Coding Technologies & Orban Debut HDC Surround System for True 5.1 Surround Sound over HD RadioTM at NAB Radio 2004
Coding Technologies' HDC Surround enables HD RadioTM broadcasters to transmit backward-compatible, surround-sound.
NAB Radio Show, San Diego, Calif., October 6 – Coding Technologies, the leading provider of audio compression technology for mobile, broadcasting, and Internet, and Orban, a worldwide leader in audio processing for broadcasting and the Internet, today debuted HDC Surround, a 5.1 channel audio solution for HD RadioTM. Built on top of the HDC codec already used by HD RadioTM, HDC Surround will enable stations to efficiently upgrade their HD RadioTM broadcasts to 5.1 channel surround sound while maintaining audio quality and compatibility for stereo-only receivers. Orban is demonstrating HDC Surround at NAB Radio 2004, booth #413.
Built by Coding Technologies, the brains behind the superior performance of the HDC codec already in use by HD RadioTM, HDC Surround adds true 5.1 channel capability to HDC. By building on HDC, HDC Surround provides a unique solution for backwards compatible 5.1 surround sound over HD RadioTM. This feature allows stations to upgrade their broadcasts to HDC Surround without negatively impacting their core stereo signal.
With the HDC Surround system, stations and receivers only need a single codec to accomplish both stereo and 5.1 channel broadcasts over HD RadioTM. Existing receivers will receive the broadcast as stereo and HDC Surround enabled receivers will receive the same broadcast as true 5.1 channel surround.
“Matrix and watermark systems only provide a pseudo-surround experience which is not true to the original 5.1 channel mix,” said David Frerichs, VP and US General Manager at Coding Technologies. “HDC Surround is a true 5.1 channel encoding system that preserves the mix and provides the maximum consumer experience for surround sound over HD RadioTM.”
“HDC Surround is designed to transmit 5.1 channel surround sound and still be compatible with today’s stereo receivers,” said Greg Ogonowski, VP of Product Development at Orban. “We are working with Coding Technologies to also ensure that HDC Surround can be deployed within a modern digital radio station without a complete overhaul of the existing stereo infrastructure.”
Orban and Coding Technologies are demonstrating HDC Surround in the Orban booth at NAB Radio 2004, Booth #413. Using Broadcast Electronics FSi10 and FXi 60, an HDC Surround stereo downmix will be broadcast directly to a commercial Panasonic HD RadioTM and the same content in HDC Surround in 5.1 channels will be available for playback and comparison on a personal computer.
For more information, stations, integrators, and receiver manufacturers should contact info@codingtechnologies.com.
About Coding Technologies
Coding Technologies provides the best audio compression for mobile, broadcasting, and Internet. SBR™ (Spectral Band Replication) from Coding Technologies is a backward and forward compatible method to enhance the efficiency of any audio codec; putting the "PRO" in mp3PRO and the "Plus" in aacPlus. Parametric Stereo from Coding Technologies and Philips again significantly increases the efficiency of audio codecs for stereo signals at low bit rates. Products from Coding Technologies are fundamental enablers of open standards such as MPEG, 3GPP, Digital Radio Mondiale, HD RadioTM, and the DVD Forum. Coding Technologies is a privately held company with offices in Sweden, Germany, and Silicon Valley. Founded in 1997 in Stockholm, the company later merged with a spin-off of the renowned Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, the inventor of MP3. Coding Technologies’ customers include America Online, iBiquity Digital, mmO2, Nokia, RealNetworks, SK Telecom, Thomson, Texas Instruments, Vodafone, and XM Satellite Radio. For more information, visit www.codingtechnologies.com/.
About Orban
Founded in 1970 by Bob Orban, the world's foremost expert in transmission audio processing for broadcast, Orban leads the industry in the design and manufacture of audio processors for radio, television and Internet broadcasting. Recognized for its standard-setting Optimod ® digital audio processors and the Audicy digital audio workstation, the Orban name has become synonymous with reliable, high performance products. Today, its versatile audio processing equipment, editing tools and codecs are the products of choice in fast-paced production environments worldwide. In 2000, Orban ® was acquired by Orban/CRL — a manufacturer of high-quality digital and analog audio processing, transmission encoding, and noise reduction equipment. Orban/CRL now accounts for the majority of the global market for radio, TV and Internet audio processing. As technology evolves, Orban/CRL continues to innovate with state-of-the-art audio processing products for DAB, DTV and streaming media.
Orban/CRL Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's anticipation of future events is based upon assumptions regarding levels of competition, research and development results, raw material markets, the markets in which the company operates, and stability of the regulatory environment. Any of these assumptions could prove inaccurate, and therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Orban/CRL develops, manufactures and markets electronic audio processing, transmission encoding and noise reduction equipment for the worldwide radio, television, cable, Internet and professional audio markets. The Orban division manufactures and markets audio processing equipment, primarily using digital technology. Orban Europe is a worldwide leader in ISO/MPEG, audio, ISDN, satellite transmission, networking, and storage. More information is available at www.orban.com and www.orban-europe.com.