iZotope Technology Embedded into Blue Microphones' Tiki

iZotope’s Adaptive Noise Reduction and Keyboard Click Reduction improve online communication

AES – San Francisco, California –Booth 505 (October 26,2012) - iZotope, Inc., a leading innovator in digital audio signal  processing, has partnered with Blue Microphones to develop Tiki, the world’s first USB microphone  that mimics the intelligence of human hearing. Tiki’s Intelligent Speech  Mode distinguishes itself with its ability to focus on desired sounds,  minimize background noise, and intelligently detect when to mute altogether. Complemented by a Natural Recording Mode  for high-fidelity audio recording, Tiki’s two modes give any Skype  user, podcaster or musician the versatility to quickly choose the best  option in any situation.

For Tiki’s Intelligent Speech Mode, iZotope adapted their award-winning  Adaptive Noise Reduction (ANR) and Keyboard Click Reduction (KCR)  technologies onto a low-cost Blackfin® DSP chip, manufactured by Analog  Devices. “We admire Blue’s drive and ambition to take microphone technology to the next level so that modern  communication can be more enjoyable,” says Alex Westner, Director of  Business Development for iZotope. “The Tiki is breaking new ground and  iZotope is proud to be a part of this mission.” iZotope’s ANR is based on the simple premise that speech and music are highly  variant over a short period of time, while background noise is  persistent and changes slowly. Using a sophisticated spectral processing  technique, ANR can quickly identify and surgically subtract the “noiseprint” from the incoming audio signal without degrading the  quality of the desired speech or music.

iZotope’s KCR, however, is based on the inverse – keyboard click sounds  are extremely short and transitory. As a form of noise, they tend to  span the entire frequency spectrum. While ANR performs its sonic surgery  over a long period of time, KCR operates only in short slices of time, ensuring that the speech or music you want to  hear won’t be interrupted. “As we increasingly rely on our computers for  online calls, both for work and for fun, it becomes obvious how easily  background noise and poor intelligibility can ruin your conversation. That’s why we are excited to release Tiki,  designed with noise-canceling technology never before used in a  microphone. Tiki is the simplest way to ensure that your message—not  your surroundings—is delivered loud and clear,” says Brian Biggott,C TO of Blue Microphones.

Pricing and Availability:

The Blue Tiki is now available in the US for $59 USD.

Learn more at http://www.bluemic.com/tiki/.

About iZotope,Inc.

iZotope is a research-driven audio software company based in Boston,  Massachusetts. Its products and audio technology are used by millions of  people in over 50 countries, from hobbyist musicians to GRAMMY® Award  winners. iZotope focuses on developing innovative audio technology for professional and consumer applications. This core  technology is presented to customers in its award-winning product line  and through its extensive licensing program. For more information on  iZotope products, visit www.iZotope.com.

About Blue Microphones

Blue Microphones designs and produces an extensive line of award-winning  microphones and recording tools for audio professionals, musicians and  consumers. Founded in 1995, and headquartered in Southern California,  Blue continues a lengthy tradition of innovative, cutting-edge design and astounding performance. Named one of the  fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine in both 2011 and 2010, Blue  offers a range of recording tools for almost any application in both  professional and consumer markets. From Blue’s flagship recording tool, the Bottle, to the enCORE line of professional live  mics, to Mikey iPhone mic, Blue has just the tool to capture your  creativity. Check out the complete range of Blue products at www.bluemic.com.