Cirrus Logic and Aureal Semiconductor team to bring PC users "mind-blowing" 3D audio; licensing agreement combines Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion accelerator with Aureal's A3D audio technologies

Business Wire, June 18, 1997

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 1997--Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) and Aureal Semiconductor (OTC Bulletin Board:AURL) today announced a licensing agreement integrating Aureal's 3D audio technologies -- A3D Interactive(tm) and A3D Surround(tm) -- with Cirrus Logic's recently announced SoundFusion(tm) PCI audio accelerator (CS4610).

The SoundFusion accelerator, with its innovative system architecture, is the first single-chip audio solution to integrate Dolby Digital (AC-3(tm)) hardware acceleration with support for the Microsoft (tm), DirectSound3D(tm) and DirectShow(tm) (ActiveMovie(tm)) APIs. With this partnership, the SoundFusion accelerator now becomes the first solution to combine support for Dolby Digital with Aureal's industry leading A3D Interactive and A3D Surround technologies.

"With the addition of A3D Interactive and A3D Surround to Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion CS4610, we provide PC users with highly immersive and realistic sound from two standard speakers or headphones," said Art Swift, vice president of marketing of Cirrus Logic's PC Products Division. "This agreement, along with our support of Dolby Digital and the Microsoft audio APIs, offers an unbeatable combination of performance and features for high-quality 3D sound."

"Cirrus Logic is a key partner in making Aureal's A3D the standard for true 3D audio on the PC platform," said Toni Schneider, vice president of marketing for computer products at Aureal. "Their SoundFusion solution is capable of delivering the full benefits of A3D audio."

Aureal 3D allows sound to be positioned on X, Y and Z coordinates (left/right, up/down and front/back) creating positional 3D sound in real-time. A3D Interactive provides on-the-fly 3D positioning of sounds in interactive environments such as video games for a highly immersive and realistic 3D listening experience. Moreover, A3D Surround technology produces Dolby certifiable playback of pre- recorded, surround-sound audio tracks over a single pair of speakers or headphones. A complete list of A3D enabled games can be found on Aureal's web site at www.a3d.com .

High Performance, Efficient Architecture, Great Sound

Designed to work in conjunction with existing legacy hardware and software support, as well as Intel's AC'97(tm) standard for PC audio solutions, the CS4610 enables an unmatched multimedia audio experience for PC users. In addition to its innovative programmable DSP core, the CS4610 integrates a highly-efficient PCI design and sophisticated DMA engine that minimizes host CPU overhead and system bus-bandwidth requirements while providing unrivaled sound quality.

Aureal Semiconductor

Aureal is focused on the development of advanced audio OEM semiconductor and software solutions that increase functionality and features for the PC and consumer electronics markets. Together with its subsidiary, Crystal River Engineering, a recognized pioneer of 3D audio technology, Aureal provides products designed to raise audio standards and lead audio quality into the third dimension with its line of A3D technologies. For more information on Aureal and A3D, please visit www.aureal.com .

Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for personal computing, communications, mass storage, consumer and industrial markets. The company's "systems in silicon" add high value and software richness to major brands worldwide. With a focus on innovating microperipheral chip solutions that make the human interface with electronics more natural and exciting, Cirrus Logic is committed to technology leadership in the Interactive Age. -0-

Note to Editors: "Dolby" and "AC-3" are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. This Dolby Digital implementation has not yet completed the evaluation process by Dolby Laboratories and is offered subject to obtaining approval.

Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 800/ 359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at http://www.cirrus.com/ .

CONTACT: Tsantes & Associates

Christian Bateman, 408/452-8700 (Cirrus editorial)

chris@tsantes.com

or

Rourke & Company

Lisa Downey, 408/453-9194 (Aureal editorial)

or

Cirrus Logic, Austin

Tom Lasiter, 512/912-3140 (reader contact)

tlasiter@crystal.cirrus.com

or

Aureal Semiconductor

David Domeier, 510/252-4582 (investor relations contact)