Multicore microcontrollers enable AVB functionality

By using xCORE technology for AVB functionality, the Executive Elite system can interoperate with AVB-equipped third-party products, ensuring a flexible system. With an improved design, the system's base unit can be separated from its remote antenna without compromising high-quality audio. The system features a receiver and a range of adapters and microphone types including omnidirectional, directional, gooseneck, and wearable microphones, which can be ‘mixed and matched.’ The system also employs Revolabs’ OTA (Over the Air) technology, allowing microphones in proximity to automatically optimise available audio channels.

XMOS' xCORE multicore microcontrollers combine timing-deterministic performance with low latency and programmable digital I/O flexibility, making them suitable for processor-intensive, real-time applications. Programmed in high-level C software, the microcontrollers also offer developers the freedom to implement control and data processing functions as well as any mix of peripheral interfaces.

“We needed to implement a solution into the Executive Elite that would provide universal communications with USB-ready audio, the AVB standard, and daisy chaining capability,” said Holger Stoltze, Senior Product Manager, Revolabs. “As the AVB standard becomes more widely adopted, we wanted to ensure the Executive Elite was equipped to keep pace with this trend.”

“By including both USB and AVB connectivity, XMOS’ xCORE devices give us the flexibility we need to tailor communications for our DSP on the remote antenna of the Executive Elite,” commented Tim Root, CTO, Revolabs. “We took the core code and layered ours on top for quicker and easier implementation. As well as providing future-proofed programmability, XMOS also provided great support during the development process.”

“With its concurrency, low latency, and predictable timing, xCORE is the perfect platform for a software-defined implementation of this kind of AVB functionality,” commented Laurence Strong, Director of Audio Products, XMOS. “We’re very proud to have been selected for such a flagship product. The Executive Elite presents proof of the strengths of AVB; an open standards-based solution that offers the ultimate in convenience alongside a highly-differentiated feature set and high-quality audio.”