Speakers and Voice Development - A Conversation with NXP
After reviewing my notes from CES 2018 and the announcements from NXP, I decided it was fitting to share some parts of my interview with Martyn Humphries, vice president and general manager Media IoT and i.MX Applications Processors at NXP (and former Freescale executive). Basically, we discussed the environment that lead NXP to create its i.MX 8M single-chip media application processors, currently the most advanced integrated platform available for audio manufacturers.
HEAD acoustics Complimentary Voice Quality Webinars
HEAD acoustics announced open enrollment for their new series of complimentary educational voice quality web based seminars. These one hour sessions are designed to provide short but focused information on voice quality topics that are normally not taught in college level classes. Anyone interested in learning more about the fundamentals of voice quality testing is invited to attend.
MAAT Announces DRMeter MkII Universal Plug–in for Measurement and Monitoring of Audio Loudness and Dynamics
Proclaiming "One Meter For All," professional audio solutions manufacturer MAAT Incorporated announced a new loudness measurement tool specifically designed for music creation as well as broadcast production and post. DRMeter MkII combines R128&A/85 metering with DR & DRi Dynamic Range measurements, displaying channel–specific trends and events by augmenting mandated mono measurements with classic L/R metering to control problem areas without the need of another meter.
Speechmatics Launches Global English, an Accent-agnostic Language Pack for Speech-to-text Transcription
Speech recognition technology specialists Speechmatics announced the launch of Global English, a single English language pack supporting all major English accents for use in speech-to-text transcription. According to the company, Global English (GE) was trained on thousands of hours of spoken data from over 40 countries and tens of billions of words drawn from global sources, making it one of the most comprehensive and accurate accent-agnostic transcription solutions on the market.
Waterproof Electret Condenser Microphones Offer Ingress Protection Ratings up to IP67
CUI’s Audio Group announced a line of waterproof electret condenser microphones with Ingress Protection (IP) ratings of IP57, IP65, and IP67. Featuring sensitivity ratings from -42 to -25 dB and signal to noise ratios from 57 to 70 dBA, these IP rated microphones are ideally suited for a range of industrial applications and portable electronics for outdoor use, where moisture and environmental contaminants are a concern.
Qualcomm Enhances Performance of Truly Wireless Earbuds and Hearables with its Next Generation Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Technology
Qualcomm was an early pioneer in the concept of true wireless stereo a technology that is designed to completely eliminate the need for wires, not only between the media source and the headphones, but also between the left and right earbuds, offering users a wire-free stereo audio experience and supporting new use cases like hearables. Now Qualcomm announced enhancements to its Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo technology.
Lattice Wants Manufacturers to Replace USB Connectors with its SiBEAM Snap 12 Gbps Wireless Technology
Lattice Semiconductor announced the expansion of its Lattice Snap wireless connector product family to support broader adoption of 60 GHz wireless technology in consumer and embedded applications. The solution allows direct replacing of physical interfaces such as USB and HDMI in consumer devices using short-range wireless technology, allowing waterproof, thinner products that are less prone to mechanical failures.
Infineon Acquires Denmark-based Merus Audio
Infineon Technologies announced the acquisition of Merus Audio. The Copenhagen-based start-up, founded in 2010 by Hans Hasselby-Andersen and Mikkel Hoyerby, has developed a new generation of energy-efficient integrated Class D amplifier solutions. Merus Audio amplifiers maximize audio performance and battery playback time for smart home and battery-powered speakers while minimizing heat and design space. Following the company's presentation at CES 2018, Merus generated significant interest in the audio and CE industry in general.
Harbottle Audio Announces New TSADvS Subwoofer Series
FWA and Harbottle Audio announced the release of the TSADvS (pn: tee-sad-vee-es) drivers to the ODM market. A high power handling, low distortion, low compression, pro audio subwoofer focused on efficiency and sound quality. The TSADvS series features a neodymium overhung motor topology with vast amounts of motor venting. The TSADvS series features 18-inch and 21-inch models.
Sonarworks Adds New Headphone Models to its True-Fi Software
European audio software developer Sonarworks announced the addition of more than ten new headphone models to its consumer headphone calibration software platform, True-Fi. The new headphone profiles, which have been meticulously measured and incorporated as a complimentary software upgrade for existing True-Fi users, include popular models from Audio Technica, beyerdynamuc, Sennheiser, Sony, Plantronics and even the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.