/O features
EL lighting for easy identification of the ports in dark areas.
Speaking of lighting the Striker Extreme features LED's strategically
placed around the motherboards that will light up the motherboard
with a flip of a switch—located on the rear I/O. To further
ease tweaking ASUS has equipped the Striker Extreme with three onboard
switches. Power, reset and reset CMOS switches are available directly
on the motherboard.
The last unique feature to the ASUS Striker Extreme is the SupremeFX audio card. This audio card is home to an Analog Devices SoundMAX high definition audio codec. With onboard SoundMAX high definition audio, users can experience true EAX 2.0 positional audio and future support Sonic Focus technologies in Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista. Also bundled with the Striker Extreme is a stereo array microphone that works with SoundMAX noise cancellation algorithms. Also supported by the onboard audio is DTS Connect technology for multi-channel audio encoding.
Intel QX6700 Extreme Quad Core CPU Review (Intel 975XBX2-BadAxe2 Motherboard)
Author: Doc Overclock
"...Today, virtually every motherboard on the market supports HDA"... "The clarity with Sonic Focus is very clear compared
to when Dolby Digital processing is used."
>Read
the full article
ANALOG DEVICES establishes new level of PC audio performance with SOUNDMAX® and SONIC FOCUS™ technology
Agreement signals next generation of SoundMAX technology
Norwood, MA and Silicon Valley, CA(10/23/2006) - Analog Devices, Inc., (NYSE: ADI) and Sonic Focus, Inc., announced today that ADI's industry-standard SoundMAX® integrated motherboard audio will now include Sonic Focus™ Adaptive Dynamics™ technology. Together with the SoundMAX codec, Sonic Focus technology enhances the clarity, brilliance, depth and warmth of all audio playback, from MP3 files to DVD audio, for both stereo and multi-speaker systems. 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.
Adding Sound to the Mix
By Rob Enderle
"Intel and Sonic Focus showcased the next
generation of sound on Intel motherboards. We have evidently reached
a performance level where a PC can replace custom audio equipment
costing tens of thousands of dollars and reproduce sounds at a granular
level. Providing Dolby and THX quality
has been possible for some time, but now (Sonic Focus) can extend
far beyond this.
While we still haven't figured out how to produce smells to correlate
with the right titles and speakers, you can now close your eyes
and imagine being inside the virtual world created by a game or
movie... the improvement should justify a chair upgrade because
I -- and I imagine, many of you -- will be spending a lot more time
playing increasingly engaging games."
>Read
the full article
Intel D975XBX: Intel brings their Bad-Axe to
Market
The excellent Intel Audio Studio (Sonic Focus) software suite provides Jack-Sensing, S/PDIF Out support, interrupt capability, and Dolby Master Studio support among other options. The audio output... in the music, video, and DVD areas is very good to excellent.
The included Intel Audio Studio software offers excellent configuration options in an impressive yet easy to use package...displayed excellent sound characteristics in music, video, and DVD playback throughout our testing and should seriously be considered...
Technology@Intel Magazine
"Want an Audio Engineer with Your Next Intel® Desktop Board?""Overview: Sonic Focus* Software Heightens Audio"
"The perceived quality of PC audio can be limited by the effects of digital media compression, such as MP3, as well as the relatively low power and poor dynamic range of many entry-level PC speakers. Now you can add a new dimension of quality to the listening experience with new Intel® Desktop Boards based on Intel® 865 chipsets and support for Intel® Pentium® 4 processors featuring Hyper-Threading Technology (HT Technology). The other essential ingredient is Sonic Focus* software, which is exclusively available for a limited time on these Intel platforms."
"The combination of the latest Intel Desktop Boards with integrated audio and Sonic Focus software enables PC users to experience audio quality that has been literally unheard-of before now in mainstream systems. If you are looking for maximum 'Wow Factor' from your next PC, give these platforms a personal audition soon."
