Yamaha Announces mLAN FireWire Digital Audio Network Technology

BUENA PARK, CA (Dec. 19, 2000) -- Yamaha Corporation today announced the availability of the mLAN Licensing Program to developers, based on industry standard IEEE 1394 (also known as FireWire, or iLINK), that provides a technologically advanced solution for the high-speed transmission of digital audio and music.

The Yamaha mLAN technology utilizes IEEE 1394. Invented by Apple and now an industry standard, IEEE 1394 is an inexpensive, but powerful serial bus connection for computer devices that enables high performance, real-time data transmission. Positioned above the serial bus connection, Yamaha mLAN hardware and software devices work individually, or cohesively with other computers or mLAN devices in conjunction with built-in IEEE 1394/FireWire ports. For computers that do not have built-in FireWire ports, a standard IEEE 1394/FireWire card may be installed to become mLAN-ready. mLAN technology provides the ability to route digital audio/music from one device to another without physically changing the cable connection.

"We expect this technology to be widely accepted wherever data transmission of digital audio and music is utilized," states Masatada Wachi, an executive director on the board of Yamaha Corporation of Japan. "In order to generate momentum for mLAN technology, Yamaha is making the mLAN Licensing Program available to all developers of digital audio hardware and software", he adds.

"Apple's FireWire has been widely adopted by manufacturers producing a range of peripherals such as digital cameras and large capacity hard drives that demand the finest quality high-speed data transmission," said Clent Richardson, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "Apple supports this great technology in its upcoming Mac OS X and believes Yamaha's mLAN will be the ideal way to handle audio and music over FireWire."

The mLAN Licensing Program provides three key components: 1) use of the mLAN Logo/Trademark, 2) usage of the mLAN API Specification for mLAN Node Controller and relevant patents owned by Yamaha, and 3) access to the mLAN Internal Specification. Licensees may choose components depending on their individual requirements.

The mLAN Node Controller is an entity that takes a form of software or a combination of hardware and software and functions with mLAN-specific features such as an mLAN hardware module or a set of mLAN drivers for computer platforms. Yamaha will make several variations of mLAN Node Controllers available to licensees. The mLAN API Specification controls mLAN Node Controllers, and is described in detail within the mLAN Internal Specification (the document will be available in the second quarter of 2001). Licensees should refer to this proprietary information when developing compliant mLAN Node Controllers. Usage of both the mLAN Logo/Trademark, mLAN API Specification and Yamaha-owned patents are royalty- free to licensees. An administration fee of 200,000 Japanese Yen (approximately $1,800 US) is required from licensees with an annual renewal of 100,000 Japanese Yen (approximately $900 US).

"Yamaha is offering generous licensing agreements in an effort to create greater international acceptance of this innovative technology," adds Mr. Wachi. As mLAN gains momentum, a wide variety of products will become available by manufacturers within many applicable markets that will encourage users to migrate into this new generation of high-speed digital audio and MIDI data transmission via IEEE 1394.

Initially, Yamaha will introduce three mLAN products: mLAN-8P, mLAN-8E and CD8-mLAN. mLAN-8P is a standalone audio/MIDI interface, which enables conventional audio and MIDI devices to be connected to an mLAN system. The mLAN-8E is an mLAN expansion board for mLAN-ready Yamaha synthesizer keyboards and tone generators. The CD8-mLAN is an mLAN expansion board for the widely used Yamaha digital mixing consoles, 02R and 03D.

mLAN Protocol handler chip (mLAN PH-1) is available now and works in conjunction with Fujifilm Microdevices 1394 physical layer and link layer chips to handle mLAN-specific data. Yamaha is currently in negotiation with several manufacturers to provide other necessary components that will enable licensees to build mLAN-compliant products for worldwide availability.

For more information on the Yamaha mLAN Licensing Program, email mlan-license@beat.yamaha.co.jp

Yamaha Corporation manufactures a complete line of professional audio and musical instrument products for sound reinforcement, recording, post-production and live performance applications. For more information, please visit yamaha.com.