Audio Precision was founded in 1984 by four engineers and managers who first met at Tektronix, Inc. These four (Bob Metzler, Bruce Hofer, Dr. Richard Cabot, and Bob Wright) had first come together at Tektronix, Inc., where they were responsible for development and marketing of the TM500 and TM5000 audio test and measurement instruments.
In 1985, Audio Precision introduced System Oner-the first PC-based audio test instrument, and one of the first PC-based instruments of any sort. System One immediately set new performance standards as the first instrument with residual distortion and noise sufficiently low (-100 dB) to measure then-new 16-bit digital audio devices such as CD players. System One was also the first audio test instrument furnished with software that permitted easy automation of test procedures, even by engineers and technicians without programming experience. System One quickly became the industry standard, with more than 5,000 units sold by 1999.
In 1989 Audio Precision introduced the first DSP-based audio test instrument, System One + DSPr. This unit added FFT spectrum analysis, waveform display, and other advanced capabilities to the existing standard audio test techniques. AP also introduced System One Dual Domainâ, the first audio test instrument with both analog and digital inputs and outputs.
Audio Precision also introduced the Portable Oner, a self-contained audio test instrument designed for maintenance, repair, and less-demanding engineering tasks. Recently, Dual Domain (analog and digital) models of Portable One have been introduced, including a version operating at digital sample rates up to 96 kHz. In 1995 Audio Precision introduced System Two. This instrument, in addition to analog and digital audio measurement capabilities surpassing System One, also provides measurement of virtually all characteristics of the serial digital pulse stream (AES/EBU/SPDIF/EIAJ)-jitter, sample rate, amplitude, noise, rise and fall times, etc.
In 1998 the Cascade family of System Two was brought to the market, featuring digital sample rates to 192 kHz plus many other improvements. From the humble start with four engineers in 1984, Audio Precsion now comprises over fifty people in a new custom-built headquarters building occupied in mid-1998.
Audio Precision contact information:
P.O. Box 2209
Beaverton, OR
US
97075-3070
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TestMart contact information:
1000 Cherry Ave., Suite #100,
San Mateo, CA
94404
(888) 665-2765
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