>Read the full article(.PDF)
Extremetech.com
IDF Report: Audio Happenings
Sonic Focus, developer of the Intel Audio Studio application
was also on hand to demo... the main new features in version
2.0 is that its Multichannel Adaptive Refinement System engine
will now have two virtual 64-bit DSP cores to process its effects....
Sonic Focus was ...showing off a prototype of a LightDrive receiver,
which was a combination of an ADAT receiver, and a digital amplifier
capable of outputting 180-watts per channel into a 4-Ohm load. ">Read the full article
The Register
Intel updates
Entertainment PC with audio 'reality amp'
"As [Audio Studio] also ties into Sonic Focus' Multi-channel (Adaptive) Refinement System, dubbed by CTO Tom Paddock a "reality amplifier". Using a pair of 64-bit DSPs, (Sonic Focus) provides real-time sound wave analysis and reshaping - the practical upshot of which is the ability to restore to 'lossy' compressed audio formats like MP3, WMA and AAC much of the detail lost in the compression process, making for more vibrant, realistic sound."
>Read the full article
Intel.com
Extreme Gaming PC with Premium Audio
"Experience the latest in Intel® technologies, featured on the Extreme Series Intel Desktop Board. Come see the latest Intel High Definition Audio solution using the ADAT optical standard in 24-bit, 7.1 channels. The sound experience will be driven by Intel Audio Studio 2.0 with a new 64-bit DSP engine from Sonic Focus...
ExtremeTec.com
Intel Partners To Jazz Up Entertainment PC
"A demonstration of the next-generation EPC at IDF will
also include a prototype 24-bit 7.1-channel digital receiver from
SonicFocus that decodes ADAT signals with Class D high-efficiency
amplification."
>Read
the full article
Tom's Hardware Guide.com
Lakeport chipsets 945/955 to receive ADAT audio capability
"The (ADAT) format will be offered in the framework of Intel's Audio Studio 2 software (IAS 2) and offer full 7.1 channel audio (seven channels plus one channel line-out) as well as audio output that is up-converted from 16 to 24 bit and a provided dynamic range of 144 dB.
Intel claims that ADAT will bring professional audio quality especially to Entertainment PCs (EPC) that are equipped with dual-core processors. The system was demonstrated in combination with a prototype ADAT receiver from Sonic Focus, that Intel may recommend to system partners as add-on to future EPCs. The demonstrated prototype receiver, dubbed "Lightdrive", supported 24-bit audio upconversion and provided an output of 180 watts per channel. We were not able to review the system, but its immediately clear even to untrained ears that the device provided a much more lively music and movie experience than a 5.1 channel audio system.
Sonic Focus and Intel did not go into details about availability and pricing of the Lightdrive system, mentioned however that talks with system builders are underway. The receiver is panned to appear in various versions ranging from entry-level systems to high-end devices. When it comes to market, we expect several product versions in a range from about $300 to more than $1500.
Intel sees the Lightdrive device as another selling point for an EPC. Obviously, Intel does not intend to stop with DVR and picture management functionality for the EPC. The prototype is a signal that the company has its eyes on all entertainment electronics and in this case will go after the receiver market."
ExtremeTech
Sonic Focus to provide Intel Audio Studio
Application
Intel has partnered with Sonic Focus, to develop the Intel Audio Studio (IAS) application, which will be the software front-end for motherboard-down audio solutions on Intel 915 and 925-based motherboards. Designed to compliment the standard Windows mixer, IAS will bring Sonic Focus' Adaptive Dynamics Refinement System (ADRS) technology to Intel motherboards that feature High Definition Audio (HDA). ADRS will run its DSP algorithms on the CPU, and according to Sonic Focus, ADRS will consume only around 3% of a 3GHz Prescott.
Sonic Focus comes from the audio engineering world, and the company's
founder has done sound engineering for Santana as well as The Grateful
Dead. The company's ADRS technology provides adaptive filtering
and three-dimensional interpolation to help restore original audio
quality. IAS will bring together Sonic Focus Audio Refinement
and Dolby Digital Live, and promises to give end users with
HDA-based systems a better overall audio experience.
