Keynote address Trends and Directions in Signal-Processing Hardware for Audio Applications Jeff Bier Berkeley Design Technology, Inc. (BDTI), Berkeley, CA, USA Recent advances in DSP hardware have radically altered audio processing. Audio processing that only a few years ago required a room full of expensive equipment can now be implemented with little more than an ordinary PC. At the same time, advances in DSP hardware have improved the quality of audio processing and enabled new product categories. In this paper, we will examine emerging advances in DSP hardware that will further revolutionize audio processing. We will explore the tradeoffs associated with key audio processing implementation technologies, including DSPs, general-purpose processors, and ASICs. We will also highlight how advances in DSP hardware are changing system designs and creating new product categories.