Audio signal processing software developer Waves has announced that its technologies will be used in real-time for the first time in Bungie's upcoming Halo 3, as Microsoft welcomes the company into the fold of exclusive Xbox 360 middleware developers. Waves introduced an early audio plug-in 1992, and now employs its digital technologies to improve sound quality in the creation of music albums, motion pictures, gaming and multimedia titles. It offers its solutions under the brand name Maxx. The Maxx solutions include custom semiconductor devices and licensing Waves' proprietary algorithms to DSP and computer platforms, and Waves says firms such as Sony, Sanyo, Toshiba, JVC, NEC, and Microsoft, to name a few, have adopted Maxx solutions. "I have used Waves tools extensively in the sound design of earlier Halo titles, but using these tools real-time is an exciting new step for Halo 3 and the video game industry," said Marty O'Donnell, audio director of Bungie Studios. "These tools bring a higher level of audio realism and emotional immersion then has ever been possible before." "Waves is pleased to be working with Bungie, adapting our products to real-time video game rendering," said Paul Bundschuh, vice president sales & marketing, Waves Semiconductor and OEM Licensing Division. "Several Waves technologies including the L360 Surround Limiter and Q10 Paragraphic Equalizer have been implemented in the Xbox 360 plug-in format for Halo 3 and other Xbox 360 game titles."