Coming into Focus
Sonic Focus' digital audio refinement technology improves the subjective
quality of listening to compressed digital audio. It can be applied
to digital music, telecommunications, wireless applications, and
portable devices.
Sonic Focus' technology touts the following features:
MP3 audio quality restoration improves high sample-rate MP3 files..., while dramatically improving lower-rate MP3
files.
Full-range clarity enhancement adds vocal warmth and clarity to
movie and game dialog, and brilliance to solo instruments.
Dynamic range compensation energizes the audio stream, enabling
users to turn up the volume without a perceived fall-off in bass
response.
Audio environment modeling puts users in control of sound stage;
studio acoustics are preconfigured by professional audio engineers
to complement different media types and configurations of speakers
and headphones. Bass definition processing analyzes and intelligently
manages low-range signals, without muffling the midrange. Adaptive
waveform analysis analyzes and adjusts audio streams based on content,
with no requirement for users to constantly adjust settings.
Intel Audio Studio
Translation to English from Russian
"Intel's (and Sonic Focus') software engineers have done a great job. One can't find anything that is missing. We can only rejoice together with those who have bought Intel desktop boards and hope that other manufacturers will write software on the same level!"
PC MAGAZINE: Intel High Definition Audio
July 2004 "Cover" Featured Article / Sonic Focus to Provide Intel Audio Studio
Application
" IAS does a good job of subtly applying its DSP effects
to music material, Sonic Focus is performing some pretty serious
leg work that goes way beyond simple EQ tweeks...Intel Audio
Studio provides a nice extra that will adorn several of
Intel's latest motherboards and be offered as an upsell on many
more. "
Gamers-Depot.com / 925/915 Chipset & P4 3.6GHz / 3.4GHz EEP Processors / July 28, 2004
"Intel's Audio Studio software is far and away the most exhaustive we've seen for on-board audio. Intel did a fabulous job of giving the end-user maximum control of their respective sound-field and also allows one to customize their listening experience by picking from a variety of preset environments."
"High Definition Audio is something that has escaped previous Intel chipsets...This new audio technology... has the best audio quality this side of an Audigy 2 ZS. Relatively low CPU overhead and being embedded will ensure that many gamers will have no need to go purchase an additional sound card. Quite frankly, unless there are specific tools available on an add-in sound card you need, we really can't see why anyone would go buy a sound card after hearing how good this one sounds."
"...(Intel Audio Studio) is very clean and simple to use...The voices sounded a bit muffled and dull...(but) when Sonic Focus was enabled, it made a world of difference in the audio quality....(on-board audio)...doesn't sound too good without... Sonic Focus... "
Tom's Hardware / Intel's HD Audio PC Sound Ambitions / Jean-Pierre Roche
"Intel Audio Studio provides a good interface with the spectrum analyzer, volume control and balance between the channels, as well as configuration and test utilities for connections. (Sonic Focus) contributes DSP...that makes it possible to simulate the acoustics of various environments...the parameters...adapt to a rendering to your own taste and your own installation."
Intel 925X/915G / Benjamin Sun
"...Sonic Focus is an audio refinement technology that helps clarify sound from compressed sources..."
"what DO I like about the new platform? The new audio standard is excellent with full support for 7.1 audio built in to the platform."
Motherboards.org: 915-925 Platform / Chipset
and Features / by Doc Overclock
"Intel's new Audio Studio is a complete sound shaping tool that allows users to customize their 2.0 through 7.1 surround sound atmosphere...including sliding controls for the size of room, the distance from the music and preset rooms/environments... with vastly improved clarity. What we hear is important to audiophiles and gamers alike, and this applies especially to those who spend a lot of time stuck to their computer... Companies like ADI and Realtek, working in conjunction with Intel and Sonic Focus, want to change the way you hear your PC--in a big way. Intel's new High Definition Audio is their answer to the enthusiasts' call and offers the user a vast improvement over the previous generation's technology..."
