Creative Reveals Multi-Core Sound Processor
Creative is launching a sound and voice hardware accelerator for the desktop and mobile markets.
Tuesday Creative Technology revealed the internally-developed Sound Core3D, a high performance audio processor combining four Quartet digital signaling processor (DSP) cores and a high-quality HD audio codec onto one low-power chip. The new processor will arrive in two flavors when it eventually hits the market: an HD audio configuration for desktops and an embedded configuration for consumer electronics.
According to the company, the Sound Core3D comprises of the four Quartet DSP cores, 6-channel 24-bit 102dB digital-to-analog converters, 4-channel 24-bits 101dB analog-to-digital converters, integrated headphone amplifier-out, digital microphone interface, S/PDIF inputs and outputs and general purpose inputs and outputs (GPIO) all in a compact 56-pin QFP package. It will also be Dolby Digital decode certified, depending on the parent device.
"We designed a sound and voice processor that will enable our OEM partners to deliver the highest quality Sound Blaster audio ever available for a motherboard while also bringing a new level of quality to sound and voice processing to consumer electronics products," said Steve Erickson, VP and GM of audio and video products at Creative Labs, Inc. "With Sound Core3D we deliver a versatile chip that can deliver the highest performance voice processing and audio playback from a single chip."
Creative also detailed the chip's support for its CrystalVoice technology designed specifically for "delivering crystal clear vocal fidelity in video conferencing, multiplayer games and online chats." CrystalVoice includes acoustic echo cancellation, background noise reduction and voice focusing, a voice-specific smart volume, a special equalizer and an effects bundle. The chip will also support THX TruStudio Pro and feature an additional audio toolbox of algorithms including a 10-band graphic EQ, bass management, speaker calibration, limiter, reverb and a pitch shifter.
Currently there's no indication of when we'll see Creative's Sound Core3D enter the market. However, Gigabyte has already signed on to incorporate the new technology into its motherboards. “We’re excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Creative to give our customers the best-sounding HD audio and voice processing available,” the company said.
More should be revealed this week at Computex, so stay tuned.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Ragnar-Kon Have a feeling we'll be seeing these in Gigabyte's next version of their G1-Killer boards.Reply
Anyway, its cool, but not really necessary if you ask me. -
erichoyt Meh...Does this really affect your average gamer? I'm running a Klipsh 2.1 (awesome) on standard Intel MoBo driver...Reply -
phatboe I agree with erichoyt. Didn't MS remove hardware acceleration for audio since Vista (I still have not figured out why they did that)? Also the MSRP for discrete audio cards is way too high for what they are worth IMO.Reply -
Harby broadleaf35likely will require bloated software that will take years to stabilize. . .Reply
QFT, I'm sure it'll be plagued by crappy drivers.
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Haserath erichoytMeh...Does this really affect your average gamer? I'm running a Klipsh 2.1 (awesome) on standard Intel MoBo driver...Reply
Not necessary, but it's nice to have. Believe me, there is a difference between the onboard with good enough sound compared to something like this. Try one before commenting, you'll need some decent speakers to go along with it too. Besides, even though I don't have a soundcard like this, I have some decent headphones that make gaming easier as I can tell which direction someone is coming from. With a 5.1 setup and a card like this you would be blown away.
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Harby erichoytMeh...Does this really affect your average gamer? I'm running a Klipsh 2.1 (awesome) on standard Intel MoBo driver...Reply
Yes, a dedicated soundcard does affect your average gamer. Since you're running decent speakers you're killing them driving them off the horrible realtek or w/e onboard soundcard.
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dioxholster @erichoyt,Reply
from my experience those sound cards do make the sound better, and with good speakers like klipsh you will notice the difference right away. i dont know the science behind it but for some unknown reason they sound better. -
dgingeri oh, great, an even more expensive way to make your system crash. I'm certainly not buying it.Reply
I gave CL a slight chance to screw me over and crash my system when I bought a motherboard with "X-Fi MB2" sound, which turned out to be Creative software on a Realtek sound chip. Lo and behold, they did not disappoint, and it crashed my system every day. I uninstall the CL software and it works just fine. I got the same thing out of the last 2 sound cards I bought from them (the last one being over 5 years ago) and they certainly slacked in the support area.
I hope this card flops and finally puts that stupid company under. -
caqde phatboeI agree with erichoyt. Didn't MS remove hardware acceleration for audio since Vista (I still have not figured out why they did that)? Also the MSRP for discrete audio cards is way too high for what they are worth IMO.Reply
Yes they removed Acceleration from their DirectX API, but they did not remove the ability to use Hardware acceleration through API's like OpenAL it is still possible to access the hardware through code in Windows Vista and 7. It is just that Microsoft removed the well known legacy way of doing so through DirectSound3d that alot of old and still played games use and even some recent (last 3 years) games.