Audio Weaver
DSP Concepts, LLC
Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision
Accelerating the development of embedded audio products
and technology
Our Mission
We assist our customers in developing innovative audio
products customized to their requirements, through
consulting services coupled with state-of-the-art
proprietary design tools.
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Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Tools + Services = Value
About DSP Concepts
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Founded in 2003 as an engineering services company
Specializes in embedded audio development and tools
Currently employ 12 engineers (9 full-time, 3 part-time)
 7 in US / 5 in India
Core competencies
 Digital signal processing
 Audio algorithms
 Embedded software
 PC software, USB, and device drivers
Hands on experience with most industry standard algorithms
 Decoders: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby True-HD, DTS-HD, MP3,
WMA, and AAC.
 Post-processing: DPLIIx, eMix, Neo:6, DHP, DVS, NSD, etc.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Development Tools
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Why are tools needed?
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What about Simulink or LabView?
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Developing audio algorithms requires many skills: audio, signal
processing, embedded software, and Windows UI. Typically requires a
team of engineers.
Audio engineers spend 20% of the time concentrating on the algorithms
and 80% of the time dealing with “plumbing”
Extremely flexible tools
Large code generation overhead
No library of standard audio processing functions
What about VisualAudio?
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Many key features – hierarchy and multirate – are missing
Tradeoffs were made between efficiency, flexibility, and ease-of-use
which don’t match the requirements of many customers.
A flexible and efficient audio development tool for embedded applications
is still needed!
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Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Introducing Audio Weaver
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Developed by DSP Concepts and used internally to
support customers for 24 months.
Publicly released in Spring ‘08.
Two versions available
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Initial target markets
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Audio Weaver Designer - Free download allows system
development on the PC and selected hardware targets.
Audio Weaver Developer - Full version required to develop
end products
Automotive audio
Speaker manufacturers
Audio IP developers
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Key Features
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Cross platform approach speeds
development
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Supports SHARC and Blackfin
processors from Analog Devices
Generates efficient code
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Prototype on the PC
Seamlessly switch to your
evaluation hardware and then to
your target hardware
Links together a sequence of hand
optimized processing functions
Can be included in commercial
products without further MIPs or
memory optimization
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Full hierarchical design
Design systems using MATLAB
scripts
Real-time tuning using GUIs or
MATLAB scripts
Dynamic or static memory
allocation
Includes a large library of
optimized audio processing
modules
Full regression testing capabilities
Built-in MIPs and memory profiling
Decoder support as modules
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Cross Platform Support
Speeds Development
Native PC
Evaluation HW
Audio Module
Development
Audio System
Design
Tuning
Target hardware
integration
Module
Optimization
Testing
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Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Target HW
Initial Target Markets
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Audio IP Developers
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Automotive Amplifiers
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Matches the work flow used by product developers:
Create Platform  Design audio processing  In-car
Tuning
High End Speaker Manufacturers
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Full-featured algorithm development environment
Supports multiple embedded processors
Convenient mechanism to demonstrate and safely deliver
algorithms to customers
Turn key solution provides both hardware and software
No need to develop their own software
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Weaver
Demonstration
Demo Hardware
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Audio Weaver Demo
Board
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BF533 EZ-KIT
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
High-Level Architecture
GUIs
GUIs
GUIs
MATLAB
Audio
Weaver
Script
Audio Weaver
Server
Application
Audio
Weaver
Script File
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Tuning
Interface
Target
Processor
Flash file
system
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Weaver Server
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PC application that manages
the tuning interface to the
target processor
Includes native real-time
audio support
Draws user interfaces
Manages flash memory on
the target
Translates symbolic names to
physical addresses on the
target
MATLAB interfaces to the
Server via a MEX DLL
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Built Upon MATLAB
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MATLAB is the standard environment for
algorithm development.
Allows you to leverage MATLAB’s huge
library of signal processing design functions.
Provides a full scripting language for system
design, parameter setting, tuning, and
general automation.
Scripts lead to consistent and repeatable
results.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Example MATLAB Script
(Creates a 10 Band Graphic Equalizer)
SYS=target_system('Graphic EQ Example');
add_pin(SYS,'input', 'in', '', new_pin_type(2, 64));
add_pin(SYS,'output', 'out', '', new_pin_type(2, 64));
add_module(SYS, graphic_eq_subsystem('geq', 10));
connect(SYS, '', 'geq');
connect(SYS, 'geq', '');
build(SYS);
draw(SYS);
test_start_audio;
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Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Weaver Script
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When an Audio Weaver system is built, a set
of text commands – called “Audio Weaver
Script” - is sent to the Server from MATLAB.
