Kardome and Panasonic Automotive Enhance In-Car Voice User Experience

Kardome, the innovative voice front-end technology company from Israel has partnered with Panasonic Automotive Systems of America at CES 2024 to showcase Kardome Mobility's integration into Panasonic Automotive's SkipGen2 In-Vehicle Infotainment System. Kardome's integrated Spatial Hearing technology enhances in-car voice user interfaces and the integration with Kardome Mobility is the only solution to individually capture up to six voices over three rows with a single mic array in the overhead cabin compartment.

BdSound and Vivoka, two European pioneers in voice technology, announced a strategic partnership to reshape the landscape of voice assistants. Through this collaboration, BdSound will leverage Vivoka's development framework allowing users to high-level construct tailored voice assistants. And BdSound's audio and speech processing technology will become an integral part of the acoustic front-end tools offered by Vivoka, promising to make voice assistants more accessible and customizable than ever before.

XMOS announced xcore-voice: a complete voice solution built on its xcore platform hardware, software and tools. xcore-voice leverages xcore.ai crossover processor, the third-generation of XMOS’ xcore architecture, combining high performance AI, DSP, I/O and control in a single economical device. The solution provides voice pipeline example designs using XMOS industry-proven audio front-end, incorporating far-field processing and support for third party ISV voice algorithms.

NXP Semiconductors has announced Voice Intelligent Technology (VIT), a comprehensive, local voice control software package with online training tools, free for developers and manufacturers, regardless of end application production volumes. Based on advanced deep learning, VIT is a ready-to-use library that provides a far-field audio front end supporting up to three microphones, an always-on wake word engine, and a voice command engine. NXP’s free online tools supports custom wake words and voice commands, using simple text entry and without the need for voice recordings.

Aspinity launched the first member of its analogML family, the AML100, which is the industry’s first and only tiny machine learning (ML) solution operating completely within the analog domain. As such, the AML100 reduces always-on system power by 95%, allowing manufacturers to dramatically extend the battery life of devices and migrate walled powered always-on devices to battery - opening whole new classes of products for voice-first and smart home systems.

audioXpress March 2022 features an extensive Market Update report on the latest audio test and measurement tools. Matt Taylor explains the possibilities of REST for automated test and measurement, and Joe Begin (Audio Precision) addresses testing multichannel MEMS microphone arrays. The KEF KC62 subwoofer is reviewed by Oliver Masciarotte and measured by Kent Peterson, and Ben Chen explains how to use the Sfera Labs' Exo Sense Pi module as a sound meter. Download or read online now.

NXP expanded its already broad portfolio of voice enablement solutions with the acquisition of Retune DSP, the Denmark-based provider of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) software and algorithms for voice control and communication applications. Announced in July and now confirmed, the acquisition of Retune DSP adds three powerful voice DSP software products that will merge with NXP’s voice solutions. The combination with NXP’s broad customer base, global footprint and scale, promises to expand breakthrough voice solutions through combined R&D, sales force and customer support teams.

audioXpress February 2021 explains why Microphones have gained Essential Status, and how microphones have a foundational contribution to voice front-ends. Erica Yorga details how Thousands of Virtual Microphones can solve audio conferencing challenges, and Mike Meechan explains how to design high-performance microphone preamplifiers. Brent Butterworth reviews the Widex Moment mRIC RD hearing aids to understand the differences and similarities in the critical sound experience. Michael Steffes explains how to increase the output current for an audio op-amp, and Andrew C. Russell details the X-Altra, a high-performance MC/MM phono equalizer DIY project. Now available in print and digital.