Thursday March 22, 2001

Xbox to use Sensaura 3D Positional Audio

At Game Developers Conference 2001, Sensaura(TM), the leading vendor of 3D audio solutions for the PC market, announced that it is the selected provider of 3D audio technology for the highly anticipated Xbox(TM) video game system.

    "Xbox will provide gamers with the best interactive entertainment experience ever", said Todd Holmdahl, General Manager, Xbox Hardware. "We are thrilled to work with Sensaura and tap into their expertise to help take the audio element of Xbox games to new heights."

    The Xbox will incorporate the most powerful, dedicated audio-processor ever to be featured in a games console, delivering 64 hardware-accelerated channels of Sensaura 3D Positional Audio (S-3DPA) for an overwhelming sound experience. The Xbox will also feature hardware acceleration for Sensaura's I3DL2 compliant EnvironmentFX(TM) reverb engine and Sensaura's cutting-edge MacroFX(TM) and ZoomFX(TM) technologies for stunning audio realism.

    Game developers will access all the S-3DPA features on the Xbox via an enhanced API based on Microsoft DirectSound.

    "The audio capabilities of existing consoles have always lagged behind those of the PC and have held back the implementation of truly immersive games where audio plays such an important part. Xbox puts a huge emphasis on audio and Sensaura technology plays a key role in this", said Karl Jeffery, CEO, Climax Group Games.

    "Sensaura has become the de facto 3D audio technology standard on the PC. We are very pleased to extend the technology to other platforms and to provide Xbox gamers with the ultimate 3D audio experience", said David Monteith, Managing Director of Sensaura.

    S-3DPA technology is based on more than 11 years of research and development, including recording sessions at the world famous Abbey Road Studios (London) and Capitol Studios (Los Angeles). Sensaura has been shipped on over 40 million PCs and soundcards worldwide.