Audio Controller (Maestro-2E ES1978S)

Maestro-2E ES1978S manufactured by ESS is used as Audio Controller. This is performed in 3.3V and is not backed up during STR, STD and OFF. Interface with HOST machine is performed through PCI-Bus.
AC'97 Audio codec ES1921 is used for Analogue part.

Audio Controller has following functions.

  • High-Performance PCI Audio Acceleration
  • 500-MIPS-equivalent dual-engine PCI audio accelerator
  • 64-Channel wavetable synthesis
  • HRTF 3-D positional audio acceleration
  • Multi-Stream DirectSound and DirectSound3D acceleration
  • Hardware acceleration for DirectMusic, ActiveMovie, and DirectInput API
  • DVD AC-3 speaker virtualization
  • Enhanced effects (reverb, chorus, flange, treble, bass, and 3D stereo expander)
  • Advanced platform for interactive 3-D gaming, DVD movie playback, and Internet communications
  • Legacy DOS Game Support
  • Full DOS game compatibility through three hardware implementations: PC/PCI, DDMA, and TDMA compatibility achieved in standard PCI 2.1 bus
  • Serial IRQ support
  • Complete Audio Solution for Notebook PCs
  • Compliance with APM 1.2, ACPI 1.0, and PPMI 1.0
  • Compliance with Intel Mobile Power Guideline
  • 3.3 volt operation with multiple power-saving modes

ES1921 manufactured by ESS is employed as Audio Codec. It is AC'97 Rev. 2.1 Codec and connected by Audio Controller and AC-Link.

Audio Codec has following functions.

  • Single, high-performance, mixed-signal, 18-bit stereo VLSI chip
  • Meets or exceeds AC'97 analog performance specification
  • AC-Link TDM digital serial interface to a Maestro Digital Audio Controller
  • Supports notebook plus docking station architecture and AC-3 6-speaker configuration
  • Full-duplex stereo operation for simultaneous record and playback
  • 18-bit stereo ADC and DAC
  • 48 kHz sample rate
  • Recording multiplexer with 4 stereo inputs: line, CD, video, and aux, plus mic, mono-mix, stereo-mix, and phone
  • 3D stereo enhancement
  • 91 dB SNR ADC, 92 dB SNR DAC
  • CODEC highlights: ultra-low filter ripple, low crosstalk, and improved Vref
  • True line-level out
  • Stereo out with volume control
  • Mono out with volume control
  • 4 stereo analog inputs with 5-bit volume controls for each channel
  • 2 mic inputs; selectable
  • Mono PC_BEEP and phone inputs
  • Input mixer for 4 stereo, mic, and DAC inputs
  • Low power modes
  • 3.3 V digital interface
  • Meets Intel Audio Codec '97 Rev. 1.03 and 2.0 specifications
  • Meets Microsoft PC97 1.0, PC98 1.0, PC99 (draft) specifications