Page "Environmental Audio Extensions" Paragraph 2

The aim of EAX is to create more ambience within computer and video games by more accurately simulating a real-world audio environment.

Up to EAX 2. 0, the technology was based around the effects engine aboard the EMU10K1 on Creative Technology's and the Maestro2 on ESS1968 chipsets driven Sound Cards.

The hardware accelerated effects engine is an E-mu FX8010 DSP integrated into the Creative Technology's audio chip and was historically used to enhance MIDI output by adding effects ( such as reverb and chorus ) to the sampled instruments on sample-based synthesis cards ( also known as wavetable synthesis ).

A similar effects DSP was also present on Creative's cards back to the AWE 32.

However, the EMU10K1's DSP was faster and more flexible and was able to produce not only MIDI output but also other outputs, including the digital sound section.

A person who has been exposed to MIDI effects processors will quickly recognize the parameters that EAX controls, and the names of many of the presets.