Monday, March 22, 1999
Creative Takes Leadership Role in 3D Audio Towards Defining Level Guideline for 3D Audio Development
At the Game Developers Conference, the IA-SIG (Interactive Audio Special Interest Group) has proposed the specification for I3DL2 (IA-SIG Interactive 3D Audio Rendering Guideline Level 2) that includes similar formats and incorporates key elements of Creative’s EAX 2.0 specification. Creative Labs, Inc. has taken a key role in working with the IA-SIG 3D Audio Working Group under the MMA (MIDI Manufacturers Association) to help define the next level guideline for 3D audio development. Creative will add support for I3DL2 in updated drivers for its award-winning Sound Blaster Live! family of audio cards. In addition, Creative will seamlessly support I3DL2 in its EAX 3.0 API (Application Programming Interface).
The IASIG Level 2 guideline, combined with the previous Level 1 guideline (embodied in Microsoft’s DirectSound 3D API), provides baseline interactive 3D audio environments with reverberation for 3D games, web browsers and interactive or recorded music on the PC platform. “I applaud Creative Labs efforts to help define these new IA-SIG guidelines for 3D audio enhancements. Creative has played a major role in the working group process by providing primary concepts and materials from their Environmental Audio Extensions API (EAX), drafting the specification, and incorporating feedback from all of the participating companies. Their efforts were undertaken with exactly the kind of spirit which leads to industry wide improvements in mass market entertainment technology,” said Mark Miller, chairman of the IA-SIG.
These guidelines and additional information about IA-SIG Working Group activity can be found at
www.iasig.org.
.