News

Sonic EQ Arrives in Hardware (14/6/2006)

Company Delivers New Version of Driver with Exceptional Equalizer

Sonic Studio, LLC, the leader in ultra-fidelity production tools for audio engineers, today announced a new driver for their Series 300 hardware that includes an exceptional equalizer. Running in the +DSP environment of the Series 300 hardware, the new Sonic EQ carefully recreates the minimal phase equalizer that first appeared in the original Sonic System.

The Sonic EQ is a proprietary implementation of equalizer that includes 12 different topologies, including multi-order parametrics, multi-order shelves, multi-order high/low pass, multi-order bandpass/ stop, infinite notch, DC removal and de-emphasis for both AES/EBU emphasis and RIAA pre-emphasis.

As archivists, forensic and restoration specialists and location recordists the world over can testify, the Sonic EQ incorporates several equalization options for engineers involved in specialized applications. Particular filter types target recordings from EIAJ consumer digital audio adapters, which include the Sony PCM-F1 family of products. The RIAA types, both emphasis and de- emphasis, are precision digital realizations of the sometimes sloppy analog pre- emphasis and de-emphasis networks found in cutting head drivers and phono preamplifiers. The RIAA type is designed to allow a 33 1/3 RPM phonograph record to be digitized ³flat² and de-emphasized, using this filter, for tighter frequency response and lower phase shift.

Even the parametrics and shelving filters, normally considered three knob devices, are remarkable. Seven of the twelve filter topologies include two extra controls, for passband ripple and stopband attenuation. Most other equalizers conceal these parameters, using fixed values while the Sonic EQ exposes these parametric controls, allowing the savvy engineer to trade off group delay or frequency- dependent phase shift against aggregate attenuation, transient and frequency response.

The new driver that includes Sonic EQ, is available now to all current Series 300 owners by direct download on Sonic Studio's site. Sonic Studio plans to also provide this software as part of a group of exclusive options to owners of Metric Halo's MIO+DSP line of products.

Sonic Studio's Series 300 line of 2 and 8 channel, FireWire-attached DSP I/O processors are available through an international network of distributors and channel partners who share Sonic Studio's commitment to quality and service.

www.sonicstudio.com

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