E-Mu Systems Announces Audio Production
Studio Version 1.5 Upgrade And Multi-Output Card Option Expanded Functionality For The Award
Winning APS Sound Card
January 28, 1999
E-MU SYSTEMS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology, Ltd.
(Nasdaq: CREAF), is proud to announce the development of the version 1.5
software upgrade and the Multi-Output Card (MOC) for the Audio Production
Studio (APS). The 1.5 software upgrade features several major enhancements
including support of Steinberg's ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output Architecture)
driver format, DirectSound® (a Microsoft audio standard for music),
and multi-channel I/O.
The Multi-Output Card is an optional daughter card accessory that provides
additional analog outputs for the E-MU APS. The free V1.5 software update
is scheduled to be available on the E-MU website (www.emu.com)
in February. The Multi-Output Card option is scheduled to be released
in March, estimated retail price is US$179.00.
Version 1.5 Software
The APS V1.5 software (upgrade free to registered users) adds
significant, expanded functionality to the Audio Production Studio. ASIO
driver support allows the APS to have true simultaneous, multi-channel
recording and playback capabilities. ASIO support lets the user assign
any of the APS physical inputs (4 mono analog, 2 stereo digital) to individual
audio tracks of an ASIO supported sequencer, such as Steinberg's Cubase
VST. ASIO is an open standard for hardware accelerated, multi-channel
streaming audio technology from Steinberg.
The APS E-Control
The APS E-Control mixer user interface has been extended to allow
the selection of the additional outputs of the new Multi-Output Card option.
In addition, APS users can now assign individual audio tracks to separate
"user" strips, allowing for mixing and processing of individual
ASIO audio streams by the APS mixer and effects engine.
The Multi-Output Card Option
The Multi-Output Card (MOC) is a daughter card option for the
Audio Production Studio. It replaces the existing MIDI bracket with an
ISA card that contains the MIDI bracket, plus three analog 1/4" stereo
outputs for the APS. This hardware option, along with the included 1.5
software upgrade, allows the end user to send individual audio and MIDI
streams to physical outputs via the E-Control Aux bus system of the APS.
This gives the user the ability to use the MOC to send individual tracks
or combinations of tracks to discrete stereo outputs as effects sends
("sub-outs") or for multi-track recording.
Denis Labrecque, APS product manager says, "These new features have
been driven directly by end user requests and are facillitated by the
flexibility of the original APS design. The 1.5 upgrade and the Multi-Out
Card option clearly demonstrate that E-MU is comitted to making the APS
a living, evolving product. We are committed not only to the further development
of the product, but to the ever changing needs of our customers."
About the APS
The E-MU Audio Production Studio consists of a main PCI card with S/PDIF
and balanced analog I/O, an Audio Access Bay with additional S/PDIF ,
selectable mic/line inputs and headphone output, and a software suite
for playback, recording and sound design. The Audio Production Studio
features 64 hardware voices supporting SoundFont® sounds (wavetable
samples/synthesis) or streaming audio. It also features a unique patchable
effects architecture, with multiple effects from the E-MU library. For
more information and specifications please visit E-MU's website at www.emu.com.
The E-MU Audio Production Studio is ideally suited for the playback and
creation of new sounds for desktop music, CDROM audio and game sound design.
For more information, visit www.emu.com.
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