Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Texas Instruments (April 2006-) | Subject: Aureus DA710 and DA708
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 10 November 2006
Audio DSPs support next-generation
optical discs
Texas Instruments has enhanced its Aureus generation of audio digital signal processors, offering a higher speed memory interface for the DA710 and DA708 devices, as well as higher CPU performance.
Texas Instruments has enhanced its Aureus generation of audio digital signal processors, offering a higher speed memory interface for the DA710 and DA708 devices, as well as higher CPU performance As home theatre systems transition to blue laser technology, TI's Aureus processors are the first to support Dolby Digital Compatible Output technology, which enables next-generation optical disc (HD DVD and Blu-ray) players to deliver a 640Kbit/s Dolby Digital encoded surround sound signal and compatible playback through any existing Dolby Digital equipped audio/video receiver (AVR) with a digital audio input (S/PDIF or optical)
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 4 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Power chip makes the most of a single cell
A buck-boost power management IC helps extend battery life in smart phones, digital still cameras and other single-cell lithium-ion powered multimedia devices.
RF platform brings three radios together
Texas Instruments has developed the industry's first solution that integrates mobile WLAN (mWLAN), Bluetooth and FM stereo audio all in a space-saving platform for mobile phones.
TI's Aureus generation of processors targets a wide range of home theatre and automotive products that require multichannel decoding and high-speed encoding, including: AVRs, HD televisions, home media servers, automotive jukeboxes, MP3 player docking stations and emerging HD DVD and Blu-ray disc equipment.
"TI is the undisputed leader in the manufacturing of high-end DSPs for the A/V receiver market", said Will Strauss, President of Forward Concepts.
"TI's leadership in this market is reflected in its Aureus DSP performance, headroom and differentiating features".
Further reading
Multimedia processor gains RTOS support
Texas Instruments and QNX Software Systems are working to enhance the development of digital audio and video applications for the embedded market.
Video decoder combines four in one
A new analogue-to-digital video decoder combines four independent video decoders into a single chip.
Video-intelligence software runs on DaVinci
ObjectVideo OnBoard, an award-winning, video-intelligence software suite, now runs on TI's DaVinci technology.
"TI has done a great job of seeing and meeting the needs in a market, such as this timely response to meet the specific requirements of developers needing to support new formats quickly and effectively".
The Aureus generation of DSPs, including the upgraded DA710 and DA708, is optimal for emerging applications, such as audio mixing and re-encoding in HD DVD or Blu-ray disc players.
TI supports this new market with production-ready multichannel audio encoders, such as Dolby Digital Compatible Output technology, offering a simple, cost-effective way for consumer electronics manufacturers to guarantee playback of a Dolby Digital surround sound signal through tens of millions of Dolby Digital equipped legacy audio-video receivers on the market.
Using a DA7xx DSP, the mixing and re-encoding functions can be implemented in a single device.
The mixing function is necessary for next generation optical disc players supporting dual audio streams.
Mixing a secondary audio stream with a primary audio stream, such as a movie soundtrack, enables new applications, including downloading a stream of secondary director's commentary or commercial content over a broadband Internet connection.
A DA7xx DSP is capable of mixing primary and secondary audio streams, even if they have different sample rates, as well as a third audio stream for controls or "button sounds".
Because it can handle several audio streams, the DA7xx DSP can accommodate audio enhancements, such as virtualisation or surround sound technology for headphones.
"By keeping its focus on next-generation equipment, TI is able to react quickly to emerging markets, such as HD DVD and Blu-ray disc players", said David Maples, Performance Audio Manager, TI.
"Providing the necessary performance in a single chip enables OEMs to lower system cost, while delivering a better listening experience to consumers".
In addition to a single-chip solution for mixing and re-encoding, TI offers a complete audio processing solution for next-generation optical disc players and future support for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD.
Many audio algorithms and advanced processing features are memory-intensive and therefore require access to external memory.
For example, effects such as reverb or virtualisation use long delay buffers, which exceed the capacity of internal memory resources.
The new enhanced devices increase SDRAM access bandwidth up to 133MHz with processor speeds of 300MHz and 275MHz for the DA710 and 266MHz for the DA708.
Faster external memory access decreases processing latency of delay buffers, improving overall codec performance and audio quality.
Increased memory interface bandwidth also improves performance for algorithm and application updates.
When the software for an existing product is upgraded, such as to support a new algorithm or new functionality, the new code and data cannot be stored in the DSP's on-chip ROM.
In most cases, it is stored in external memory.
Increasing memory bandwidth drastically reduces the impact that this external code and data have on algorithm performance.
The new DA710 devices with 133MHz memory interface are available now in an industry standard GDH package.
The 300MHz DA710 costs US $21.63 each, and the 275MHz DA710 costs $16.05 each, both in quantities of 10,000 or more.
The 266MHz DA708 with a 133MHz memory interface is available in an RFP package and costs $13.52 each in quantities of 10,000 or more.
The DA710 and DA708 also are available for automotive applications that are Q100 qualified and rated for operation in extended temperatures.
The DA710 for automotive applications provides 275MHz, and the DA708 offers 250MHz.
Both devices have the enhanced 133MHz SDRAM interface.
Dolby Digital Compatible Output is certified and available now.
In addition to supporting emerging HD standards, Aureus devices offer a comprehensive array of development tools and codecs, including industry-standard decoders and post-processors from Dolby, DTS, SRS Labs, THX and Microsoft.
In addition, TI offers the TI Effects Library, TI Perfect Playback compressed audio enhancer and the framework and I/O software required to build a complete audio system.
• Texas Instruments (April 2006-): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
