Industry’s First Audio Mixer Development Boards
Microchip Technology announced two new digital audio mixer boards based on low pin count 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers (MCUs). The DM320014 utilizes standard USB 2.0 Mini-B connectivity. The DM320413 offers Apple portable device connectivity. These two development boards, each powered by Microchip’s PIC32MX250F128 32-bit MCU, enable audio and voice device development for a broad range of applications.
Both boards are designed for easy integration of digital and analog audio into the target application. Key features include interfaces for digital audio via USB Mini-B or the Apple iOS interface, line-in and microphone-in for convenient connectivity to analog audio sources, such as microphones or instrument pickups, and line-out and headphone out, for line-level output and headphone connectivity. Each provides an excellent starting point for a portable music player dock design. Additionally, these features allow the mixing of digital and analog audio, utilizing the power of the PIC32’s advanced processing capabilities. The development boards are suitable for applications in the consumer and automotive markets, such as consumer audio docks (including those in stereo systems), noise-canceling headsets, clock radios or A/V entertainment system sounds bars, as well as in automobiles that offer portable music player docking capabilities.
These two new boards demonstrate Microchip’s commitment to making digital audio development easy with the PIC32 MX1 and MX2 microcontrollers. They feature 66 DMIPS of performance, up to 128 KB Flash, 32 KB of RAM, USB, I2S interfaces and an advanced clocking scheme. In addition, this series of MCUs offers an 8-bit Parallel Master Port (perfect for interface to an LCD), Microchip’s mTouch capacitive touch technology support and numerous other general-purpose features.
To maximize the cost effectiveness of designs that need to decode MP3 files, Microchip is also releasing a Compact MP3 Decode Library. This new code requires only 21 KB of RAM and can run on the PIC32MX250F128. Utilizing these new boards and the available Compact MP3 Decode Library, designers can reduce development time and shorten their time to market.
Pricing & Availability
Both boards are available today, starting at $69.99. The DM320413 is offered exclusively to Apple MFi licensees, via Apple’s authorized distributor. The DM320014 is available for purchase at microchipDIRECT. Microchip’s Compact MP3 Decode Library will be available by September 28 in non-modifiable binary (part # SW320012-1) form for $197, or $4,497 for modifiable source code (part #SW320012-2) on microchipDIRECT.
