Digigram Introduces New Audio Cards for Notebook Computers

October 2, 1999 -- Digigram has expanded its PCXpocket line of Type II PC Cards (PCMCIA) for professional audio applications. Developed for portable computers, the new PCXpocket 240 and PCXpocket 440 present developers of both high quality and low bit-rate applications a powerful pair of options.

Digigram now offers a broad range of processing power levels and audio interface configurations using these new PCXpocket cards, enabling high-quality sound recording, mixing, processing and playback on a notebook computer.

"Both of our new PCXpocket cards bring desktop-level, multichannel power to laptop computers," said Gérard Santraille, President, Digigram. "With recent improvements in laptop computers, they are a choice not just for portable applications, but also for fixed installations with limited space. Along with our stereo PCXpocket v3, these cards offer new possibilities for professional audio users who want powerful applications on laptops."

Primarily designed for low bit-rate recording applications such as audio logging, the PCXpocket 240 has four balanced analog mono inputs and a stereo output for monitoring. Inputs can operate at microphone or line level. When using an application developed using the np SDK, MPEG (Layer I or II) or GSM coding is performed on the card’s DSP for maximum recording time. PCM linear is also available for best fidelity in audio analysis and other uses. DSP-based processing, such as scrubbing, adds to the card’s flexible feature set.

A unique "Cable Cosse" provides positive connection to the PC Card on one side and to a fan-out of audio cables on the other. Input connectors are XLR and the output connector is a stereo phone jack. Simple applications using Microsoft’s WAVE API may also be used with the PCXpocket 240.

Digigram’s most complete notebook sound card is the PCXpocket 440. It has four mono (or two stereo) analog inputs and four mono (or two stereo) analog outputs. In addition, an SPDIF input can be used in place of the first stereo input pair and an SPDIF output operates in parallel with the first stereo output pair. If more inputs and outputs are needed, two PCXpocket 440s can be synchronized in the same notebook.

Significant on-board DSP enables the PCXpocket 440 to manage a variety of Digigram Powered (np SDK) applications, including those that can take advantage of its LTC (SMPTE) time-code input for synchronization. Additional DSP functions enabled by the np SDK include MPEG (Layer I and II) and GSM encoding and decoding, variable sampling frequency and sophisticated audio processing. The PCXpocket 440 may also be used with applications using Microsoft’s WAVE protocol.

As with the PCXpocket 240, a unique "Cable Cosse" provides positive connection to the PC Card on one side and to a fan-out of audio cables on the other. Analog connectors are XLR and the SPDIF and LTC connectors are phono.

For more information, visit Digigram's web site at www.digigram.com.