Radio Classique selects mp3 Surround for 5.1 surround sound Internet radio

France-based Radio Classique is the first commercial European broadcasting station to use the mp3 Surround streaming module developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS. This module allows listeners of the classical and movie music channels of Radio Classique to enjoy Internet radio in high-quality 5.1 surround sound.

The classical and movie channels of Radio Classique are available on the website http://www.radioclassique.fr. Users can enjoy these free channels in 5.1 surround sound with the mp3 Surround WinAmp plug-in available on

http://www.mp3surround.com. Using this plug-in, the surround internet radio can be played back either on a 5.1 speaker system or even over stereo headphones using the integrated virtual surround technology called Ensonido which reproduces 5.1 surround sound on any set of headphones.

Ensonido, as well as the mp3 Surround streaming module and playback technology were developed by Fraunhofer IIS. Zenon-Media, the European leader of on air radio automation software, provides the web radio software solution and integrated mp3 Surround into the studio infrastructure of Radio Classique.

mp3 Surround enables transmission and playback of 5.1 surround music at data rates comparable to those used for standard stereo mp3 files, while preserving backward compatibility to all current mp3 playback devices. This makes mp3 Surround the format of choice for upgrading any stereo mp3 Internet radio service to 5.1 multi-channel sound.

For more information, please visit http://www.mp3surround.com.

About Fraunhofer IIS
Founded in 1985, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, with its 480 staff members, ranks first in employees and revenues among the Fraunhofer Institutes.

Fraunhofer IIS has achieved worldwide recognition for the development of the audio coding method mp3.

Fraunhofer IIS provides research services on a contract basis and licenses technology in the areas of audio and video source coding, multimedia realtime systems, digital radio broadcasting and digital cinema systems, integrated circuits and sensor systems, design automation, wireless, wired and optical networks, localization and navigation, imaging systems and nanofocus X-ray technology, high-speed cameras, medical sensor solutions, and communications technology in transport and logistics.

Its budget of 58 million Euro is financed primarily by projects from industry and public institutions, with less than 20 percent subsidized by state and federal funds.