"...MP3 audio is greatly enriched with the combined efforts of the platform group and Sonic Focus. The Intel Audio Studios' Sonic Focus technology puts back the elements back that are lost during compression making for a much bigger and refined audio experience that has to be heard to be fully appreciated."
"The sound is one aspect of the new platforms that is worthy of your attention and as Intel refines the technology look for even better results."
Motherboard: Intel D865PERL (Springdale)
Review
"Sonic Focus
is the best software enhancement tool available..."
"...Sonic Focus will change the way you listen
to audio on your home PC..If you could see sound, picture Sonic
Focus as looking through a new clear pair of glasses in lieu of
your older yet functional pair and that may be a somewhat strange
but accurate way of describing what Sonic Focus does for your PC
sound .."
"...Clarity. This is the key word when one describes
the essence of what this new software does for your audio environment
as it truly brings out and focuses your sounds life. Tom Paddock
and his team have developed a very viable piece of software in the
form of Sonic Focus that is currently only offered on the Intel
line...Sonic Focus really shines using MP3s and this is one area
that highly impressed everyone there for the demonstration. Games
and Movies are also enhanced and unlike most products that go about
just getting a louder sound, Sonic Focus clarifies the sound without
all the noise associated with that approach..."
"...Audiophiles are the ones who should truly take a look here
as the (Intel) D865PERL has at the moment, the best on-board
sound both hardware and software wise and is very user oriented...
"
By: Dave Salvator
"...We actually liked this one. We've been subjected to countless apps that claim to enrich the audio experience and within five minutes of being "enriched," we find ourselves reaching either for the off-switch or a ball-peen hammer. IAS is especially useful in...marginal speakers where certain types of frequency response are lacking.
HotHardware.com / Intel Audio Studio and High Def Audio performance / By Author: Dave Altavilla / High Def Audio with High Def Control
In terms of audio quality and performance...the sound quality was fantastic and some of the noise cancellation and environmental control features were really quite good. For on-board audio you can't beat it, and it easily rivals high end discrete PC audio solutions on the market today.
Bit-Tech Feature Report : Sounding off
"...A small group of UK journalists, including myself were invited to a sound demo carried out by Sonic Focus, the company charged by Intel to develop the Intel Audio Studio, the underlying software to analyse and modify the sound stream to restore compressed audio to its former glory. If any of you have heard through a reference Hi-Fi system the effect that encoding to mp3 has on a high quality audio stream you may never buy an online mp3 again. "
"The sound engineers of Sonic Focus, absolute specialists in audio streaming and psycho-acoustic designs, have created an engine (Adaptive Dynamics Refinement System) that through software alone has the capability to restore the compressed sound. I was sceptical at first, as I questioned how you could put something back in that had been discarded at the encoding stage; my scepticism was soon to be laid to rest. The demo, in both stereo and 5.1 matrixed surround was breathtaking; the realism given to Eric Clapton's guitar was amazing considering the 128kb rate mp3 that was its source."
"... I was given a second demonstration of the mp3 playback, this time through non reference speakers (the type most people would use on their home PCs) and, again, the result was incredible.
Bit-Tech.Net: High Definition Audio
"...I can tell you from testing it out on my 7.1 setup
that it's certainly a huge step up from AC'97 and in all honesty
there's an undiscernable difference in quality even with
the
Audigy 2. It's a superb onboard solution that has the benefit
of being hardware based and very flexible...you don't suffer
degradation of sound quality."
Back to the Motherboard /E Commerce Times/ By Robyn Weisman
...The most dramatic improvement to compression formats may occur as a result of changes to computer motherboards, rather than through tweaks to the formats themselves. Intel seems to be of that mind.
Since May 2003, all of the company's motherboards have shipped with new technology from a Northern California company called Sonic Focus. According to SonicFocus CEO Tom Paddock, his company's technology returns sound quality lost in the compression process.
