Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications, introduced an extension to its SigmaDSP® audio processor family for automotive head units and amplifiers that require signal routing and processing from multiple audio sources. With an industry-leading audio instruction set, the ADAU1442, ADAU1445 and ADAU1446 SigmaDSP audio processors incorporate a Flexible Audio Routing Matrix (FARM), which allows automotive audio sub-system engineers to significantly increase the processing speed and reduce the complexity of audio signal routing and clocking issues associated with CD changers, MP3 and DVD players, satellite radios, GPS navigation systems and other asynchronous audio sources. Using the FARM solution, system designers can quickly compensate for the real world limitations of speakers, amplifiers and listening environments, resulting in a dramatic audio quality improvement through speaker equalization, multi-band compression, limiting, and third-party-branded algorithms.

The new SigmaDSP audio processors include up to eight stereo asynchronous sample rate converters, an S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) transceiver and serial inputs/outputs that support I2S (inter-IC sound) and TDM (time-division multiplexed) formats. Any of these inputs can be routed to the SigmaDSP core or any of the outputs for maximum system flexibility. The SigmaDSP core of the new audio processor family features full 28-bit processing (56-bit in double precision mode), synchronous parameter loading for ensuring filter stability, and 100 percent code efficiency when used in conjunction with ADI’s SigmaStudio™ graphical development environment, which includes audio processing blocks such as FIR and IIR filters, dynamics processors, mixers, low-level DSP functions, and third-party algorithms.