XMOS simplifies high speed USB audio design

BRISTOL, UK & BURLINGAME, USA: XMOS, developer of the industry’s first event-driven 32-bit embedded processor, announces the release of its third generation family. The XS1-S Family delivers up to 700 MIPS of real-time performance per core combined with integrated analog functionality, enabling the highest quality, multi-channel USB audio applications.

Combined with XMOS industry standard USB audio IP, the XS1-S Family of devices deliver the lowest latency digital audio interfaces. The first two products available in the XS1-S Family are the single core device: XS1-SU1 and the dual core device: XS1-SU2.

“The XS1-S Family builds upon the predictable real-time performance of the XS1 architecture, offering increased I/O and processing capabilities together with the convenience of integrated analog peripherals,” said Tom Lee, XMOS VP of sales and marketing. “Our customers have shipped more than half a million USB audio products using XS1 devices. The higher performance, integrated XS1-S Family and its accompanying software and tools deliver the ideal solution to an even broader range of audio applications.”

The XS1-S Family of single and dual core devices include a rich set of analog and digital features:
* 32bit XCore embedded processor(s) delivering up to 700 MIPS each.
* Software defined I/O for fully-flexible digital peripherals including I2S, TDM, SPDIF AES/EBU.
* High speed USB 2.0 Phy.
* 12bit 1MSPS analog to digital converter.
* USB bus power compatible.
* Standby and deep sleep modes for energy sensitive applications.
* Power On Reset, Watchog timer, brownout detect circuits.
* On-chip crystal oscillator.
* High speed USB audio.

The first members of the XS1-S Family include single and dual XCore variants with integrated USB 2.0 High Speed Phy, making them ideal for demanding USB audio interfaces, DJ products, USB speakers and more. Using XMOS unique flexibility, the devices are also perfect for intelligent USB peripherals.

Niall Dunican of Audio Partnership, said: “The new XS1-S devices from XMOS provide us with a lot of exciting opportunities. The integrated ADC and high speed USB let us use the devices as both a flexible micro and a high speed audio interface device, at low cost. We're already planning to deliver four products in 2012 based on the new XMOS processors. With 700MIPS of deterministic performance we have a lot of ideas!”

XMOS processors combine flexible interfacing, control and data processing in a single device. The devices, including all digital peripherals, are programmed in software using a C-language development flow, providing both application and I/O flexibility even after deployment.

The single XCore processor XS1-SU1 with integrated High-Speed USB Phy comes in a 96pin dual row BGA and is priced below $5 in 10ku quantities. Sampling now, the XS1-SU1 will be commercially available from Q2. The dual XCore XS1-SU2 device will be sampling from Q3 2012.