Script commands provide:
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Module creation
Parameter setting
Starting and stopping of real-time audio
processing
Drawing of inspectors
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Flexible Deployment Models
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Development Using MATLAB
PC Script Execution
Final product using dynamic memory
allocation
Final product using static memory allocation
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Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
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Development Using MATLAB
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Large library of audio
modules is compiled into the
executable
Commands are sent from the
PC to the target to instantiate
and configure audio
processing
No need to constantly rebuild
the executable
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Only required when changing
the library of audio modules
Faster development cycle
Also reduces the number of
development system licenses
required
GUIs
GUIs
GUIs
MATLAB
Audio
Weaver
Script
Audio
Weaver
Script File
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Weaver
Server
Application
Tuning
Interface
Target
Processor
Flash file
system
PC Script Execution
(Without MATLAB)
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MATLAB is used to
generate Audio Weaver
Script files
Script files are then
processed by the Server
Systems are dynamically
instantiated and user
interfaces drawn
Parameter settings can be
stored to flash memory
Used for turnkey audio
processing solutions
GUIs
GUIs
GUIs
Audio Weaver
Server
Application
Audio
Weaver
Script File
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Tuning
Interface
Target
Processor
Flash file
system
Final Product
(Using Dynamic Allocation)
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Audio Weaver commands
are stored in the flash file
system.
Commands are executed
when the DSP boots.
PC is optional and can
connect for tuning or to
change the audio
processing design.
No need to rebuild the
executable.
GUIs
GUIs
GUIs
Audio Weaver
Server
Application
Audio
Weaver
Script File
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Tuning
Interface
Target
Processor
Flash file
system
Final Product
(Using Static Memory Allocation)
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Required in memory
constrained applications
MATLAB generates C
code for
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Initializing audio module
data structures
Sequentially calling
processing functions
Executable must be rebuilt
whenever there is a
change to the processing
Server connects for tuning
Some features are no
longer available
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Statically
Generated
.c and .h
files
MATLAB
Tuning
Commands
Audio Weaver
Server
Application
GUIs
GUIs
GUIs
Dynamic instantiation
Memory profiling
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
VisualDSP++
Tuning
Interface
Target
Processor
Hierarchy
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“Subsystem” = Modules + I/O Pins +
Connections
Arbitrary nesting of subsystems.
Hierarchy extends to both the processing and
the control functions.
Two different types of hierarchy
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“Virtual Hierarchy”
“True Hierarchy”
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Extensive Audio Module
Library
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Basic
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Scalers
Mixers
Adders
Routers
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Basic delays
N-tap delays
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Dynamic
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Compressors
Limiters
Automatic Gain Controls
Clipping
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Second order filter designer
with over 20 filter types
Butterworth and Linkwitz Riley
crossovers
5 coefficient Biquad filters
32-bit and 40-bit processing
FIR filters
Spatial
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Balance and fader controls
Allpass filters
Misc
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Filters
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Delays
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Table lookup
Meters
And many others!
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Subsystems Provide
Additional Audio Functions
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Crossover filters
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Arbitrary number of
output bands
Butterworth and Linkwitz
Riley designs
Hilbert network (90
degree phase shift)
Graphic equalizer
Automatic gain control
Dynamics processors
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Native PC Target
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No additional HW required!
Supports multichannel USB
and Firewire devices
Many vendors to choose
from: Motu, Yamaha, MAudio, etc.
Audio input can also be
taken from a sound file.
WAV, MP3, and WMA,
formats supported.
Full audio module library
support.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Danville SHARC Targets
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Danville Audio Weaver Demo Board
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Danville Crossover Board
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266 MHz SHARC 21371
2 Analog  4 Analog
S/PDIF  S/PDIF
48 kHz sample rate with analog
Up to 192 kHz with S/PDIF
USB tuning interface
External SDRAM and SPI flash
266 MHz 32-bit floating-point SHARC
21371 processor
2 Analog In  4 Analog Out
Balanced or unbalanced inputs. 120
dB SNR.
48 to 192 kHz sampling rate
USB tuning interface
External SDRAM and SPI flash
Eight GP I/O including SPI, UART,
I2C options.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Analog Devices 21369 EZ-KIT
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400 MHz SHARC 21369
2 Analog  8 Analog
48 kHz sample rate
RS-232 tuning interface
External SDRAM and
Parallel flash
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Analog Devices Blackfin EZ-KITs
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BF533 EZ-KIT
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BF537 EZ-KIT
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600 MHz Blackfin BF533
4 Analog  6 Analog
48 kHz sample rate
High speed USB tuning
interface
External SDRAM and Parallel
flash
600 MHz Blackfin BF537
2 Analog  2 Analog
48 kHz sample rate
RS-232 tuning interface
External SDRAM and Parallel
flash
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Audio Weaver Versions
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Audio Weaver Designer - Free
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Audio Weaver Developer - $8,000
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Create custom audio modules for an embedded processor
Create custom hardware targets
Requires VisualDSP++ and an emulator
Includes 20 hours of customer support or training
Audio Weaver Production License
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Can be downloaded from www.dspconcepts.com
Create and tune audio systems on the PC or supported SHARC or Blackfin
target hardware
Create custom audio modules on the PC. Create user interfaces
Requires VisualStudio and MATLAB
Leverage Audio Weaver optimized libraries in your end product.
Reduce your time to market by reusing our existing code base.
Licenses are based upon unit volumes.
Contact DSP Concepts for more information.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
DSP Concepts
Consulting Services
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Audio module development.
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Real-time platform development
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System design and architecture review
Custom hardware support
Custom tuning interfaces
Audio system design and integration
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Assembly optimization.
Algorithm porting starting from reference code.
Floating-point to fixed-point conversion.
Develop overall signal chain
Real-time tuning to optimize sound quality
Audio Weaver training.
Copyright 2008 DSP Concepts, LLC
Thank You!