Industry’s first Audio Mixer Development Boards

Both boards are designed for easy integration of digital and analogue audio into the target application. Key features include interfaces for digital audio via USB Mini-B or the Apple iOS interface; line-in and microphone-in for convenient connectivity to analogue audio sources, such as microphones or instrument pickups; and line-out and headphone-out for line-level output and headphone connectivity. Each board provides an excellent starting point for a portable music player dock design. Additionally, these features allow the mixing of digital and analogue audio, using the power of the PIC32’s advanced processing capabilities. The development boards are suitable for applications in the consumer and automotive markets, such as consumer audio docks, including those in stereo systems; noise-cancelling headsets; clock radios; or A/V entertainment system sounds bars; as well as in automotive vehicles that offer portable music player docking capabilities.



The two new boards demonstrate Microchip’s commitment to simplifying digital audio development with the PIC32 MX1 and MX2 microcontrollers. The MCUs feature 66 DMIPS of performance, up to 128 KB Flash, 32 KB of RAM, USB and I2S interfaces, and an advanced clocking scheme that provides the signals needed for the external CODEC whilst eliminating the need for a CODEC with a built-in PLL. In addition, the PIC32 MX1 and MX2 MCUs offer an 8-bit Parallel Master Port for interfacing to an LCD; support for Microchip’s mTouch capacitive touch technology; and numerous other general-purpose features.



To maximise the cost-effectiveness of designs that need to decode MP3 files, Microchip is also releasing a Compact MP3 Decode Library. This new code requires only 21 KB of RAM and can run on the PIC32MX250F128. Using these new boards and the available Compact MP3 Decode Library enables designers to reduce development time and shorten their time to market.



The boards support immediate development using Microchip’s MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment, and can be programmed and debugged with the PICkit3 (PG164130), which is available separately, priced at $44.95.



Both boards are available today, at prices which start at $69.99. The DM320413 is offered exclusively to Apple MFi licensees, via Apple’s authorised distributor, whilst the DM320014 is available for purchase at microchipDIRECT. Microchip’s Compact MP3 Decode Library will be available by September 28 in non-modifiable binary form (SW320012-1) priced at $197, or at $4,497 for modifiable source code (SW320012-2).