QSound Labs

QSound Labs is an audio technology company based in Calgary, Canada. It is primarily a developer and provider of audio enhancement technologies for entertainment and communications devices and software. The company is best known as a pioneer of 3D audio effects, beginning with speaker-targeted positional 3D technology applied to arcade video games and professional music and film soundtrack production. QSound was founded by Larry Ryckman (CEO), Danny Lowe, and John Lees. Jimmy Iovine served as SVP of Music and Shelly Yakus as VP of Audio Engineering in its formative years.[2]

QSound Labs
IndustryAudio Technology
Founded1986 (1986)
Founder
DefunctFebruary 15, 2015 (2015-02-15)
FateInactive, QSND delisted,[1] Defunct.
Headquarters
Calgary, Alberta
,
Canada
Key people
    • Larry Ryckman, CEO
Products
BrandsmicroQ

QHD QSurround

Q3D Interactive
Revenue
    • Steady US$ 1,543,240 (2005)
    • Increase US$ 1,989,030 (2006)
    • Increase US$ 2,379,139 (2007)
Total assets
    • Steady US$ 2,626,663 (2006)
    • Increase US$ 3,534,885 (2007)
Websitewww.qsound.com

History

The flagship technology first known simply as "QSound" saw its initial commercial application in the early 1990s, notably in Capcom arcade games and on many music releases by prominent artists. The first two QSound album titles were Sting's The Soul Cages and Madonna's The Immaculate Collection.[3]

From the original speaker-targeted QSound 3D process used in producer-side applications, QSound Labs developed a suite of positional and enhancement spatial audio technologies, including positional audio for stereo speakers, multi-channel speaker systems and stereo earphones; stereo expansion, and virtual surround, under several technology names. There is no longer any single process now referred to as "QSound."[4]

Although the hardware QSystem professional mixing processors and plug-in producer-side software tools were significant product offerings in the 1990s, most QSound technology is now incorporated in end-user products (such as video game software, computer sound cards and home entertainment electronics) by means of analog integrated circuits, digital signal processor (DSP) software libraries, host processor software and the like.[3] QSound's iQ software internet audio enhancement software, their first downloadable, stand-alone consumer product, ultimately spawned a successful product line including the iQFX series of plug-ins for RealNetwork's RealPlayer.[5]

In addition to spatial audio processing, the company has broadened its product line to include a long list of audio effects and controls such as static equalization, adaptive spectral enhancement, dynamic range controls, reverberation, and many other standard audio effects.

In 2003, QSound added a software MIDI wavetable ringtone synthesizer to its line-up. The effects suite and synthesizer are licensed in the form of software libraries to mobile phone manufacturers and providers of related technology (e.g. DSP's and DSP operating systems), in order to provide polyphonic ringtone rendering and enhanced music or mobile TV playback on hand-held devices.[6]

In 2009, the company was delisted from the NASDAQ exchange.[1] Around 2012, the copyright date on QSound Labs' website was updated.[7] Out of the 40 patents filed by QSound Labs, they've all been abandoned or expired (The last expiration was in 2013).[8] The current status of the company is unknown, as such it is assumed to be inactive or defunct.

Further reading

See also

References
  1. "QSND (QSound Labs) delisted". docoh.com. April 21, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  2. "Timberlake Becomes Co-Owner of Audio Tech Company - ABC News". 2014-11-21. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  3. "QSound Labs: Right On Q". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  4. "QSound Products Overview". www.qsound.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  5. "QSound Chronology - 1998". qsound.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  6. "microQ - QSound Labs Press Release March 17, 2003". www.qsound.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  7. "QSound Labs - Website updated around 2012". 2012-01-31. Archived from the original on 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  8. US5371799A, Lowe, Danny D.; Cashion, Terry & Williams, Simon, "Stereo headphone sound source localization system", issued 1994-12-06
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