A Compact Flash Digital
Audio Interface Card
Using PDAudio-CF, PDAudio records in both
single-channel and dual-channel modes, with eight, sixteen, twenty or twenty-four
bit word widths, and data rates from 32 KiloSamples/second up to 192 KS/s
(32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 KS/s). (Note that even though the
PDAudio-CF supports sampling rates to 192 KS/s, some PDAs currently only
support sampling rates to 96 KS/s. Almost all desktop and laptop PCs will
support 192 KS/s.)
At 96 KS/s PDAudio-CF draws only 45 mA
and so has minimal impact on your PDA's operating time per battery charge.
(Various models of iPAQs are available with 1000, 1400 and 2200 mAh battery
packs, and some of the CF/PC Card expansion packs provide still more battery
capacity).
It has two LED indicators, both under software
control. One is typically used to indicate that it's seeing a valid S/PDIF
data stream and the other to indicate other record system status. Both
LEDs can be flashed at various rates to signal sample rate, media-fullness
warnings and other information.
PDAudio-CF will accept digital audio data
from a wide variety of outboard units, essentially any device that uses
an S/PDIF coaxial or optical interface. These include microphone pre-amplifiers/A-to-D
convertors (e.g., Lunatec's V3 and Mic2496),
CD players/recorders, DAT players/recorders, hard disk recorders (like
the Alesis Masterlink), and digital PC & Mac sound cards. Input is
via a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) jack for both optical and coaxial S/PDIF input,
selectable via software.
In a laptop/desktop-based recorder, PDAudio-CF
will provide a bit-for-bit accurate S/PDIF interface at up to 192 KS/s
for use with most popular audio software applications including Adobe Audition
(formerly know as Cool Edit Pro), Sonic Foundry Sound Forge and Vegas,
and Steinberg WaveLab. A WDM driver for Windows XP (SP1 with DirectX 9.x)
is now available. Click
here for driver download.
PDAudio-CF can also accept other IEC-60958
compliant data formats including DTS, AC-3 and MP3 data streams. It's up
to the software recording application to use this capability. This means
that with the right software and front-end processors, you could do surround
sound recordings with PDAudio-CF.
PDAudio-CF is for input only; it does not
have a digital output.
Since the PDAudio-CF driver source code,
user guide and programming guide are freely available to third-party audio
software developers, we expect to see many software applications become
available. We welcome inquiries from audio software developers.
Specifications
Inputs: 1/8-inch (3.5mm) mini phone plug,
electrical and optical (software selectable)
Word Width: 8, 16, 20, 24
Sample Rates: any sample rate between
32 and 192 Kilosamples per second (e.g., 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4,
192)
Channels: Mono, Stereo, 5.1, 7.1, others
(application software dependendt)
Data Formats: IEC-60958 including S/PDIF,
AES/EBU, DTS, AC-3, ATRAC, MPEG
Form Factor: Compact Flash Type I (Extended)
Power Consumption: 45 mA
Note: for use with laptops -
a separate PCMCIA CF adapter will need to be purchased.
