Seiko NPC Corporation has started full production of the SM5921AF multi-channel delay controller. When connected to external RAM, the controller can be used to easily add a delay time to up to eight channels of audio data.

With the widespread use of audio systems such as flat-panel TVs, interest in multi-channel audio/visual receivers, home theater systems, and other audio and visual products has blossomed. A problem with audio/visual products that simultaneously process audio and video signals, however, has been displayed signals that lag audio signals. The problem occurs because of the longer time it takes to process the data in the video signals, which is greater than the data in the audio signals. Customer demand has therefore been growing for a correction function (lip sync function) that synchronizes voice to lip movement.
In addition, the audio/visual market, especially for products that support the next-generation optical discs, is expected to expand. For audio signals, this will mean a next-generation audio codec, such as one that supports eight channels, and the need to support multiple channels.

The SM5921AF now being released can be used to add a delay time to the data on each channel by accumulating the audio data in external RAM and then accessing the desired addresses. The delay time is easily set by controlling the SM5921AF eight-channel delay controller from the main MCU interface. The SM5921AF also supports input/output signals of up to eight channels and a sampling rate of 32 kHz to 192 kHz.
When used, the SM5921AF substantially alleviates the heavy memory access processing load that has usually been handled by an audio DSP. In addition, voice data that increasingly uses multiple channels can be accommodated, and delay times can be added without limiting the sampling rate of the audio signals to be processed. Because the new delay controller allows a delay value to be set independently for the data on each channel, it can effectively adjust the timing of audio signal output, thereby helping to create a sound field suitable for a watching and listening environment.

By supporting a range of applications, NPC will continue to develop and offer products that answer customer needs.

Name	Price with and without tax	Volume production date	Planned production
SM5921AF	750 yen/unit (758 yen/unit)	September 2006	200 thousand units/month