"Sonic Focus refines files by removing granularity and adding more detail, taking holes and putting [in] information we think is missing from the file," Paddock told the E-Commerce Times. He said Sonic Focus technology works by interfacing between the music file and audio codec I/O, using the processor to translate the digital audio signal. Indeed, the translation process is controlled by a specific processor-based algorithm that acts much like a piece of system software -- except that it operates behind the scenes.
Although the technology is optimized for Intel's digital signal processor (DSP), Paddock said other devices and non-Intel motherboards also can make use of it and that Sonic Focus is negotiating deals with other vendors.
Compression Is Everywhere: Additionally, Paddock pointed out that compression is
not only a file format issue, but also one that is evident in CDs
and throughout the recording process, from recording to mixing to
mastering.
He noted that computers are taking on more and more home audio features
as they become more integrated into the home audio environment.
"There's a lot of prejudice against computer audio right now, and we're trying to change that," he said. "Through very inexpensive software, [users] can get close to or better than CD listening experience from their computers. Hearing is believing."
Intel D865PERL (Springdale-PE) / Stephen Cooper
"(A) new audio feature that will be shipping with the Intel
Desktop Boards is something called Sonic Focus. As we all know,
modern digital music files such as .mp3's suffer from some
form of sound quality loss due to compression artifacts which result
in a lack of true clarity from modern PC speakers. Granted,
improvements in PC speakers and compression technology have helped
to cure some of this problem, but are no where near eliminated. This is where Sonic Focus...technology comes into play."
"The Sonic Focus...technology is able to overcome these problems of compression artifacts and other quality degradations by analyzing the audio stream being played back in real time, then restoring and enriching the sound back to its original performance qualities. The Sonic Focus... software adds warmth and depth to music and games in order to compensate for the distortion found in modern digital audio files. The Sonic Focus software comes with 10 preset audio recording environments such as Audio Studio, Jazz Session, and Rock Concert. The user also has the capability to adjust settings for the audio playback at will. These settings include Dynamics, Brilliance, Deep Bass, Depth, and Width. "
" The Sonic Focus Technology incorporates an adaptive non-linear
audio processing technique that enhances the sound quality for any
digital audio source such as DVD's. The technology works in
acoustical space, time, and frequency domains. Sonic Focus enhances
sound by creating a more spacious and controllable sound field.
It utilizes deepening and clarifying algorithms based on real
time adaptive processing and is compatible with all current audio
technologies. "
"Sonic Focus analyzes the various parts of the sound and then provides adaptive processing, three dimensional interpolation and then redistributes the sonic energy over the entire listening field. The audio material that is passed through Sonic Focus is buffered and analyzed in real time for a number of clues about the original sound performance. The software then manages the restoration process and gives you control over the performance and sound parameters."
"The technology analyzes the various components of the sound, provides adaptive processing and spatial interpolation, and redistributes sonic energy across the entire sound spectrum. in addition, the technology creates a "sweet spot" continuum in a three-dimensional hemispherical space that allows the listener to move around the room without any discernible degradation in sound."
"Based on a pro-audio approach to DSP signal management and psycho-acoustic modeling, the technology features
quasi-artificial intelligence algorithms... "
>Read
the full article
INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 17, 2004 -- Sonic Focus, Inc. today announced that Intel® Audio Studio will include Sonic Focus Adaptive Dynamics Refinement System™ (ADRS) technology. Intel Audio Studio is a new digital-audio software controller that manages a broad range of audio control capabilities and will be available on Intel® Desktop Boards in the second quarter of this year.
"Intel Audio Studio underscores Intel's commitment to provide world class audio solutions for our customers," said Joel Christensen Director of Marketing, Intel Desktop Board operations. "Sonic Focus ADRS and Dolby Digital technologies are key in providing improved audio quality and hi-fidelity to Intel Desktop Board customers."
>Read the full press release (.PDF)
At CES 2008, Tom Paddock speaks to Dave Graveline about the Sonic Focus technology behind the Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK.
