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Archives for October 1996

Techni-Tool Offers a Specialized Broadcast Engineer’s Tool Kit

October 4, 1996 by Leave a Comment

Plymouth Meeting, PA. Techni-Tool has released a tool kit designed specifically for broadcast engineers. The Techni-Tool 8440 Broadcast Engineers’ Kit is a complete 80-piece tool kit packaged in a molded polyethylene case, with a patented comfort handle, interior partitions for test gear, recessed locks and two tool pallets in a molded black poly shell.

The set contains a full selection of pliers, nutdrivers, balldrivers, screwdrivers, strippers, files, hex keys, and lots more. Various optional items such as crimp tools, meters, and an ESD field service kit are available to customize the kit for specific applications. The kit is priced at $385 (US), and the case is available separately for $135 (US). The case is 18″L x 13″W x 6″D.

Filed Under: Biz, Production

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 Leave a Comment

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
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