R&D Stories: Getting Started with Automotive Audio Bus (Part 4)

In this article, Brewster LaMacchia concludes his series on Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) applications (not just for automotive). After an introduction to the properties of this locally networked audio transport, a look at A2B system design, and A2B data transport and interface, in Part 4, the author looks at systems and tools that are available to speed prototyping and evaluation. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2021.

audioXpress continues Brewster LaMacchia's article series on Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) technology from Analog Devices. The first two parts of this article examined the overall A2B system operation and how its features can enable new types of digital audio applications. Now, the author takes a deeper look at A2B data transport and how to interface between peripherals and the A2B bus using Analog Device's AD242x series of parts. This article was originally published in audioXpress, December 2020.

The second article in a four-part series about Analog Devices' A2B or Automotive Audio Bus explores the technical underpinnings of the A2B bus design. Brewster LaMacchia examines how certain optimizations for automotive applications must be accounted for when targeting broader audio applications. He also includes a look at analog phantom power and how A2B provides that feature in a digital system. This article was originally published in audioXpress, November 2020.

This is the first article in a four-part series about Analog Devices' A2B or Automotive Audio Bus, a digital audio bus technology originally developed for automotive requirements that is finding interesting design possibilities in other audio applications. This first article discusses the main features of A2B, and its use with I2S and PDM interfaces, before exploring the technical underpinnings of the A2B bus design and creating systems with the development tools available. This article was originally published in audioXpress, October 2020.

Audinate, the developer of the industry-leading Dante AoIP networking technology, and Analog Devices have collaborated to introduce the availability of Dante Embedded Platform for ADI’s SHARC audio digital signal processors. This means that manufacturers using SHARC DSPs are now able to benefit from Dante audio-over-IP as on-chip software and a streamlined product development cycle.

The two learn-to-solder kits designed by the Audio Builders Workshop (ABW is an offshoot of the Boston Audio Engineering Society section) are now available for purchase online at CrowdSupply - a crowdfunding organization and website helping creators fund and launch products that people can build themselves and customize at will. CrowdSupply and their parent company, Mouser have been great supporters of ABW, and it was just natural that the entities would team up to offer the kits.

The Audio Builders Workshop offered an expanded program at the 2019 convention of the Audio Engineering Society, held at the Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 16-19. The culmination of this year's program was a three-hour Build Clinic on the last day of the convention. Owen Curtin and Chris Kincaid ran this session, and attendance far exceeded their expectations. There were more than 40 participants, and each person was required to purchase a kit for the session, which they assembled onsite. Participants were given a choice of three kits, depending on their level of experience - the L2A Passive Preamp, the ABW Metronome, or the S-25 microphone.

Analog Devices announced the availability of its new SHARC Audio Module (ADZS-SC589-MINI), a hardware/software platform that facilitates efficient product prototyping, development, and production of a variety of digital audio products. Delivering an innovative combination of high-performance audio signal processing components and a comprehensive software development environment, the SHARC Audio Module is ideal for effects processors, multi-channel audio systems, MIDI synthesizers, and many other DSP-based audio projects.