Cirrus Logic Announces Reference Platform for Lightning-Based Audio Development

With the market preparing for a major transition to digital audio connections using USB-C and Apple Lightning interfaces, audio companies are faced with a dilemma. Either they wait until the USB Implementers Forum finishes and publishes its final USB class audio specification for USB 3.1, or they start developing for Lightning-based systems, knowing that they will have an head-start and products on the market (at least for Apple’s platforms). Knowing this, Cirrus Logic just announced a new MFi Headset Development Kit that simplifies design of Lightning-based audio accessories.

Our special January 2016 “Music Focus” issue is full of practical projects oriented toward music amplification and recording. Read the interview with Philip Graham, the founder of Ear Trumpet Labs, our Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2015 show report, and a review of the iSEMic 725TR microphone. Learn even more about SPL measurements and audio networking.

ABI Research’s teardown of a recently released high profile smartphone found that Cirrus Logic introduced the world’s smallest MEM microphone. It is 30% smaller than the smallest MEM microphone and less than half the size of MEM microphones typically found in mobile devices.

While standards for immersive object-based sound are still being discussed by the SMPTE, DTS decided not to wait any longer and to go after the Dolby Atmos immersive audio format, by announcing its own object-based codec technology, DTS:X. During the CES 2015 multiple audio companies are confirming support for the new DTS:X technology.

Cirrus Logic confirmed the acquisition of Wolfson Microelectronics . The Austin Texas company says the acquisition of the Scotish company will strengthen its leadership position in Audio ICs and Software for Portable Applications, adding new product categories such as MEMS microphones to their portfolio.

This month’s audioXpress brings a great article from our regular contributor Thomas Perazella, in which he revisits the art of studio reamping and the different approaches and implications of that two-stage studio process. During the process, we first record a …