Conexant Brings Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Inclusion to USB-C Headsets

At Mobile World Congress Shanghai (29 Jun. - July 1, 2016), Conexant Systems introduced their new CX20888, an Audio Stereo CODEC that is the first single-chip solution to allow USB-C-compliant active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient noise inclusion in headsets. This new USB-C solution features an integrated ARM Cortex M0+ MCU and Class-H headphone amplifier, enabling new class of features for smartphone, PC and gaming headsets. Its active noise cancellation eliminates up to 30dB of external sound, for a clearer, more enjoyable listening experience.

Conexant introduced new single-chip solutions optimized for USB type-C implementation, as part of their AudioSmart product line of silicon and software products for audio development. The company announced the CX20985 and CX20899, two new USB DSP audio codecs that support USB Type-C (USB-C) connectors in smartphone headsets and docking station applications. Both the CX20985 and CX20899 are highly integrated solutions, fully compliant with the USB-C standard.

Fraunhofer IIS and Hulu announced an agreement for the use of Fraunhofer Cingo immersive audio headphone rendering solution for virtual reality and mobile devices. Users of Hulu’s VR app will benefit from movies and TV shows streamed using the HE-AAC surround sound audio codec and rendered for headphones through Fraunhofer Cingo.

Making good on the promise to redefine their range of software tools targeting specific user profiles and applications, iZotope launched Ozone 7 with a host of new features which improve the already extensive capabilities of this creative mastering software. Ozone 7 is also available as part of iZotope's Music Production Bundle.

At the IBC 2015 show there was a unique chance to compare how really efficient audio compression algorithms have become, from mp3 and ogg-vorbis to AAC, HE-AAC and the new xHE-AAC, optimized for speech and music transmission with very low bit rates. The Fraunhofer Institute For Integrated Circuits IIS together with Modulation Index promoted the demonstration.

Technicolor and Fraunhofer IIS announced the formation of a licensing program as part of the market introduction of the next-generation TV audio system developed by the MPEG-H Audio Alliance. The MPEG-H Audio Alliance TV System is under consideration for the ATSC 3.0 standard.