D2A’s 3-in-1

Audio
Processing Unit
Presented by: Dustin Funk and
Dustin Pegalee

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 Dustin Pegalee
• A.S. in Audio Engineering
• B.S. in ECET – Electrical Systems
Candidate
• Music Producer
• Pro Tools Certified
• Music Festival Enthusiast

2
DP
 Dustin Funk
• Audio Engineering Technical
Certification
• Professional Sound Technician
• IT Professional
• Wedding DJ
• BSECET Candidate

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DF
 OBJECTIVES COVERED IN TODAY’S PRESENTATION
▪ Introduction ▪ Breadboard Testing
▪ Our System ▪ PCB Design
▪ Engineering Requirements ▪ Soldering

▪ Block Diagram of Unit ▪ Whole Circuit Testing w/ PCB

▪ Flowchart of Unit
▪ Engineering Specifications
▪ Verification of Requirements
▪ Preamp
▪ Filters
▪ Compression
▪ Parametric EQ
▪ Construction
▪ Proposed Budget vs Actual Budget
▪ Proposed Timeline vs Actual
Timeline
▪ Future Recommendations
▪ Summary and Conclusion

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DP
 5
INTRODUCTION

• In a live-sound environment, mobility is a key component when selecting

equipment.
• Sound professionals require efficiency and quality in their gear.
• Reduction in size, weight, and connections simplify production footprint.
• Processing microphone audio in real-time requires varying equipment.

DP
 Introduction (cont.)
Some examples of equipment
include:
◦ Laptops
◦ Speaker systems
◦ Lighting
◦ Etc.
Other things they worry about
◦ Flights
◦ Venue Rentals
◦ Space and Setup
DP
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 7

Current Trends

 Preamps
 Primary function
 Limited filtering
 Filters
 DAW plugins
 Rackmount Studio gear
 Built-in filters with specific center
frequencies
 Compressors
 Rackmount Studio gear
 DAW plugin
DF  Guitar gear
 Our System
3-in-1 Audio Signal Processing
Compact Design
The device shall:
◦ Amplify microphone output
◦ Compress audio signal
◦ Filter out low and high
frequency noise
◦ Shape sound using adjustable
equalizer
DF

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 Engineering Requirements
Priority “The device shall have …” Verification
Audio preamplification with a Input and Output waveforms on
max of 70dB with a 30 Hz HPF oscilloscope
Noise-filtering low-pass/high-pass
filter with fixed 20kHz LPF and AC Sweep using Spectrum
selectable 70Hz/100Hz HPF Analyzer
Dynamic range compression with
a threshold up to 6V, ratio from Real-time signal analysis on
1:1 to inf, attack time from 3ms oscilloscope
to 25ms, and release time from
95ms to 180ms.
High Sound-shaping bandpass filter
with a ± 12dB adjustable gain AC Sweep using Spectrum
with center frequencies from 100 Analyzer
Hz to 1k Hz.
Medium Input and Output gain VU meters Visual inspection
DF Low Compact footprint Can be held in one hand and fit
into a bag
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 BLOCK
DIAGRAM

DP 10
 FLOWCHART

DP 11
 Engineering Specifications
Engineering
Block Type Components Justifications Responsibility
Specifications
12 Dual Power Convert 120VAC to Biasing Voltage for
Power Module Dustin F
Supply 12VDC active elements
70dB maximum Amplify low-level
Pre-Amplifier Op-amps,
amplification 5Hz microphone input Dustin P
Module capacitors, resistors
HPF signal
Op-amps, switch, 20kHz LPF, 70/100Hz Selective cutoff
Filter Module Dustin P
caps, resistors HPF HPF,
Op-amps, diodes,
6V max threshold, Audio compression
potentiometers,
Compressor Module 10dB max gain with adjustable Dustin F
resistors, capacitors
reduction parameters

12dB boost/cut, Adjustable filtering,

EQ Module 10k pots, op-amps Dustin F
1.4kHz Freq Sweep boost or cut
LM3915 LED driver, 3db/step analog Visual signal
Display Module Dustin 12P
10-segment LED bar display representation
 System
Module
Overview

