HOLMDEL, N.J., May 01, 2001 -- Musicam USA, the manufacturer of hardware-based professional digital audio codecs, has concluded an agreement to distribute AudioTX Communicator, an all-software ISDN audio codec and IP/network audio codec.

Musicam USA will distribute the AudioTX Communicator program on an exclusive basis in the Western Hemisphere, and on a non-exclusive basis throughout the rest of the world. AudioTX Communicator is a product of MDO UK, based in England.

AudioTX Communicator runs on Windows 98/NT/2000 PCs and laptops. Audio is input and output through the PC's sound card. If connection to hardware codecs via ISDN is desired, the PC connects to the ISDN line through a CAPI 2.0-compatible ISDN Terminal Adapter card. Network connections, such as Internet, LAN/WAN, DSL and ATM are made through the PC's Ethernet port.

For the greatest compatibility with installed codecs, AudioTX Communicator includes MPEG 2, MPEG 3 and G.722 algorithms at multiple bit rates and sample rates. In addition, it contains the G.711 algorithm to permit voice quality connections from an ISDN line directly to a POTS (analog telephone) line. When used over an IP network, AudioTX Communicator provides uncompressed linear audio in mono or stereo modes, MPEG 2 in Mono/Stereo/Joint Stereo modes at up to 384 kb/s and MPEG 3 in Mono/Stereo/Joint Stereo modes at up to 320 kb/s. Audio delay over ISDN is about the same as in conventional hardware-based codecs, and delay over IP is adjustable to compensate for other traffic.

AudioTX is available now from Musicam USA and Musicam USA Distributors worldwide.