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"Stanford and its faculty believe in both the basic research that underlies most advances, and in the transfer of knowledge and technology to society. This innovative technology, and the resulting partnership with Yamaha, signify that dedication to research and to fostering its practical uses and benefits" said Stanford University President Gerhard Casper.
The joint licensing program grants the use of over 400 patents and patent applications including basic patents for physical modeling synthesis previously marketed under the names Sondius® and Virtual Acoustic® (VA), which are essential for the development of products incorporating increased musical expression and interactivity. The portfolio also includes patents and applications covering Yamaha's XG format.
In practical terms, the new sound synthesis technology ushered in under Sondius-XG will revolutionize the personal computer, computer game, karaoke and musical instrument markets since the technology under the Sondius-XG patents will deliver the most expressive, natural and lively musical sounds available for such purposes to date. Promotion of the XG Format will give an entirely new experience of sound and music in the multimedia market. Games, internet pages and musical instruments will feature sound quality and dynamics that are virually indistinguishable from the sound of actual instruments.
While Stanford and Yamaha are new as a business team, their long-standing relationship first began in 1975 when Stanford granted Yamaha a license for Frequency Modulation (FM) Synthesis, a groundbreaking method of computer sound synthesis developed by Stanford Professor John Chowning. Yamaha invested significant resources to refine and enhance FM which led to the development of products such as the Electone and the world's first fully digital synthesizer, the DX-7. Later, the development of sound generation chips that utilize FM synthesis resulted in its becoming the standard for sound reproduction on personal computers, where it is found as a standard feature today.
"It's not every day that an international corporation joins forces with a world-class university on a business enterprise" said Kazukiyo Ishimura, President of Yamaha. "We're delighted with our renewed partnership with Stanford and are excited about the promise of Sondius-XG" , he concluded.
A unique opportunity now exists for potential licensees to gain access to a comprehensive portfolio of audio synthesis technology. The first company to obtain a license under this collaboration is the venture enterprise Staccato Systems, Inc. Staccato, a Stanford start-up, will undertake the development of software for personal computers based on the technology provided by Sondius-XG.
The joint licensing program will be administered by Stanford's Office of Technology Licensing, the unit that licenses patents, copyrights, and trademarks associated with Stanford innovation. For more information please visit www.Sondius-XG.com.