Sonic Introduces Industry's First High-Density Digital Audio Workstation; Launches High-Density Audio Production Alliance To Drive New Standards For Professional Audio.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1996--Sonic Solutions announced today at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, the first High-Density Audio(TM) workstation designed to support the new studio reference standard of 24-bit samples at sampling rates up to 96kHz.

Called SonicStudio High-Density(TM), the system is a key enabling technology which will allow studios, and mastering facilities to bring the next generation of professional audio to consumer markets.

Sonic has also led the formation of an industry group designed to facilitate the development of tools and standards: the Audio2000 Initiative. Like its counterpart in the Digital Video Disc (DVD) arena, this alliance is composed of studios, mastering facilities and equipment manufacturers working to bring new technologies into the hands of professional users.

High-Density Audio to Make Consumer Debut

Since the widespread use of digital audio in the early 1980s, the standard for professional recording and signal processing has been 16-bit samples recorded at a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, the standard for Compact Digital Audio Disc releases. Late last year, a consortium of consumer electronics companies -- including Toshiba, Sony, Pioneer and others -- announced their commitment to a new video and multimedia format, DVD, which can store at least five times the amount of data as a conventional CD. Later this year, the consortium plans to announce a new standard for audio discs which takes advantage of these higher capacities.

The new High-Density Audio format offers an advantage which can be clearly heard. The dynamic range of recorded sound is increased from 96dB to 144dB, resulting in louder "louds," quieter "quiets," and an almost complete absence of noise. The upper frequency range will be increased from 22.05kHz to 48kHz, faithfully reproducing high frequency sound which is missing in the current CD format. Sound is both more vibrant and natural.

Leading studios and mastering facilities are already implementing plans to work in the new format, in anticipation of consumer demand and because of the significantly greater fidelity it provides. the first commercially-distributed recordings are expected to hit the market this Fall, in conjunction with the consumer launch of DVD.

"Sonic has a tradition of pushing the leading edge of quality and performance for professional audio," said Bob Doris, President of Sonic. "SonicStudio High-Density was designed in response to the needs of leading sound facilities who use Sonic products to produce recordings which win Grammy(R) and Oscar(R) awards."

Sonic Leads with High-Density Solutions

SonicStudio High-Density provides an end-to-end solution for High-Density Audio -- input, output, and processing of audio recording using 24-bit samples at sampling rates up to 96kHz. All of the advanced features of SonicStudio will be available using the new, higher-resolution format, including sophisticated editing, filtering and processing features such as TimeTwist(TM) and NoNOISE(R). SonicStudio High-Density provides input and output of up to four channels of High-Density Audio and playback of up to eight tracks from hard disk. Multiple processors can be combined to provide up to 16 channels of High-Density Audio.

A new High-Density Audio production alliance has formed to promote the standard and to agree on ways in which these new formats will be supported. Called the Audio2000 Initiative, it includes professional mastering facilities and equipment manufacturers. Partners joining the Initiative include: Alcyon Musique (France), Digital Sound and Picture (White Plains, N.Y.), Disques Pierre Verany (France), Erato Disques (France), Master Disk (New York), Studio +XXX (France), Studio Guillaume Tell (France), Q-Tec (Pioneer Electronics, Japan), Sterling Sound (New York), and Top Master (France).

Bill Lacey, owner of Digital Sound and Picture states, "The benefits of applying 96kHz in my work with recording, mastering, restoration and archiving are truly significant." David Anderson, COO and Managing Director of Sterling Sound, adds, "We have always made it a priority to offer the best technology available to our clients. Higher sample rates have been of interest to us for some time, and we are thrilled to be among the first to add Sonic's 96kHz mastering system to our facility."

Scott Hull, Chief Engineer of Masterdisk said, "Masterdisk is pleased to be one of the first facilities to incorporate Sonic's High-Density 96kHz system. Sonic has been our exclusive source for audio workstations and digital media networking, and now 96kHz allows our engineers to raise the sound quality of our product to yet another level."

Leading equipment manufacturers have also joined the Initiative: Aardvark, Apogee Electronics, Data Conversion Systems (DCS), dB Technologies, Junger Audio, Mytek, Pioneer, Prism Media Product, Troisi, and Z-Systems. These companies have already taken steps toward developing products for the new generation of digital formats, and many will be demonstrating at NAB products that support the 96kHz format.

"We are grateful to Sonic for undertaking development of the High-Density Studio," said Dr. H. Yanagawa, General Manager of Acoustic Systems Department, Corporate R&D Laboratory, Pioneer Corporation. "We are preparing a series of recordings at 96kHz, 24 bit resolution that will first be released on conventional Compact Discs using our High-Sampling High-Bit process."

Dan Lavry of dB Technologies stated, "Consumers will come to expect the high level of quality and clarity that they can only hear with 96 kHz high-density audio." Co-designer Bruce Hemingway added, "dB Technologies' converters and other products have been designed for this level of ultra-high sound quality. We are very excited to be part of this initiative and lead the way to the future of mastering technology and audio production."

Pricing and Availability

SonicStudio High-Density is available in configurations starting at $11,999 beginning in August 1996. Partners in the Audio2000 Initiative are currently using beta versions as a means of getting a head start on implementing the new technology.

About Sonic Solutions 

Based in Novato, Calif., Sonic Solutions designs and manufactures tools to assist audio and other multimedia professionals in preparing music, video, film, graphics, and entertainment software. SonicStudio is the leading digital audio workstation used around the world by audio professionals to prepare recorded sound for release on Digital Audio Compact Disc.

Sonic systems are also used to prepare sound for film and video soundtracks and for broadcast on radio and television. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sonic Solutions, Sonic, SonicStudio, SonicStudio High-Density, High-Density Audio and MediaNet are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. All other rcompany or products names are trademarks of their respecitve owners.

NAB Booth No. 3830, Multimedia Hall, Sands Hotel.

CONTACT: Sonic Solutions

Paul Lefebvre, 415/893-8023, 415/893-8008 (Fax)

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