Audience Introduces Industry-First Voice Processor Based on Human Hearing System

Editor: There's so much hype about various technologies to reduce background noise and improve speech recognition among people with hearing loss that I'm very skeptical of new claims. The folks at Audience are touting their new technology that is modeled on the human hearing system. I'm really hoping that these claims pan out, because it would be a real boon for folks with hearing loss. Here's their press release.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 2008\

Audience Introduces Industry-First Voice Processor Based on Human Hearing System and Begins Sampling to Mobile Handset Manufacturers

Processor enables instantaneous noise suppression of 25 dB for both stationary and non-stationary noise to provide unparalleled voice quality even in noisiest environments

Audience today announced the industry's first voice processor based on the intelligence of the human hearing system and began sampling these new chips to mobile handset manufacturers.

The Audience Voice Processor is the first custom IC that is modeled after the most efficient and accurate auditory system, the human hearing system. By thoroughly understanding the entire audio pathway -- from the cochlea to the brainstem to the thalamus and cortex -- Audience is the first company to deliver a commercial product based on the science of Auditory Scene Analysis (ASA), or the grouping and processing of complex mixtures of sound. Because the Audience Voice Processor handles signals the way people actually perceive specific sounds, it is able to identify and suppress noise sources in an extremely efficient and accurate manner.

Audience will be displaying its new voice processor at Mobile World Congress in booth 7D50 as well as in the Innovation Marketplace. Both Audience booth locations are in Hall 7.

"The Audience Voice Processor defines a new standard for robust, noise suppression, enabling unprecedented voice quality and more usability of rich voice and data applications," said Peter Santos, CEO of Audience. "People talking on mobile handsets will be able to hear and be heard everywhere from their cell phones, even in the noisiest places."

Audience's Voice Processor receives a complex mixture of sound at overlapping frequencies, and organizes it into individual sources, in the same way people actually hear sounds. Regardless of whether the noise is local to the caller or remote over the mobile network, the processor uses several grouping cues to group all sound sources instantaneously, suppressing the noise and delivering the voice of interest clearly.

"As the mobile phone market continues to grow, consumers are demanding clearer voice reception from their handsets," said Flint Pulskamp, wireless and mobile semiconductor analyst at IDC. "Improvements in non-stationary noise suppression, such as that offered by the new Audience Voice Processor, can make a dramatic difference in cell phone communications, offering handset users improved voice quality in noisy environments."

Audience A1010 Voice Processor

The Audience A1010 Voice Processor provides the most powerful and robust noise suppression technology available today. Whether the noise source is in the caller's environment, or coming in over the cellular networks from the other end of the call, the Voice Processor instantaneously reduces multiple noise sources, such as airport PA systems, restaurant noise, car noise and street noise. The result is clear voice communications over mobile networks or VoIP applications, such as PC telephony and video conferencing, in places before unimagined.

Audience's Voice Processor is a compact single chip that integrates audio acceleration logic, a powerful custom digital signal processor, audio peripherals and control interfaces. Its low power and small package design is optimized for mobile phones and portable wireless peripherals. The A1010 is packaged in a 2.7 x 3.5mm WLCSP that meets RoHS requirements.

The Audience Voice Processor provides a complete voice quality enhancement solution that allows fast time-to-market and easy integration for handset manufacturers, OEMs, ODMs, and peripheral vendors. The processor is compatible with all handset types and cellular technologies.

Audience's new Voice Processor sets the benchmark in five critical elements of an advanced noise suppression solution.

-- Instantaneous Noise Suppression -- Enables Clear Communication Everywhere

-- Suppresses stationary and non-stationary noise up to 25 dB in < 500 milliseconds

-- Acoustic echo cancellation enables full duplex calls

-- Vivid Voice -- Delivers Clear Speech in Noisy Environments

-- Increases Mean Opinion Score by 0.5 points in noisy environments

-- Easier to be understood by IVR systems in noisy environments

-- Efficient Design -- Works Well with Limited Space and Power Budgets

-- Compact (2.7 mm x 3.5 mm WLCSP) and low-pin count package fits into even the smallest handsets

-- Adaptive power consumption maximizes battery power by shutting down the Voice Processor when not in use or needed

-- Ease of Integration -- Designs-in Easily to All Mobile Handsets

-- Interoperates with all audio codecs and baseband platform architectures

-- Flexible dual Microphone system supports flexible configurations and handset types

-- Extensible Architecture -- Enables Differentiated Voice Services

-- Readily supports new voice services with software downloads

-- Voice Equalizer, Voice Stretch,...

-- Supports all consumer mobile handset usage modes: close-talk (handheld), far-talk (speakerphone), and video telephony

ITU Standard for Non-Stationary Noise Suppression

Audience worked closely with several leading mobile carriers and mobile handset vendors to ratify a new standard for subjective testing of non-stationary noise suppressors, and in October 2007, the ITU-T standardization committee approved Amendment 1 Appendix III of the P.835 standard. While the original P.835 standard recommended a test methodology for stationary noise testing, the new amendment enhances the standard by adding comprehensive test methodology for non-stationary noise.

The amendment recommends test conditions for emulating real world conditions of multiple, moving non-stationary noise sources. This amendment is a major step in helping the mobile industry demand and ensures higher voice quality in real world environments. Mobile carriers, handset suppliers, and component vendors will all benefit from a common way of testing and measuring performance in these noisy conditions.

Pricing and Availability

Designed and priced to fit into mid- and high-tier phones, the Audience Voice Processor is sampling now. Sample pricing ranges from $5 - $7. The processor can be purchased through Audience directly, or through the company's international representatives and distributors. Volume pricing will vary with quantity and selection of voice features. Handset manufacturers will announce products with the Audience Voice Processor shipping in the first half of 2008.

About Audience