Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Analog Devices | Subject: SHARC 2126x and 2136x
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 04 May 2006
DSPs bring back classic analogue audio
SHARC processors power the CreamWare Audio Authentic Sound Box family of sound modules designed to emulate the sound and feel of several popular vintage keyboards.
Analog Devices SHARC processors are being used by CreamWare Audio, a leading developer of modular digital audio solutions, in its Authentic Sound Box (ASB) family of sound modules designed to emulate the sound and feel of several popular vintage keyboards "SHARC's floating-point precision means audio algorithms just sound better", said Frank Hund, Chief Technology Officer, CreamWare Audio
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 2 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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"The considerable digital signal processing power of the platform itself allows for implementing the most sophisticated, top-notch algorithms".
"Because SHARC processes audio at a true 32bit and floating point resolutions at 40bit, our design team never had to compromise - the highest resolution is maintained during the entire process without affecting the performance".
"You can hear it in the results".
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The B4000 ASB, CreamWare's most recent design, uses the precision of the floating point SHARC 2126x and 2136x to replicate the analogue circuitry modelling of the Hammond B3 tonewheel organ, one of the most popular organs ever created and used by thousands of musicians from rock to gospel.
In May, CreamWare will release the Prodyssey ASB, a replica of the famous ARP Odyssey synthesiser, which will use the SHARC processor.
CreamWare's prior releases, the MiniMax and Pro-12, also use SHARCs not only to faithfully recreate every nuance of the legends they are based on (MiniMoog and Prophet-5) but to also add new, modern digital features including preset storage, expanded polyphony, MIDI control, and effects.
CreamWare also benefited from SHARC's wealth of I/O and memory and Crosscore development tools.
SHARC audio processors integrate audio-specific peripherals - digital audio interface (DAI) - designed to simplify hardware design, minimise design risks, and quicken time to market.
These peripheral blocks may be connected to each other or to external pins via the software-programmable signal routing unit (SRU), an architectural feature that enables complete and flexible routing among DAI peripherals.
CreamWare used Analog Devices' emulators and the VisualDSP++ integrated development and debugging environment (IDDE).
The VisualDSP++ IDDE lets programmers develop and debug an application.
"The ASB product family achieves a fantastic goal - they precisely model the 'analogue' sound that musicians love and have become accustomed to", said Jerry McGuire, General Manager, Convergent Platforms and Systems (CPSG), Analog Devices.
"SHARC is the processor of choice for a variety of audio markets and has proven to be ideal for CreamWare and other manufacturers developing professional audio applications because it is optimised to process high-resolution audio algorithms".
CreamWare has been using SHARC processors since 1997, and most of the company's Scope line includes the processors.
Scope is a highly flexible studio system that can be configured, adapted, and used according to specific needs such as recording, mixing, and mastering.
It includes SHARC boards, software packages, recording tools such as mixers and effects, and exclusive sound machines such as synthesisers and samplers.
Because of its modular structure, audio engineers can implement configurations comprising as many as 42 SHARC and more than 100 I/Os.
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