100 Things #75: Test Automotive Audio via A2B Interfaces

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SoundCheck features full integration with A2B interfaces, allowing seamless audio measurements with all of SoundCheck’s features and functionality. A2B interfaces connect to SoundCheck using an ASIO stream, which appears in the hardware table just like any other audio device. A2B devices are great for automotive infotainment systems as they are lightweight and easily configured, replacing traditional heavy copper wiring. A custom VI in SoundCheck even allows for A2B interface configuration during a sequence.

Test Automotive Audio via A2B Interfaces

Learn more about using testing automotive audio with SoundCheck

Learn more about connecting to automotive infotainment systems, and using SoundCheck for testing automotive audio, infotainment systems, active road noise cancellation, and more.

Video Script:

Did you know that SoundCheck can be used to test audio devices using the A2B interface? A2B is a high bandwidth, bidirectional, digital audio bus. It transports data, and controls information, clock and power, using a single, 2-wire unshielded twisted pair cable. A2B was developed for automotive applications, replacing heavy copper wire in vehicles with an easy to configure, lightweight system. But it has expanded to be used in other applications, such as distributed audio. For example A2B could be used to wire speakers and microphones used in an office conference room.

SoundCheck can access the audio streams of A2B audio interfaces, such as those from Mentor or Analog devices. Once the A2B configuration is set using the third party setup, ASIO streams can be selected in SoundCheck’s hardware table and used to test an audio components such as hands-free microphones. I’m using the Analog Devices A2B Soundcard connected to nodes with 4 PDM microphones. I can configure my current setup using Sigma Studio. Once that is done, I select “Link Compile Download” in Sigma Studio. This sends the project configuration I made to all my connected devices.

Now in SoundCheck, I’m able to go to Setup > Hardware, and choose the Analog Devices A2B SoundCard ASIO stream as my audio interface. Now that this is setup, I can get data in and out of the A2B interface just like any other audio interface. This means I can use SoundCheck to test all components of an infotainment system or A2B based distributed audio system, ranging from speakers and microphones to more complex communications and voice recognition tests.