Page 13 - Electrical & Electronic Engineering Brochure 2024 WEB

Music with Microcontrollers

The Music with Microcontrollers course uses a single Sysblock and Flowcode FLOWCODE
Embedded to allow students to quickly construct a wide variety of digital music
applications and understand the principles of digital music manipulation and
FLOWCODE
effects. Students will gain an appreciation of D/A conversion and A/D conversion
and Digital Signal Processing Techniques that allow music to be sampled,
delayed, manipulated and produces in the digital domain. Students make use
of signal generators, microphones and speakers/headphones to create and
understand a variety of applications in Music Technology. The pack is suitable SYSBLOCKS
for students 16+ with an interest in embedded programming and Music.
SYSBLOCKS

Example: Nyquist

Simply connecting the input to the output allows students to study sampling techniques in digital audio ELECTRICAL MACHINES
systems. Varying the sample rate allows students to understand the Nyquist criteria. Shown here are the
simple data flow program and oscillograms for Nyquist compatible and incompatible sample rates. LOCKTRONICS

ELECTRICAL MACHINES

LOCKTRONICS

Example: Audio mixer EBLOCKS 2
EBLOCKS 2
Students can understand how digital audio signals are constructed and manipulated. In this case a mixer
program allows students to mix together different frequencies and waveforms to create musical chords and
study their shape on an oscilloscope and their spectral plot. Shown here are the waveforms for note A and
Together with Flowcode, Sysblocks provides a new way of teaching about signal processing for music chord A with spectral plot. ALLCODE
technology, digital signal processing (DSP), communications and digital radio techniques.
ALLCODE
Using a high speed, high power, 32bit PICmicro micro controller running at 200MHz, we are able to offer a
comprehensive way of learning that is both cost and size effective for a classroom environment.
Sysblocks has four analogue inputs, two analogue outputs and support circuitry. The 32 bit PICmicro TINA
microcontroller is programmed by a host device which is a standard 18 series PICmicro microcontroller. This
TINA
host device takes care of non-core tasks like USB communications, LCD display, encoder and switch inputs.
This architecture keeps the main 32bit device free for signal processing.
Two E-blocks ports are made available for expansion. E-block boards for Wi-Fi, keypad, Bluetooth, CAN,
Zigbee and many other functions are available, along with a Grove connector, giving huge flexibility.
The analogue input signals are buffered and level shifted to half of the supply voltage – 1.65V – and then fed
to the internal A to D converters of the main 32 bit PICmicro microcontroller. A digital potentiometer allows
the level of the input signals to be adjusted in software.
The board is fitted with a number of switches and encoders for control purposes. The board also has a
miniature monochrome graphical display and a number of programmable LEDs including 2 x 8 LED VU meter
LEDs.
The board is powered from 3.3V from USB or from a plug top power supply.

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