Development kit for SongBird 3D PC audio processor chip debuts at WinHEC '97 conference; complete solution to bring PCI-based 3D positional audio to Microsoft Windows-compatible hardware and software applications

Business Wire, April 8, 1997

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 1997--VLSI Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:VLSI) will present for the first time at the WinHEC '97 (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference), the SongBird 3D(TM) audio processor developers kit.

Based on a PCI audio processor board with additional software and documentation, it enables users to design SongBird 3D-based hardware products or incorporate full positional 3D audio effects in PC multimedia software titles. This announcement demonstrates VLSI's continuing commitment to multimedia hardware and software OEMs and their markets. Production shipments of the kit are scheduled to begin this month.

Morgan Dempsey, developer relations manager for the VLSI Audio Products Group said, "The SongBird developers kit gives multimedia hardware and software developers access to the industry's most advanced 3D audio-on-PCI solution. Through the kit's support of the 3DXP and Microsoft DirectX standards, multimedia products written to run on the VLSI audio processor will also be compatible with the full spectrum of `Wintel' compatible platforms."

Kit Contents

The main hardware element of the SongBird 3D developers kit consists of a PCI bus compatible audio processor board integrating the SongBird 3D audio processor, an AC-97-standard digital CODEC (Coder/Decoder), sockets for additional wave table ROM, DSP SRAM and optional Dolby AC-3 support.

Software bundled in the kit includes installation and diagnostic utilities, Windows 95-compatible drivers and 3DXP standard support software. Documentation includes a complete users' guide, data sheets, application notes and schematics. VLSI also offers six months of field applications engineering support and in-house training along with the kit.

About the SongBird 3D Audio Processor

The SongBird 3D chip is the computer industry's first single chip audio processing solution combining full positional 3D audio effects; PCI-bus support; backwards compatibility with ISA-bus "SoundBlaster" audio; and ROMless, downloadable wavetable samples. Since its introduction last November, the SongBird chip has received recognition as the most technically advanced product in its category.

Pricing and Availability

VLSI quotes pricing for the SongBird developer's kit and associated applications engineering services at USD $1,000, with production shipments to begin this month. For more information about the kit, readers should contact VLSI's Morgan Dempsey at morgan.dempsey@vlsi.com.

About VLSI Technology Inc.

VLSI Technology Inc. designs and manufactures System-Level Silicon(TM) integrated circuits based on its FSB(TM) functional system blocks(TM) library. Targeting its offerings toward the communications, consumer digital entertainment and computing markets, the company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities.

The company is based in San Jose, Calif., with 1996 revenues of $717 million, and approximately 3,000 employees worldwide. Visit VLSI's homepage at http://www.vlsi.com . -0-

FSB, functional system blocks, SongBird and System-Level Silicon are trademarks of VLSI Technology Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: VLSI Technology Inc.

Martin Chorich, 408/922-5155

martin.chorich@sanjose.vlsi.com