Analog Signal Processor upgrades subwoofer plate amplifiers.
Press Release Summary:
Offering programmable platform for subwoofer signal conditioning, SonicMaster1(TM) enables equalization, band-pass filtering, amplifier clipping, and woofer bottoming limiter protection to active subwoofer designs. Subwoofer Module is 3.3 V, 2-chip solution using dynamically programmable ASP with Audio State Machine, allowing designers to develop functions that can be dynamically configured, such as high-pass, low-pass, notch, band-pass, and Linkwitz Transform filters.
Original Press Release:
Anadigm® Delivers Flexible Subwoofer Signal Processing Solution with New SonicMaster1(TM) Module
SonicMaster1 Innovatively Provides the System with Audiophile Equalization and Compensation
TEMPE, ARIZONA - October 2, 2006 - In a move to offer an advanced subwoofer signal processing module solution for quickly upgrading existing subwoofer plate amplifier designs with an enhanced feature set that allows for state-of-the art subwoofers with minimal cost and negligible product development effort Anadigm has introduced the SonicMaster1(TM). Anadigm's audio dpASP (dynamically programmable Analog Signal Processor) provides a programmable platform for your subwoofer signal conditioning enabling equalization, band-pass filtering and amplifier clipping and woofer bottoming limiter protection to an active subwoofer design. Such a platform also enables the addition of audiophile class- "all analog" AutoEQ processing.
SonicMaster1 is available as a chipset or module from Anadigm, and soon from a number of international OEM and ODM subwoofer plate amplifier vendors, as a separate daughter board or integrated plate amp. It comes out of the box with useable pre-sets: no engineering time or money is wasted on a steep learning curve. You may customize the default settings using an easy, graphics-based package. There is no need to teach yourself how to use DSP, or hire a DSP programmer: this system works entirely in the analog domain. If you want to get under the hood and adjust settings for, say, the compressor to match the peak limits of your woofer and amplifier, it is simply adjusting the user adjustable software settings.
Subwoofer Module - SonicMaster1(TM) is a 3.3 volt, 2-chip solution using Anadigm's dynamically programmable Analog Signal Processor (dpASP) with an Audio State Machine, enabling audio designers to develop signal processing functions that can be dynamically configured under the control of easy-to-use graphical software. Configurable functions include filters such as high-pass and low-pass (Linkwitz-Riley), notch, band-pass, and Linkwitz Transform. Long time constant averaging, peak detector and automatic gain control are all easy to implement. Contact Anadigm for additional information on equalization tuning and optional AutoEQ.
By allowing standardization around a single printed circuit board to serve multiple end products, SonicMaster(TM) Subwoofer Module 1 simplifies and improves product development, allowing greatly-reduced development cost and faster time to market. There are no fees for the complete reference design or technical support - contact Anadigm for details.
The first member of the SonicMaster(TM) series is the AN237K04, consisting of the AN231E04 dpASP and the AN237C04 state machine. The AN237K04 features 100% analog signal path for Pure Analog Sound, options for push button or rotary controls, LCD display module, factory presets and end-user adjustments. Additionally, SonicMaster1 provides programmable standby (AutoOff) power mode, Auto Mute feature that eliminates low-level noise between cuts and standby mode, and optional active differential input connections. Also, the new SonicMaster1 provides accuracy and control of the filter characteristics to a very high tolerance. This precision and reliability over standard analog components is due to better than 0.1% component matching within the IC, with no drift over temperature. Typical passive crossover networks tend to have tolerances well beyond 10% (especially at high power levels due to thermal drift) and even active op amp designs are on the order of 5% variation. Stereo imaging of phased arrays will all benefit from this precision response.
The AN237K04 is dynamically reconfigurable, allowing modifications to circuit parameters while in operation. The device can therefore adapt in real time to changes in the environment where the subwoofer is used. With this feature, designers could offer professional installers or end users the ability to alter frequency and roll-off characteristics in their homes for optimal sound quality, or even implement a self-tuning function that would perform this step automatically. Therefore, if your furniture is moved around, or you just want to try a new listening position in the room, optimization can be at the touch of a button.
Anadigm's SonicMaster solutions reduce the design cycle from weeks or months to a matter of days, while allowing a single circuit board implementation to be customized during manufacturing to serve multiple products with different feature sets, thus reducing the range of components that needs to be sourced by OEMs.
"The SonicMaster(TM) series of Subwoofer Processor modules answer the demand of the audio community for real-time, reprogrammable signal processing under software control, while eliminating latency issues and the need to convert signals to and from the digital domain," said Simon Dickinson, COO of Anadigm®.
"For the first time, the most advanced design ideas for subwoofers can be implemented quickly, with full control over phase and perfect repeatability. With SonicMaster(TM) dpASPs, we're giving audio engineers a subwoofer solution with the greatest flexibility and highest audio quality available today." Added Richard Riker, CEO of Anadigm.
"This is going to enable many design teams to add AutoEQ to their "best" series product lines painlessly, with minimal impact on the BOM and time to market," remarked Mike Klasco, President of Menlo Scientific, an audio industry consulting firm.
A full featured starter kit that includes evaluation board, embedded software, and PC GUI is available at a suggested resale price of US $199.00. Samples and production quantities of the new SonicMaster1(TM), AN237K04 chipset, are also available now from distributor Nu Horizons (www.nuhorizons.com) and Anadigm- at a suggested resale price for U.S. delivery in 10,000-piece quantities at US $5.99 each.
About Anadigm®
Anadigm® brings platform-based design to the analog world with pre-qualified software and hardware components that allow complex analog circuits to be implemented in real time programmable Analog DSP. Designed to implement signal conditioning, filtering, data acquisition, closed-loop control, and other analog functions in a wide range of embedded systems, Anadigm® Analog DSP's are leading programmable analog ICs that can adapt on the fly to perform multiple functions, and adjust to different environmental conditions. For further information, visit Anadigm® on the Web at www.anadigm.com.
Contact:
Anadigm, Inc.
Richard Riker
CEO
Tel: +1 (480) 422-0191
richard.riker@anadigm.com
www.anadigm.com
