Diamond drives PC sound to the next generation with new "Monster Sound" audio accelerator.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1997-- New standard in PC audio delivers true positional 3-D sound, multi-stream audio and Microsoft DirectSound and DirectSound 3-D API support Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :DIMD DIMD Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary ) a leader in Internet multimedia, Monday announced that its Monster Sound PCI-based audio accelerator will be available at retail in April at an estimated retail price of $199.95. Featuring the same 3-D audio technology ut PC gamers, multimedia aficionados and Intern DirectX APIs under Windows 95, a standard for ctput delivering thundering mus ic and sound eff the leading computer game developers including Activision, Lucas Arts Ltd., Interplay Productions, Virgin Interactive, Maxis, Rocket Science and Westwood Studios are currently developing new titles that, when combined with Monster Sound, will provide an awesome gaming experience. "The evolution of PC audio has lingered far behind that of other personal computer technologies, such as graphics accelerators, MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). video accelerators and modems," said Bill Schroeder, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and president of Diamond Multimedia. "Microsoft's DirectSound and DirectSound 3-D APvancements for PC audio in the last five years," said Dan Lavin, senior industry analyst at Dataquest. "We see products like Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound as a sieft/right, up/down and front/back) creating trt will have players ducking from helicopters, leaning into curves and looking over their shoulders for unseen enemies as they play their favorite combat and racing gamese research into achieving psycho-acoustically ng experience out there." Advanced Processis own Freedom 5600 multimedia data management ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. facilitates audio functions by connecting the host computosoft's DirectSound and DirectSound 3-D APIs pmmable DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive for the Latest Audio Upgrades ). Diamond is currently evaluating potential future upgrade offerings, including Dolby AC-3, the industry sound standard for upcoming DVD-ROM DVD-ROM: see digital versatile disc. A read-only DVD disc used to permanently store data files. DVD-ROM discs are widely used to distribute large software applications that exceed the capacity of a CD-ROM disc. software titles. Immersive 3-D Audio for the Internet For computer users who enjoy Internet gaming and exploring VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) A 3D graphics language used on the Web. After downloading a VRML page, its contents can be viewed, rotated and manipulated. Simulated rooms can be "walked into." The VRML viewer is launched from within the Web browser. worlds, Monster Sound also includes Intervista's WorldView world·view n. In both senses also called Weltanschauung. 1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. 2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. 2.0 VRML software, which provides true-to-life positional 3-D audio over the Internet. Now, Monster Sound users can benefit from compelling 3-D Internet audio without having to download additional plug-in applications. "Technologies such as the Monster Sound audio accelerator will provide a significant qualitative breakthrough in PC audio playback for today's advanced Internet games and environments," said Tony Parisi, president and chief technical officer of Intervista. "We're excited to have Diamond Multimedia bundle our WorldView 2.0 VRML software with its Monster Sound audio accelerator." Compatible with Legacy Audio for Older Game Titles For DOS-based PC game and multimedia titles, Monster Sound's architecture allows it to co-exist, side-by-side with FM-based sound cards already in use. In addition, Monster Sound also features state-of-the-art hardware wavetable synthesis for soundtracks and music applications developed with General MIDI. Audio-Intensive Games for Out-of-the-Box Enjoyment For consumers who can't wait to experience positional 3-D audio for themselves, Monster Sound will come bundled with hot new computer games developed to take advantage of DirectSound and DirectSound 3-D features. What ISVs Are Saying About Diamond's Monster Sound "For the dollar, the Monster Sound 3-D audio card produces the most realistic real-time 3-D audio on the market," said Brian Luzietti, musician for Interplay Productions. "Monster Sound adds a powerful new dimension to the 3-D gaming experience. It's an incredible experience to actually hear a monster's footsteps approaching from behind you," said Paul Pedriana, senior software engineer for Maxis. "Your next sound upgrade should be Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound." "With a card like this, games like `Rocket Jockey' can make lots of channels of 3-D sounds fly around in real-time, without slowing down the graphics one bit," said Tom Hayes, audio director for Rocket Science Games Rocket Science Games was a video game developer that created games for consoles and computers from 1993 to 1997. The company was responsible for games such as Obsidian, Rocket Jockey, and The Space Bar. Inc. "This is highly cool!" "At last! Diamond Multimedia and Aureal deliver a great sounding two-channel audio card that delivers high-quality, interactive 3-D audio," said Paul Mudra mudra In Buddhism and Hinduism, a symbolic