Possibilities
xCORE provides a powerful solution for a wide range of demanding embedded system applications. The multiple cores in xCORE allow a higher level of integration than is possible with conventional microcontrollers.
Audio
At XMOS we support a large number of audio customers including famous brands such as Sennheiser and Meridian Audio. We put a lot of care into the sound quality of our xSOFTipTM audio peripherals. Our market leading digital USB Audio platform is renowned for its low latency and high audio quality. We were the first company to support the new Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (AVB) standard and we have the lowest cost AVB Audio end point solution. xCORETM can be found in high volume consumer products, the highest quality audiophile systems and in a vast range of professional and pro-sumer audio equipment. When you need flexible, high-quality digital audio interfaces plus audio DSP, all delivered at low cost, xCORE is ideal.
Consumer Audio
Some examples of where xCORETM is used today in consumer audio equipment include:
- Universal MP3/smartphone audio docks
- USB speakers and microphones
- Soundbar speakers
- Surround sound home-cinema systems
- High end headphones
- Game console audio
- Audiophile systems
- Spatialization, equalization, and audio DSP
Example Application - Speakers
Consumers like audio speaker docks that work with as many of their devices as possible. This requires connectivity to iOS devices, legacy iPods, Android phones, computers and more. The common theme is support for USB, however each has particular requirements including differences in host/device mode, sample rates and additional protocols. To make a single dock that supports all of these combinations could require multiple components. Thanks to the flexibility of xCORE devices and our wide range of xSOFTip, a single low-cost xCORE device can support any of these combinations, simply by running different software.
Universal dock core diagram
Example Application - Audio Streaming
High quality digital audio equipment relies on bit-perfect samples being transported with high precision at high sample rates. Since the move to digital, the critical stages in the audio chain have become the digital to analogue stage and the audio clock quality. High end audio DAC products (replacing the stock integrated sound cards) have become a popular upgrade for HiFi enthusiasts as music becomes stored on the cloud and is rendered via media players. Our audio xSOFTip and USB 2.0 reference designs are the defacto standards for no-compromise audio reproduction. The reference design opposite supports up to 192KHz sample rate, 24b audio and asynchronous clocking, giving you complete control of audio fidelity. xCORE are ideal for these applications and have been chosen by many of the leading HiFi brands.
USB Audio 2.0 reference design (stereo) core diagram
Professional Audio
Some examples of the type of professional and pro-sumer audio equipment that use xCORETM include:
- USB microphones
- Ethernet AVB microphones
- Musical instruments and MIDI interfaces
- Studio headphones and stage in-ear monitors
- Multichannel mixers
- Digital DJ decks
- Multichannel digital audio - studio interfaces
- Audio effects and matrix processors
- Audio / studio - networking products
- Digital amplifiers
- Monitor and playback speakers
- Sound reinforcement / PA equipment
Example application: DJ Deck
For developers of DJ equipment, xCORE flexible multicore microcontrollers combined with xSOFTip and our reference designs provide the easiest and lowest cost design path. Based on our industry leading USB Audio 2.0 IP and the highly integrated XS1-SU1 USB enabled devices, we offer a 4 channel in/out configuration with support for MIDI, analogue and digital control surfaces with support for LED or LCD displays. This optimised design provides flexibility to be customised for desired set of I/O interfaces and includes support for control via MIDI or HID USB endpoints.
DJ reference design core diagram
Example application: Multi-Channel Pro-audio
The core diagram opposite shows our reference design based around the XS1-L2 multicore microcontroller, providing high quality digital audio connectivity for pro-audio applications. The design provides certified USB 2.0 High Speed device and Audio Class 2.0 device class implementations with configurable digital audio interfaces, peripherals and the ability to integrate audio processing. The board offers 6 analog input channels and 8 analog outputs, as well as digital I/O connectivity. Sample rates of up to 192KHz are possible, ensuring compromise free audio. The XMOS USB Audio Software framework enables USB Audio products with up to 40 audio channels, supporting even the most demanding audio interface designs.
Multichannel USB audio core diagram
Example application: Multi-channel Ethernet AVB
AVB is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-driven standard for reliable and low latency transport of media over mixed-use Ethernet networks. XMOS provides a complete open-source AVB stack, based on our xSOFTip components that runs on our xCORE multicore microcontrollers. The core diagram opposite shows the the software structure of our 8 channel in/out reference design, based on the sixteen core XS1-L2. Thanks to the flexibility of xCORE devices, the system can be modified to support different control stacks (including TCP/IP), have DSP integrated or even scaled to higher channel counts using TDM style digital audio interfaces.
Our software AVB implementation is highly compact and requires no O/S or external RAM components and is available royalty and cost free to registered users.
AVB multichannel endpoint solution core diagram
Example application: Ethernet AVB Microphone
Based around the cost-effective XS1-L1-TQFP48 multicore microcontroller, the AVB-SL reference design show opposite provides an Ethernet AVB to stereo analogue audio solution. Thanks to its high compact nature and power draw of less than 500 mW, the design is compact enough to fit in almost any audio device, including microphones, headphones and small speakers. Bit-perfect digital audio is transported over Ethernet AVB and interfaced via I2S using a high quality recovered local clock. A DAC and ADC are included on this board for ease of evaluation, depending on whether an audio talker or listener is required. The reference design can be powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE) and is ideal for incorporation into new designs or retro-fitted into existing products. This provides the easiest path to future proof audio connectivity.
AVB microphone core diagram
xCORE Audio Capabilities
We provide a range of xSOFTipTM soft peripherals and processing blocks that will allow you to configure your xCORETM processor to support any of the following audio capabilities. You can choose what you need for your design.
Audio system integration diagram
USB
xCORETM supports USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 in both host mode and device mode and provides the most comprehensive support for USB Audio Class 2 (UAC2). xCORE supports audio resolutions of up to 24bits at 192kHz and with its multiple cores can support up to 40 audio channels for demanding professional applications. xCORE is the leading solution for USB audio today.
AVB
XMOS has been actively involved in defining and developing the Ethernet Audio Video Broadcast standard and was the first to offer an AVB compliant solution. We have a number of Ethernet AVB end point solutions that offer multichannel audio, with upto 40 channels supported, but also scale down to the lowest cost Ethernet AVB solution suitable for musical instruments and microphones.
A library of Audio Interfaces
In addition to our USB Audio and Ethernet AVB solutions we provide a library of xSOFTipTM peripheral interfaces that include:
- I2S
- AES
- ADAT
- TDM
- S/PDIF
- MIDI
A portfolio of audio digital signal processing parameterizable blocks
We provide libraries of C-code DSP algorithms that allow you to enhance your audio product, including:
- Digital volume control
- Equalization
- Stereo Spatalization
- Level meter
- Audio mixer
- Sample rate conversion
- MP3 decode
- Filters
