1394 Trade Association Joins the AES to Establish New Use-Case Guidelines for FireWire-Enabled Professional Audio Applications; Rapid Growth of FireWire-based Pro Audio Products Leads to Joint Task Forces.

DALLAS -- The 1394 Trade Association and the Audio Engineering Society (AES) today announced a new joint project to support the rapidly expanding use of the FireWire standard in professional audio applications. E[acute accent]The 1394 TA and AES have established three task groups that will develop use-cases and set product and system performance criteria for FireWire-based recording, live-sound and audio-installation systems. The task groups will focus on clearly defining the specific requirements and expectations of audio professionals working in real-world situations. Developed through broad consultation, the use-cases will illuminate how FireWire can best serve the needs of Pro Audio users. The results will drive evaluation that can lead to both recommended practices and further development of standards. E[acute accent]This cooperation between the 1394 TA and AES follows the recent creation of the Trade Association's Pro Audio Working Group that was created in response to the rapid growth in the number and quality of FireWire-equipped music and Pro Audio systems and products now moving into the market. Approximately three dozen products already have been introduced in 2006, and more are expected before year's end, all taking advantage of the peer-to-peer connectivity with speed, distance, and guaranteed real-time streaming delivered by the FireWire technology. E[acute accent]Fred Speckeen of TC Group, chair of the Pro Audio Working Group, said, "FireWire fulfills critical customer needs for product simplicity, performance and connectivity. While initially built into I/O boxes for computer recording, FireWire is today being built into keyboards, mixers and other audio gear. FireWire devices are being networked together, and customers are asking manufacturers for complete FireWire-enabled systems that work together across brands and manufacturers." E[acute accent]Speckeen added that the cooperative efforts will assist system developers in managing the complexity of Pro Audio systems. "This joint 1394 TA-AES project brings together the technical and professional audio communities in a way that will help designers and manufacturers meet the needs of users. This is critical, customer-focused work that will lead to exciting and powerful Pro Audio systems that are enabled by the tremendous capabilities of FireWire," he said. E[acute accent]The three task groups will be led by three veteran leaders and innovators in the Pro Audio market. Robby Gurdan, who is President of XFiN, will chair the task group on audio system installations. Scott Peer, who serves as Advanced Technology Director at Shure, will lead the group focused on live sound. Filip Saelen, who is a senior product manager at Solid State Logic (SSL), is leading the recording group. Initial group meetings and discussions will be conducted via AES-hosted reflectors and conference calls. The 1394 Trade Association will host on-site sessions during its third quarter general meeting scheduled for San Diego July 31-Aug. 3; the AES will host additional meetings during the 121st AES Convention in San Francisco Oct. 5-8.

E[acute accent]The 1394 Trade Association is a global organization dedicated to the advancement and proliferation of the IEEE 1394 standard in the consumer electronics, computer, peripherals, automotive, industrial, and other markets. For more information, please visit www.1394ta.org.

E[acute accent]The Audio Engineering Society, now in its fifth decade, is the only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology. Its membership of leading engineers, scientists and other authorities has increased dramatically throughout the world, greatly boosting the society's stature and that of its members in a truly symbiotic relationship. Visit www.aes.org.