Motorola's semiconductor products sector has launched the industry's first single-chip. The Multi-Channel Television Sound (MTS) stereo audio encoder allows consumers to enjoy high-fidelity stereo and surround sound more easily on their televisions.

The MC44C401 is a CMOS implementation of an advanced Broadcast Television Systems Committee (BTSC) compatible stereo encoder for manufacturers of set top boxes, VCRs, DVD players/recorders and other consumer electronic products.

An official release informs that the product solves an existing problem for entertainment providers, equipment manufacturers, and ultimately consumers. As of today, delivering high-fidelity stereo sound over a simple RF coaxial cable was too expensive. Since the majority of consumers rely on this method of interconnect, they had to settle for "mono" quality sound.

This chip is designed to provide a cost-effective means of delivering high-fidelity stereo sound through a single RF coaxial cable. The release states that most people don't realize what kind of sound is out there and how to get the best sound with the equipment they have. Even older stereo television sets can provide an exhilarating audio experience if they are fed the right signals.

The MC44C401 is engineered to offer the end user with a simple connection to high fidelity stereo sound. The digital audio processing engine used in the MC44C401 preserves the full fidelity of surround sound and other audio coding schemes while ensuring that overall system performance is not impacted by copy protection technologies.

In addition, the MC44C401 is designed to provide equipment manufacturers with several cost benefits including the elimination of manual alignment of filters, phase controls, and composite signal amplitude. By far, the most compelling cost/benefit features are the integrated analog-to-digital input circuitry, the digital-to-analog output circuitry and the sync separator.

Motorola claims to be a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions.