Media Vision was a manufacturer of CD-ROM kits and sound cards based in California, USA. The company operated between the years of 1990 and 1995 and had its share of both success and failure.
The company was a hit for its ProaudioSpectrum PC soundcards which were sold coupled along with CD-ROM drives. They market was also very receptive to their computer games, PC adapter cards, and computer hardware.
The company was instituted by Paul Jin and Tim Bratton in 1990. The founders formulated the business plan while undergoing post-graduate studies at Santa Clara University. The pioneer employees were Russ Faust, Sandy Pfister, Bryan Colvin, and Dan Gochnauner. This business plan was primarily focused on raising all of the capital necessary in order to run the business.
Media Vision became one of the largest manufacturers of PC sound cards during its first two years of operation. Historical financial figures will show that they were one of the top two companies on the list of manufacturers supplying the suddenly booming market.
The company even outpaced the computer giant Microsoft in marketing the Windows operating system when Media Vision released its CD version which contained several media extensions. Aiming to expand, the company bought a computer graphics company, the Pellucid. This paved the way for the production of high performing video graphic cards.
Media Vision would enter the stock market in the latter part of 1992. The company redesigned its logo to signify the evolution of its products. The company also diversified into other markets by producing CD titles like Quantum Gate, Critical Path, and Forever Growing Garden which were all multi-media publications.
However, the company was not able to maintain its growth pace. CEO Paul Jain filed for resignation in May of 1994. The company suddenly became the focus of a lot of negative attention when it became apparent that it was involved in the biggest fraud case committed in Silicon Valley ever. Paul Jin and Tim Bratton were successfully convicted on 27 counts of financial fraud. The total damage of the case was estimated at around two million dollars worth of investor money and bonds.
Aureal would come in and buy the company and then sell any of the technologies, product ranges, and trademarks that were in any way connected to Media Vision.
