Bench Talk

Join journalist Tommy Cummings for a weekly look at all things interesting, new, and noteworthy for design engineers.

What's the ceiling for professional audio development? Yeah, right. It doesn't seem to have one. Pro audio has a growing range of solutions, from the technology to its applications. Keeping up with these solutions drives design choices and keeps developers constantly fine-tuning the technology.

To start with, pro audio refers to practices or operations carried out by trained sound engineers, record producers, and audio technicians. Pro audio also refers to the studio-grade audio equipment they'll be designing.

Professional audio can include broadcast audio, recording studio mastering and mixing, and sound reinforcement in concert and performance setups. It also includes the design and setup of piped music in commercial venues.

For audio engineers, it's a lot of tuning and testing. Lots of knobs, slides, and components.

It also involves single-chip audio systems, amplifiers, and combo connectors. In this week's New Tech Tuesdays, we'll look at audio solutions from Analog Devices Inc., Diodes Incorporated, and REAN.

Designers continue to seek high-grade solutions for their multimedia projects.

The Analog Devices Inc. ADAU1701 SigmaDSP^® 28/56-Bit Audio Processor is a single-chip audio system for a diverse range of applications. They're used in multimedia speaker systems, MP3 player speaker docks, automotive head units, mini-component stereos, digital televisions, studio monitors, speaker crossovers, musical instrument effects processors, and in-seat sound systems. The ADAU1701's signal processing is comparable to that found in high-end studio equipment. Signal processing includes equalization, crossover, bass enhancement, multiband dynamics processing, delay compensation, speaker compensation, and stereo image widening.

The Diodes Incorporated PAM8965 12W Stereo Class-D Audio Amplifier features an integrated synchronous booster converter and can drive two channels with 12W each with 4Ω speakers. The amplifier is applicable in Bluetooth^® and wireless speakers, portable electronics, music instruments, high-capacitance piezo actuator drives, virtual reality 3D active feedback, personal digital assistants, global positioning systems, and game machines. The PAM8965 audio amplifier features DC protection for speakers and auto-recovery on short-circuit protection and thermal shut-down.

REAN XLR/Jacks Combo Connectors provide solutions for lighting, digital signage, and professional audio applications. They're also used at concerts, churches, and theaters. The connectors combine a three-pole External Line Return (XLR) female receptacle with a 1/4" jack in a single housing. The connectors are available in two versions: Combo A (withstands 1,000 mating cycles) and Combo I (1,500 mating cycles). They each have a dielectric strength of 1.5kV_DC. The specifications are diverse, so check the microsite.

Pro audio and its solutions are diverse. Add in the recent development of audio systems in vehicles and remote working solutions, and pro audio's range is even more formidable.