The digital image presented above illustrates a minute portion of the surface of a Crystal Semiconductor CS4297 audio codec, termed the CrystalClear Sound Fusion Audio Codec '97 by the manufacturer. Included on the integrated circuit is a 20-bit stereo digital-to-analog converter, and 18-bit stereo analog-to-digital converter, four analog line-level stereo inputs, dual stereo line-level outputs, dual microphone inputs, and 3-D stereo enhancement. The chip was designed as a 2.1 compatible stereo audio codec designed for personal computer multimedia systems, and uses mixed signal technology to enable the design of desktop, portable, and entertainment computers. Intel and IBM were the primary manufacturers utilizing the chip, with over 10 million pieces being shipped to the companies.

While the chip was being designed, engineer Greg Rohde decided to place the equalizer front panel, illustrated above, in an open space within the audio mixer stage of the circuitry. The equalizer panel is constructed with a metal-metal cap and contains 10 volume sliders.