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DF
Power Module: Jameco Dual Power Supply Kit

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 REQUIREMENT 1:
“AUDIO
AMPLIFICATION OF
70DB WITH A 30 HZ
HP”
𝑣𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑢𝑡 23.2𝑉
𝐴= =
𝑣𝑝𝑝 (𝑖𝑛) 23.2𝑚𝑉
= 1000
𝐴𝑑𝐵 = 20 log 𝐴 = 60𝑑𝐵

• Potentiometer was
turned at about 30% to
40%.
• If gone further than
50%, signal would’ve
saturated because of
DP bias voltages. 15
Requirement 1 (cont.)

• Manual AC sweep using oscilloscope

• At about 31.25 Hz, output signal was
about 70% of the input signal.
• Plotted the frequency response with
MATLAB

16 DP
 REQUIREMENT 2: “NOISE-
FILTERING LOW-PASS/HIGH-
PASS FILTER WITH FIXED
20KHZ LPF AND SELECTABLE
70HZ/100HZ HPF”

HPF • Inputs of both HPFs

tied together
• Outputs of filters are
connected to opposite
ends of SPDT switch.
• Input of LPF connects
in the middle of the
switch (pin 2 of switch,
LPF single-pole end of
switch)

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DP
 AC SWEEP OF BOTH HPFS

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DP
 AC Sweep of LPF
• Not 20k Hz
• Frequency response from preamp
(noninverting amplifier) causing an issue.
• LPF response changes depending how
much gain is coming from preamp.

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 DF

REQUIREMENT 3: "DYNAMIC RANGE

COMPRESSION WITH A THRESHOLD
UP TO 6V, RATIO FROM 1:1 TO INF,
AND ATTACK TIME FROM 3MS TO
25MS; RELEASE TIME FROM 95MS
TO 180MS."

 Simulation testing
 Initial bench test for
continuity
 Oscilloscope testing
 Troubleshooting
 Late timeline testing of:
 Attack and release testing
 Audio gain reduction 20
Threshold
verification

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Compressor attack/release Verification

Peak Detector

Compressor/EQ Combined
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REQUIREMENT 4: "SOUND-
SHAPING BANDPASS  Concept
FILTER WITH A ±
 Simulation
12DB ADJUSTABLE
GAIN WITH CENTER  Bench testing
FREQUENCIES FROM 100 HZ  Dual
TO 1K HZ." Potentiometers
 Troubleshooting

Image Courtesy of:

 Combining
https://sound-au.com/project150.htm
 Troubleshooting
again

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24
EAGLECAD
SCHEMATIC

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PCB DESIGN
• EagleCAD was used
• Printed from JLCPCB
• Lab tech, Sabrina Hurst, assisted
us on how to use EagleCAD
• Easy to input schematic on
software
• Main concern was finding the
right footprint for each
component.
• Mostly through-hole soldering

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SOLDERING
• Majority of soldering was done at
Dustin P’s jobsite
• First step: solder all surface-
mounted parts
• Soldered in sections (module by
module)
• Soldered and wired all pots and
peripherals afterwards.

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• Checking for continuity
• Troubleshooting
• Verifying Requirements

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 Proposed vs. Actual Budget
Item Proposed Actual

12V Dual Power Supply 6.29 6.29

Female XLR Input 3.32 3.32

Male XLR Output 2.91 2.91

50pcs Potentiometer 39.80 11.70

1k-1M potentiometer 35.98 17.99

OPA4134 IC 48.04 56.05

Diodes 100pk 44.91 4.99

Todiys LM3915 15.98 15.98

10 Segment LED Bar 15.98 15.98

5pcs 100k Log Pot - 18.93

14-pin DOIC Adapters - 33.45

Project Box $50 15.17

Switches - 9.00

Custom PCB $50 26.00

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Total $325.21 277.10
Proposed Timeline vs Actual Timeline

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33 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

• What we learned
• Goals
• Limitations
• Considerations for improvement
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THANK YOU!