gesture of the hands and fingers used in ceremonies, dance, sculpture, and painting. Hundreds of mudras are used in ceremony and dance, often in combination with movements of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. , director of audio development for Westwood Studios. Pricing and Availability Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound audio accelerator, including software bundle, will be available at retail in April through Diamond's worldwide network of retailers and authorized distributors for an estimated retail price of $199.95. Diamond Multimedia Diamond Multimedia is driving the Internet multimedia market by providing interactivity and connectivity solutions for home, business and professional desktop computer users, enabling them to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their desktops and through the Internet. Diamond accelerates multimedia from the Internet to the hard drive with products that include the Stealth series of media accelerators, the Monster series of entertainment 3-D and sound accelerators, the Fire series of professional 3-D and SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. accelerators, and the Supra A relational DBMS from Cincom Systems, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (www.cincom.com) that runs on IBM mainframes and VAXs. It includes a query language and a program that automates the database design process. series of modems and ISDN adapters. Diamond also markets multimedia and video phone upgrade kits. With headquarters in San Jose, Diamond has sales, marketing and technical support facilities in Vancouver, Wash.; Singapore; Hong Kong; Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo; Paris; Starnberg, Germany; and Winnersh, U.K. Diamond's products are sold through local and international distributors as well as directly to major retailers, VARs and OEMs worldwide. How to Contact Diamond Multimedia There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information: Internet Web site: http://www.diamondmm.com Diamond Multimedia's headquarters and Visual Systems Division: 408/325-7000, fax 408/325-7070 Communications Division (Supra brand modems) main phone number: 360/604-1400, fax 360/604-1401 European Division (Germany) +49-8151-266-0; (UK) +44-1189-444400; (France) +33-1-47561157 Korean Office (Seoul): +82-2-551-2700, fax +82-2-551-2710 Japanese Office (Tokyo): +81-3-5695-8401; fax +81-3-5695-8403 ASEAN ASEAN: see Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN in full Association of Southeast Asian Nations International organization established by the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in Office (Singapore): +65-353-9511, fax +65-353-9510 Hong Kong Office: +852-2375-9023, fax +852-2375-9021 Support Information Line for Communications: 800/774-4965 Product Support (Voice), Visual Systems: 408/325-7100; Communications: 541/967-2450; Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-330; Europe (UK) +44-1189-444444; ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. Support Center 408/325-7110; Fire GL Support Center: 408/325-7120; TDD/TTY Support: 541/967-2451 Product Support (Fax), Visual Systems: 408/325-7171; Communications: 541/967-2401, Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-331 Europe (UK): +44-1189-444445; (France) +33-1-47561139 Pre-sales Information, Visual Systems: 800/468-5846; Communications: 800/727-8772; Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. : 408/325-7476; Fax-On-Demand: 800/346-3329; International Fax-On-Demand: 201/433-1778 24-Hour Fax-On-Demand Service, Visual Systems: 800/380-0030; Communications: 541/967-0072 FTP sites: ftp FTP in full file transfer protocol Internet protocol that allows a computer to send files to or receive files from another computer. Like many Internet resources, FTP works by means of a client-server architecture; the user runs client software to connect to .diamondmm.com; or Supra ftp.supra.com BBS (1) (Bulletin Board System) A computer system used as an information source and forum for a particular interest group. They were widely used in the U.S. for Visual Systems 408/325-7080 (to 14.4 Kbps) or 408/325-7175 (to 28.8 Kbps) or 408/383-0551 (ISDN), Communications BBS: 541/967-2444; Europe (Germany) BBS at +49-8151-266333 (to 28.8 Kbps) or +49-8151-266334 (ISDN); Europe (UK) at +44-1189-44441 -0- NOTE: Monster 3-D and Supra are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products whose launch are in the United States of America UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The name of this country. The United States, now thirty-one in number, are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, . The product names, contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements. Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, such as statements relating to the company's ability to successfully exploit technological and market developments, the timing and success of new product introductions by the company and its competitors and the company's ability to invest in new technologies and to enhance its existing systems are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products and upgrades to existing products and other risks as detailed from time to time in Diamond Multimedia's SEC filings, including its most recent Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and 10-Q. CONTACT: Faiola Davis Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Andrea Sausedo/Heidi Davis, 213/933-4959 fdpr2@aol.com |
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