Challenge
USA based Microsoft are well known for their PC and server operating system software development capabilities. When they developed Windows they created a program called MediaPlayer which had a rival digital music compression system to the then popular MP3 format. Microsoft’s WMA was more powerful and allowed complex encryption to prevent piracy. In order for the new format to become popular, it was necessary to get hardware platforms which could play WMA files in the market place. To assist with the promotion of this Microsoft contracted Arrow Technical to develop a hardware reference design for the future development of new products. The reference design would prove the capability of replaying the music on suitable hardware which could then be adopted by major music player manufacturers.
Analog Devices Sharc audio digital signal processor
Solution
We based the design on Analog Device’s SHARC digital signal processor (DSP) IC’s and managed to achieve bit perfect reproduction of the music files before analogue to digital conversation and amplification for audio playback.
Arrow Technical Services have extensive experience in numerous DSP projects using SHARC, Texas DSP and Microchip DSPic devices. We also have experience performing software DSP using traditional microcontrollers from Microchip and ARM for cost sensitive applications
Arrow Technical are also Microchip Design Partners and members of the Microsoft Partner Network.
Microchip Design Partner
Microchip Partner Network
