Tensilica HiFi 2 Audio DSP Supports aacPlus by Dolby in Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus (DAB+) Decoder

– Tensilica, Inc. today announced that it has added the aacPlus by Dolby for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) decoder to its audio codec library for its Xtensa HiFi 2 Audio DSP, one of the most popular commercial audio cores for system-on-chip (SOC) designs.

DAB+ is the successor to DAB which is currently deployed in many European countries, Canada, China and South Korea. The DAB+ standard is based on HE-AAC v2, which provides audio with equivalent or better subjective quality at lower bit rates than MPEG Audio Layer II used in DAB. The DAB+ standard is now being adopted by digital radio stations. It is already being broadcast in Italy, Malta and Singapore and deployments are planned for later this year and 2009 in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and other countries around the globe.

DAB+ enables more efficient use of radio spectrum, lower transmission costs for digital stations, fast re-tuning response time and offers the option for 5.1 channel surround with MPEG surround technology. Other features include data casting services such as traffic updates and programming data (e.g. dynamic labels, such as artist, title, news headlines, complementary graphics and images).

“For anyone designing a chip for home or automobile digital radio systems, Tensilica’s HiFi 2 Audio DSP provides a proven, approved, drop-in audio solution,” said Toni Fiedler, senior manager, business development, Dolby Laboratories. “Today’s announcement helps speed the creation of new DAB+ products that deliver outstanding sound and data services for consumers.”

“As DAB+ has gained momentum in the market, our customers are getting their chip designs ready to support this new standard. We are able to provide an aacPlus by Dolby DAB+ decoder, along with our existing DAB compliant MPEG Layer II decoder, to support their requirements in digital terrestrial radio,” stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica’s director of mobile multimedia.

Tensilica’s HiFi Audio Engine is a fully programmable processor core optimized for audio applications, with a library of over 50 of the most popular audio software packages. Other Dolby approved packages available for the HiFi2 Audio DSP include: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Creator, Dolby Digital Compatible Output, Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1- and 7.1-channel, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and Dolby TrueHD.

Availability

The Dolby DAB+ decoder is available now for shipment to all licensees of Tensilica’s 330HiFi Audio DSP or the Xtensa LX processor with the HiFi 2 audio engine.

About Tensilica

Tensilica, Inc., is the recognized leader in customizable dataplane processors.   Dataplane Processor Units (DPUs) consist of performance intensive DSP (audio, video, imaging, and baseband signal processing) and embedded RISC processing functions (security, networking, and deeply embedded control).  The automated design tools behind all of Tensilica's application specific processor cores enable rapid customization to meet specific data-plane performance targets.  Tensilica's DSPs and processors power top tier semiconductor companies, innovative start-ups, and system OEMs for high-volume products including mobile phones, consumer electronics devices (including portable media players, digital TV, and broadband set top boxes), computers, and storage, networking and communications equipment. For more information on Tensilica's patented benchmark-proven DPUs visit www.tensilica.com .