Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/09/15/tdk_to_launch_soupedup_mp3/
TDK to launch ‘souped-up MP3’ software
Based on Kenwood's enhancement code
Posted in Software, 15th September 2000 08:46 GMT
Japanese media-to-modems company TDK will next week launch software designed to enhance the open MP3 music format.
TDK's MP3 Audio Magic is based on Japanese consumer electronics giant Kenwood's Supreme Drive MP3 enhancement technology.
Supreme Drive re-generates high frequency sounds lost when real sound is recorded and compressed to an MP3 file. That, claims Kenwood, produces a sound that's far closer to the original. The technology, says it creator, recreates all the subtle resonances on the sound's fundamental wave produced by all musical instruments, including the human voice.
Or, to put it more pragmatically, it calculates and puts back sound frequencies - not sampling rate, you'll note - about 16kHz, which would otherwise by lost to the MP3 coding.
TDK's software use the software to generate MP3s that are more natural sounding than would otherwise be the case with files of (presumably) comparable sampling rates and size. MP3 Audio Magic allows these files to be written out to CD-R/CD-RW units. It goes on sale on 21 September for ¥6800 ($64). ®