USB Audio 2.0 Reference Design

USB Audio Class 2.0 provides a dramatic improvement over USB Audio Class 1.0 with the addition of 24 bit audio, sample frequencies up to 192kHz and the ability to scale to large numbers of input/output channels.

XMOS has developed a USB Audio Class 2.0 software framework design to work on XS1-L devices. 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 framework also includes support for USB Audio Class 1.0.

Platform Support

USB Audio Class 2.0 is natively supported by Apple OS X version 10.6.3 and above. Support for Windows is provided via XMOS partners, Thesycon, CEntrance and Polytec. The drivers are configurable and provide support for WDM/Direct X and ASIO 2.1.

An evaluation Thesycon Windows driver is supplied with both reference designs. The Thesycon production driver is available through XMOS as a separate part number which bundles the driver with the XS1-L devices*, not requiring any upfront NRE fees, or through Thesycon directly using a customer negotiated payment model.

An evaluation Windows driver is available from the CEntrance or Ploytec, and a production driver directly through a customer negotiated payment model.

Developers who want to customize the Windows drivers must provide their own USB VendorID/ProductID and Verisign Authenticode Certificate. See Configuring Windows Drivers for USB Audio for details.

* Access to the Thesycon production driver via the bundled part (XS1-L01A-TQ128-C5-THS/XS1-L01A-LQ64-C5-THS/XS1-L01A-TQ48-C5-THS) is subject to a minimum order quantity.