Crystal Semiconductor Ramps Volume Production Of Single-Chip Wavetable Music Synthesizer.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1997--Crystal Semiconductor Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS), today announced that its recently introduced wavetable music synthesizer chip (CS9236) has moved into 0.35-micron volume production at MiCRUS, a state-of-the-art wafer fab jointly owned by Cirrus Logic and IBM.

The CS9236 is the industry's first single-chip solution to offer high-quality wavetable synthesis for PC multimedia applications.

The MiCRUS facility is the result of a joint venture established between Cirrus Logic and IBM in 1994. This facility, along with Cirrus Logic's manufacturing joint venture with Lucent Technologies announced last fall, is part of the company's strategy to insure fab capacity to meet the demands of today's applications which require more complex and higher performing chips.

States Dr. Edward Ross, president of Cirrus Logic's Worldwide Manufacturing Group, "We are pleased to have been able to ramp production at the MiCRUS facility in such record time. Crystal certainly has taken advantage of our new-found capacity by providing a product that has strong customer demand."

The CS9236 allows manufacturers to include music synthesis as a standard feature in personal computers by integrating the entire wavetable synthesizer system -- Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controller, synthesis engine, sample ROM, effects processor and effects RAM -- into a single integrated circuit.

The CS9236 is ideal for applications requiring high-quality wavetable music synthesis in desktop computers, notebook computers, adapter cards, set-top boxes, game and karaoke machines, musical instruments and MIDI sound modules.

"The CS9236 is a major breakthrough in wavetable synthesis integration," explains Brad Fluke, director of marketing for Crystal's Computer Products Division. "The single-chip approach reduces the board space required to add high-quality music synthesis by a factor of ten and reduces the cost by more than 50 percent. The single 28-pin package makes it easy for system computer manufacturers to add an upgrade option for wavetable synthesis."

Pricing and Availability

The CS9236 chip solution is currently available in a 28-pin plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) and a 44-pin thin quad flat pack (TQFP) over the commercial temperature range of zero to 70 degrees C. The 28-pin PLCC sells for $12.90 in quantities of 10,000. The 44-pin TQFP sells for $13.90 in quantities of 10,000.

Crystal Semiconductor, headquartered in Austin, Texas, designs, manufactures and markets advanced mixed signal and digital integrated circuit solutions for applications in PC multimedia, wide area communications, LAN communications, consumer audio, DBS Set-Tops, DVD, data conversion and signal acquisition markets. Crystal is an active member of the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) and the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG).

For more information regarding the CS9236 chip and other audio ICs, contact Crystal Semiconductor Corporation, 4210 S. Industrial Drive, Austin, Texas 78744; Telephone [phone]; Fax [phone]; WWW http://www.crystal.com .

Cirrus Logic Inc. is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for the desktop and portable computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. The Company applies its system-level expertise in digital and analog design to innovate highly integrated, software-rich solutions.

Additional information about Cirrus Logic and its subsidiaries can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.cirrus.com/ or via fax-on-demand at 800/359-6414 (dial 510/249-4200 from outside the United States). -0-

Note to Editors: Product photography and datasheets available.

CONTACT: Crystal Semiconductor Corp.

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