Aviom Chooses Actel as FPGA Supplier-of-Choice for Advanced Audio Network Products

Actel's Flash-Based ProASIC Plus Devices Offer Superior Flexibility and Security Throughout Aviom's Entire Product Portfolio

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., August 16, 2004 - Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) today announced that Aviom, Inc. has exclusively used its flash-based ProASIC Plus field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices throughout its portfolio of audio network products, including Aviom's award-winning A-16 and A-16R Personal Mixers. In addition, Actel's ProASIC Plus devices are utilized within Aviom's Distributed Audio Network, based on Aviom's proprietary A-Net data transmission protocol, which allows high-speed, real-time transmission of multi-channel audio over a single Category 5 wire in both fixed and mobile audio scenarios. Chosen for superior flexibility and security, Actel's live at power-up, nonvolatile ProASIC Plus devices serve as the main engine throughout Aviom's audio network and perform a wide variety of critical processing and control functions.

"Because Aviom is committed to the rapid development of new audio technology, such as our A-net data transmission protocol, it is crucial that we employ an FPGA that is not only highly flexible, but that also offers the level of security needed to protect the proprietary intellectual property that forms the foundation of our business," said Ray Legnini, product manager at Aviom. "When considering our programmable logic choices, Actel's ProASIC Plus FPGAs delivered on these vital requirements and greatly enhanced our ability to quickly and securely deliver cutting-edge solutions for audio problems found in both live-stage settings and studio environments."

Martin Mason, director of marketing for flash products at Actel, said, "Actel's significant presence throughout Aviom's entire portfolio of innovative products illustrates our strength in providing customers with the required technology to get their products to market quickly, while protecting their valuable IP from piratization. Aviom's selection of our ProASIC Plus FPGAs validates Actel's high level of quality in the professional and consumer multimedia market."

Aviom has integrated Actel's APA150 device in several of its products, including its line of personal mixers, control surfaces, transmitters, and input and output modules. Within these systems, the APA150 device performs key functions such as input control and LED scan output, audio I/O control and media access control (MAC). Additionally, Actel's device serves as the interface to the analog-to-digital (ADC) and digital-to-analog (DAC) converters within Aviom's products.

About ProASIC Plus

The ProASIC Plus family consists of devices ranging from 75,000 to 1 million system gates. The combination of a fine-grained, single-chip ASIC-like architecture and nonvolatile flash configuration memory makes Actel's ProASIC Plus offering a strong ASIC alternative. The devices are live at power-up, low power, highly secure, immune to neutron-induced firm errors and require no separate configuration memory, all characteristics shared by ASICs. The ProASIC Plus architecture and design methodology support popular FPGA and ASIC tool flows, reducing time-to-market and permitting designers to migrate easily between FPGA and ASIC solutions.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) based on antifuse and flash technologies, high-performance intellectual property (IP) cores, software development tools and design services, targeted for the high-speed communications, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) replacement and radiation-tolerant markets. Founded in 1985, Actel employs more than 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA, 94043-4655. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com.

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