| Enhanced musical functionality comes to Windows Mobile smartphones |
Nov. 04, 2003
The Tao Group has introduced an open modular synthesizer and audio plug-in framework for its "intent Sound System" (iSS) that the company says allows the iSS to augment the standard MIDI wavetable sounds with "any algorithm or third-party audio plug-in." iSS targets Microsoft's Windows Mobile software for Smartphone, along with a number of other embedded software platforms.
Tao says this development to provide a catalyst for music software developers to create compelling music applications and tools that can feature 3rd party synth modules and effects units, allowing the market for mobile audio plug-ins to grow and evolve just as it did in the desktop arena. Additionally, in developing an open and flexible framework Tao says it is providing the necessary conditions for mobile network operators to actively partake in audio software download business models. Examples of products that can benefit from this framework are MIDI music sequencers, audio mixers, sound effects units, sound design applications, music players, ringtone generators, etc.
According to Tao, the iSS advanced modular synthesizer allows some or all of the sounds in a piece of MIDI content to be represented by a simple, compact, purely textual description using industry-standard XML network descriptions; a technique termed as "Vector Audio". The vector audio is interpreted by the various sound generators, music engines, audio effects modules and third party audio plug-ins on the intent platform, allowing MIDI music to feature custom synthesized sounds. Vector audio can have significant benefits in terms of bandwidth requirements for custom sound delivery, device storage and consumer creativity. Furthermore, synthetic sounds can be combined as required with both custom sample sounds and pre-installed MIDI wavetable data, together with optional 3rd party audio plug-ins, to suit the specific musical requirements of the content author.
Plug-ins to the framework are binary portable and can be written in any combination of C/C++ or other languages, and can also be written to take advantage of any platform-specific DSP capabilities.
Potential benefits of the iSS framework are said to include . . . - 3D audio spatializer plug-ins can be used to apply 3D sound positioning for applications such as 3D gaming and in-call sound positioning
- 3rd party audio visualizers can be deployed to generate graphical representations of music
- 3rd party MIDI generators and harmonizers can be deployed within the framework, such as the BAFTA award-winning SSEYO Koan Music Engine
- 3rd party audio plug-in networks can be used to shape sound in a variety of contexts, including MIDI ringtones and sound effects for games
"The growth in end-user demand for fun, personalized mobile content provides new opportunities for innovative software applications and services across the industry," commented Mark Spain, director of Microsoft's Mobile Devices Division. "Tao's advanced audio functionality enables a unique and rich mobile music tools and entertainment solution."
The APIs to the iSS advanced audio plug-in framework are available now for developers to review online, and APIs to the modular synthesizer framework will be added as available.
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
news feed