Conexant Launches Next-Generation Audio Synthesis Software; Integrates Professional Audio Streaming, MIDI And Live Musical Performance.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1999--

Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) Wednesday expanded its audio offering with a family of software audio modules for low-cost audio/modem solutions.

With the Conexant Player(TM) family, the company now offers the industry's most complete line of audio software products sold in combination with Conexant modems. Conexant's patented audio software solutions enable professional-quality wavetable audio synthesis for low-cost PCs.

The Conexant Player is the industry's first audio solution to combine the flexibility of software-based instruments with the real-time performance characteristics of Conexant's patented EndlessWave(TM) audio-streaming technology.

The Conexant Player consists of a MIDI sequencer, two General MIDI(TM)(GM) compatible sounds sets and a world-class synthesis engine with up to 256 voices of polyphony, allowing 256 notes to be played concurrently.

The Conexant Player

The Conexant Player is a Windows(R)-based software application that plays GM and GM2 files. It provides all the features of a conventional CD player including a playlist manager for hours of background music.

A piano keyboard appears on-screen for use during content audition/creation, and the MPU401 in/out port supports live performance with an external piano keyboard. Minimum system requirements are Pentium II 266 MHz or higher with Windows 95 or later operating system.

The Conexant Player features three user-selectable operation modes: Conexant's legacy WaveStream(TM) Soft Synthesizer, the EndlessWave Consumer(TM) and the EndlessWave Pro(TM).

With the legacy WaveStream mode, the user can create music with an 8 MB sound palette for GM instrument cache. In EndlessWave Consumer mode, music is created using a 14 MB GM instrument cache. Upgrading to the 150 MB or 500 MB sound libraries enables EndlessWave Pro mode, which provides access to sound libraries of unlimited size.

In EndlessWave Pro mode, real-time audio streaming is not limited by the system RAM as in the other modes. Instead, sounds from the hard drive/CD-ROM or Internet audio streaming engines can also be used to create music.

"Conexant's software audio technology is capable of emulating a hardware synthesizer, while at the same time reducing latency, the amount of time that passes between when a key is struck and when a sound is heard," said Conrad A. Maxwell, manager of technology planning for Conexant.

"The Conexant Player has the industry's lowest latency, enabling users to create and edit sounds for real-time performance. It's the answer for those who want to merge MIDI and Red Book audio into one interactive framework."

EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer(TM)

While other GM software products are limited by 2, 4 or 8 MB sound sets that reside in limited ROM or RAM, the EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer actually streams CD-quality instrument samples directly from the hard drive in real-time. This allows for breathtaking realism because artificial sound processing techniques like sample looping are no longer necessary.

The EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer supports the EndlessWave Consumer and EndlessWave Pro discrete modes of operation for maximum performance flexibility. It supports 44 KHz sampling rate, 16-bit resolution, less than 10 mS note-on latency and 256 voice polyphony with reverb and chorus effects.

The EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer can be extended using upgrade sound libraries of 150 MB and 500 MB for superior sounding MIDI for live performances.

Packaged as a WDM and VxD software upgrade for existing Conexant products, the EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer audio upgrade solution comes built into the Conexant Player and is available now.

The EndlessWave Editor(TM)

The EndlessWave Editor is available as an upgrade for professional audio creators who want to create custom libraries of sampled sounds or sound effects for MIDI playback. It can import SoundFonts (1.0, 2.0), Downloadable Sound (DLS 1.0, 2.0) files or .WAV files for custom library creation and allows for full control of the playback envelope as well as post filters.

Using the upgrade, the instrument pool can be edited to create unique sounds. In addition, custom files can be downloaded for live performances.

The EndlessWave Editor is a subset of NemeSys Music Technology's Professional GigaSampler(TM) Editor that was awarded a "Key Buy" in the February 1999 issue of Keyboard Magazine.

GigaSampler replaces multiple rackmount samplers for soundtrack creation in Hollywood studios and has been widely adopted by professional musicians to create big-theater movie scores, live-orchestra sessions and musical realism that cannot be achieved with workstations or traditional rack-mount samplers.

Conexant's EndlessWave sound sets were recently awarded the Fat Man's 1999 "Fat Seal" for musically balanced GM music systems. "Years ago it became clear to me that the 'general solution' to the major problems of interactive audio would be MIDI control of audio samples of any size. You can't do that without EndlessWave," said George "The Fat Man" Sanger of Fat Labs Inc.

"EndlessWave-based sampling has completely changed the way I look at samples and samplers. I wouldn't dream of going back to hardware based samplers now that I have this software," said Grammy award-winning producer and engineer, Larry Seyer.

"The GigaSampler is a real innovation compared to everything else out there. I would not have made my latest deadline if it weren't for this tool. EndlessWave has revolutionized sampling," commented composer Scott Gilman.

Availability

Conexant's audio software solutions are part of an audio/modem combo product family, which integrates V.90 modem functions. The family includes Conexant's RipTide(TM) digital controllers and AC-Link codecs: SoftAMC(TM) and SmartMC(TM).

Conexant's enhanced software audio upgrade supports WDM, VxD and DirectMusic(TM) architectures, includes the Conexant Player applet and uses the company's EndlessWave Soft Synthesizer. The soft audio family supports a variety of desktop and portable systems, including Intel(R), Acer, VIA and SIS chipsets.

The complete Conexant Player solution and sound library upgrades (150 MB and 500 MB) are available from NemeSys at www.nemesysmusic.com/conexant.

Additional information is available on Conexant's Web site www.conexant.com.

With revenues of more than $1.2 billion, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor products for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications.

These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks.

The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the Nasdaq-100 Index, which represents the largest and most active stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market across major industry groups.

This news release contains statements relating to future results of the company (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection of the related intellectual property; the successful implementation of the company's diversification strategy and restructuring plan; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; timely completion of Year 2000 modifications by the company and its key suppliers and customers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.

Note to Editors: Conexant, Conexant Player, EndlessWave, RipTide, SmartMC, SoftAMC and WaveStream are trademarks of Conexant Systems Inc. GigaSampler is a trademark of Nemesys Music Technology Inc. MIDI is a trademark of the Music Manufacturers Association. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.