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Patterson Broadcasting Appoints Thomas Walker to Head Engineering

October 4, 1996 by Leave a Comment

Atlanta, GA. Patterson Broadcasting, Inc., has named Thomas Walker Group Director of Engineering. Walker has served as Chief Engineer for Patterson stations WNNK-FM and WTCY-AM, Harrisburg, PA. He will continue in that position as he oversees engineering for all of Patterson’s radio properties, which will total 35 stations in nine states when pending agreements are completed.

Walker began his career with WNNK in 1970 when it was WTPA-TV and WTPA-FM. Starting out as a projectionist/audio engineer, he later became operations engineer. He has held his present position at WNNK and WTCY for the last 16 years.

“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to help Patterson Broadcasting grow and expand into the 21st century,” said Walker. “With all the new technology available and the continuing changes in radio markets, it will be an exciting challenge for all of us.”

Filed Under: Biz

Altec Lansing Awarded Patent for Side-Firing Surround Sound Speaker System

October 4, 1996 by 51 Comments

Milford, PA. Altec Lansing Technologies Inc. announced yesterday that it has been awarded a U.S. patent for the surround sound technology employed in its ACS55, ACS400, and ACS500 mutlimedia speaker systems. These are unique “side firing” systems intended for use with computers, televisions and other consumer entertainment systems.

Altec Lansing ACS500

These products are recent results of the strategic alliance between Altec Lansing and Dolby Laboratories. The ACS500 and ACS400 are computer-oriented systems that feature built-in Dolby® Pro-Logic™, while the ACS55 is a computer game system with Dolby Surround™ circuitry onboard. In all three products, the surround image is projected using the newly-patented technique. All three systems also reproduce a fifth audio channel for low-frequency content via an external powered subwoofer.

The audio technology covered by this new patent includes the use of two side firing stereo speakers to reproduce four channels (surround, center, left and right) on a single listening plane. Two powered, shielded speaker enclosures are positioned in front of the line of sight of the viewer. Each speaker has either a right or left channel driver, center channel imaging, and a side-firing surround sound speaker opening.

The angles of the respective surround sound driver and speaker openings create a listening plane which surrounds the user with audio characterized by high intelligibility, clear articulation and enhanced spatial effects.

Altec Lansing ACS400

Altec Lansing plans to develop new surround sound audio systems based on this technology, including hardware and software packages for the computer retail, OEM and home entertainment markets. Dell Computers and Gateway 2000 already plan to introduce multimedia products implementing Altec’s audio reproduction system as key components this fall. Other Altec Lansing OEM partners offering the company’s patented surround sound audio solutions include AST and Fountain Technologies.

“Title developers and other content providers are creating an increasing array of material which includes better quality audio,” commented Edward Anchel, President and CEO of Altec Lansing Technologies in making this announcement. “Too often the limiting factor has been the speakers being used to listen to these surround sound titles. The products covered by this new patent overcome those audio limitations while also including innovative and user-friendly designs.”

Filed Under: Biz, Events

AuraSound Revenues Climb Rapidly

October 3, 1996 by Leave a Comment

El Segundo, CA. Consumer electronics manufacturer Aura Systems, Inc. reports sharply increased revenues and profits for its second quarter and year to date, ending August 31.

Revenues for the first six months ending August 31, 1996 totaled $45 million (US) as compared to $27 million (US) in the same six month period a year ago. Net income for the six months was well over $1 million (US) as compared to a loss of almost $2 million (US) in the same period of 1995.

Most of the increase in revenue resulted from sales of sound-related products sold under the AuraSound™ brand name. This includes AuraSound Speakers and Bass Shakers™. Aura’s computer-related products (monitor screens) via its Newcom subsidiary also showed good results.

Filed Under: Biz

ESS Introduces Three New PC Audio Chips

October 3, 1996 by Leave a Comment

Fremont, CA. ESS Technology Inc. today introduced three new devices to its AudioDrive™ series of single-chip audio parts. The new chips are targeted for three distinct OEM market segments: PC motherboard (the ES1869), PC add-in card (ES1887) and PC notebook (ES1879).

All three devices comply with the Microsoft AC’97 standard. Features include 16 bit CD-quality, full duplex stereo sound, PC audio and games support in Sound Blaster™ and Sound Blaster Pro™ modes, FM music synthesis and hardware volume control. They also include a broadside ISA bus interface, advanced power management modes, software addressable selections for Plug and Play (PnP), and support for interfaces to various related devices, including a MIDI synthesizer, a DSP processor and an external wavetable music synthesizer.

Additionally, the ES1869 and ES 1879 include Spatializer 3D audio (simulating a 3D soundstage from two stereo speakers); Enhanced Telegaming Architecture (enables multiple-stream mixed audio playback of WAV, MIDI and FM synthesized audio); and a new high fidelity analog front end.

Filed Under: Pro Audio

Warner and Atlantic Deliver Phil Collins Single Across Canada Via Digital Courier

October 3, 1996 by Leave a Comment

Vancouver, Canada. Warner Music Canada and Atlantic Records (NY) recently teamed up with Digital Courier International (DCI) to release the first single from Phil Collins’ latest album to radio stations.

“Dance Into The Light” went to 38 radio stations in five time zones across Canada simultaneously at 8:00 am local time, over the DCI network. The stations received the release on DCI-supplied terminals via regular phone lines or ISDN. Using DCI, stations had the option of loading it into their digital automation systems or playing the song directly to air.

Warner Music Canada was delighted with the speed and quality of delivery. “Normally, we’d get the single out to stations on tape, via normal courier service,” commented Melody Sieger, National Promotions Assistant at Warner. “But we weren’t scheduled to even receive the product until nearly a week after its U.S. release. We had to scramble to get it to the stations as quickly as possible and DCI was the quickest way.”

DCI delivers full CD quality audio, as well as text and data, to radio stations across North America. Typical content carried on the network includes commercials, interviews, short form programming, and pre-recorded live performances, as well as data such as traffic instructions. “Dance Into The Light” marks the third single delivered over DCI, and the second by a major label in Canada.

DCI offers three grades of service: one-hour delivery, four-hour delivery, and overnight service. It solves problems of reliability, speed of delivery, and convenience, associated with the usual methods of shipping tape.

The network was introduced across North America one year ago, and it already boasts 3500 recipients, including 90% of target radio stations across Canada. DCI says that its network will be particularly appealing to U.S. operations in light of Telecommunications Act of 1996, which is leading to a wholesale consolidation of radio broadcast operations into large multiple-station organizations. Other users include duplication companies and production studios.

The system is built around DCI’s proprietary audio compression technology, a lossless scheme that provides a 6-to-1 compression ratio. DCI provides terminals (hardware and software) to recipient radio outlets at no cost. The service is paid for by content providers who send material over the network.

“I thought the service was wonderful. Everybody got [the single] it at the same time, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing,” said Warner’s Sieger. “I’d definitely like to use DCI again!”

Filed Under: Biz, Production
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