|
|
 |
Otari, Yamaha to Promote mLAN Digital Network Interface Technology
The Two Leaders in Professional Audio are Jointly Developing a Third-Generation mLAN
Specification Chip for Use in High-end Audio Equipment |
|
September 20, 2000 -Two leaders in the manufacture of professional audio equipment, Otari, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation, today announced they are working together to popularize Yamaha's mLAN digital network interface technology for use in high-end audio components, digital recorders, digital mixers and similar devices.
The two companies have launched a project to jointly develop an mLAN-specification chip capable of handling greater volumes of audio data and offering musicians and sound technicians unlimited scope for creating new and exciting music. mLAN licensees will begin receiving samples of the new chips by spring 2001.
mLAN is the new digital network interface technology being promoted by Yamaha that allows professional audio equipment, PCs and electronic instruments to be easily and efficiently interconnected using one single cable. Employing the industry standard IEEE1394 high-speed serial bus to carry audio and control data, mLAN simplifies system interconnection for musical performance and mastering and enables users to easily execute sophisticated configurations.
In a multimedia environment in which audio/video equipment and computers are used together, the connection interface must accept very fast data transmission speeds and allow for the dispatch of data in real-time. The cables must be reasonably priced and guarantee high reliability, durability, compactness, and universal interconnectivity.
"The IEEE1394 and mLAN meet many of the requirements of next generation digital transmission systems, in highly sophisticated ways," said Shinichi Higashino, senior managing director of Otari, Inc. "With the cooperation of Yamaha and Otari, by employing a single media and with a single connection it becomes possible to provide a universal interface applicable for electronic musical instruments as well as for high end professional audio equipment. We believe that this co-development project will bring a new era to the pro audio world," he said.
mLAN was conceived as a new digital network interface for music applications and incorporates original connection management technology developed by Yamaha. "The technology allows users to link electronic instruments, professional audio components, computers, and similar devices to achieve more efficient exchange and management of audio and MIDI data," says Masatada Wachi, managing director of Yamaha Corp. "Through this partnership with Otari, Inc., we hope to promote the proliferation of mLAN in the high-end professional audio market," he added.
The joint development project between Otari and Yamaha is based on the mLAN licensing program that Yamaha will launch this month.
1) Otari, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation will work together to achieve broad popularization of the mLAN specification in the professional audio equipment field.
2) The two firms will jointly develop a chip for professional audio equipment to meet a spring 2001 target for shipment of samples.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| The Jointly Developed Chip |
|
The objective of the joint development project is to enhance the functionality of Yamaha's existing chip (mLAN-PH1) which allows the interchange of all digital audio data formats and the IEEE1394 bus that conform to the "Audio and Music Data Transmission Protocol" (A&M Protocol). Otari and Yamaha aim to develop a chip capable of handling four times the number of audio channels. The development will not include the IEEE1394 link layer, however.
The new chips (the mLAN-PH2) will have 32 channels of digital audio input (24-bit at 48 kHz)and 32 channels of digital audio output. As up to four of the chips will be connectable to a single link layer chip in a cascade, the simultaneous input and output of 128 digital audio channels will be possible. Moreover, while the maximum data transfer rate of mLAN PH1 chips is 200Mbps, the new chips will be compatible with the industry standard's highest speed and permit the transfer of data at up to 400Mbps. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Background to the Joint Development Project |
|
Tokyo-based Otari, Inc. has an international reputation for excellence as a manufacturer of analog/digital recorders and other high-end professional audio equipment for the music recording and broadcast markets. To date Otari Inc. has had many excellent achievements, successfully aiding the transmission of all-important sounds at live Olympic broadcasts and concerts by famous artists by working with digital audio transmission systems that make use of fiber cables.
In the future however, the professional audio industry is expected to develop its network technology, widen its digital audio signal transmission systems to new areas, and make greater use of multi-channels and multimedia applications.
To meet the changing demands of the professional audio industry Otari, Inc., has quickly decided to adopt the IEEE1394 standard for transmission of next generation digital audio signals. The company is also carrying out R&D with the aim of realizing a generic digital transmitting system that covers computers, video and audio. Through adopting mLAN technology, Otari Inc., is hoping to create an environment that allows easy connection between electronic music and professional audio devices.
Yamaha is advocating its mLAN digital network technology that adopts the IEEE1394 standard and is aiming to generically popularize it in the electronic music and professional audio devices fields.
Otari and Yamaha will be announcing and demonstrating mLAN specification-based products at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention to be held in Los Angeles from 22 to 26 September, 2000. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Company Details |
|
Otari, Inc.
Head Office: 4-33-3 Kokuryo-cho, Chofu City, Tokyo
President: Masayuki Hosoda
Capital: ¥1,559,084,500
Employees: 202
Annual Turnover: ¥4.3 billion (as at March 2000)
Yamaha Corporation
Head Office: 10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
President: Shuji Ito
Capital: ¥28,553,000,000
Employees: 21,599 ( consolidated basis )
Annual Turnover: ¥527.9 billion (as at March 2000, consolidated basis) |
|
|
|
|
