Beaverton, OR. Audio Precision has announced a technology demonstration of multichannel audio bus testing at the AES 2017 International Conference on Automotive Audio. Conducted in cooperation with Mentor Automotive, the test scenario centers on the digital audio bus technology developed by Analog Devices Inc., the Automotive Audio Bus (A2B), and the concept system incorporates AP’s 8-channel APx585 audio analyzer and Mentor’s A2B Analyzer platform.
Capable of distributing audio and control data together with clock and power over a single, unshielded, low-cost twisted-pair wire, A2B from Analog Devices significantly reduces the weight of existing cable harnesses (by upwards of 75% in key applications), resulting in improved vehicle fuel efficiency while delivering high-fidelity audio. A2B also supports the connection of multiple remote sensors for different applications—voice recognition, active noise cancellation, in-car communications—in a daisy-chain sequence, reducing redundant cable runs.
For the AES Automotive Conference, Audio Precision is demonstrating a concept for a complete off-the-shelf A2B test system using an eight-channel APx585 audio analyzer, APx500 audio measurement software, and a Mentor A2B Analyzer system and software. Within the concept system, the Mentor analyzer platform provides straightforward A2B network configuration and simulation, as well as flexible, high-fidelity audio routing. The APx585 delivers comprehensive, multichannel audio measurement analysis and offers a range of interface options. ASIO connectivity ties the two analyzer systems together, enabling a true closed-loop test system.
“We’re excited to be working with Mentor Automotive and thrilled for the potential A2B audio test capabilities this concept system demonstrates,” stated Dave Schmoldt, Audio Precision CEO. “And helping engineers—in this case vehicle, automotive subsystem, and component designers—as they endeavor to develop and verify the performance of next-generation audio systems is at the core of what we do.”
Audio Precision’s participation in the AES Automotive Conference also includes the tutorial “Not Your Father’s AM Car Radio—Characterizing the Audio Performance of Today’s Multi-layered Infotainment Systems.” Scheduled for Friday September 8 at 3:30 p.m., the tutorial discusses the variety of tools available to system designers and implementers for the design verification and performance validation of the functional blocks that make today’s sophisticated automotive audio systems. The discussion will be led by Jayant Datta, AP chief technology officer, and Dan Foley, AP sales engineer.
The AES Automotive Conference runs September 8-10 in San Francisco. For more information visit http://www.aes.org/conferences/2017/automotive/.