Episode 132
Sensibel Optical MEMS Microphones Using Lasers for Studio-Quality Sound
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Tom Hazlett and Michael Tuttle from SensiBel join us for a chat. Sensibel is a Norwegian company that has developed a breakthrough optical MEMS microphone technology designed using mini-lasers to bring professional studio-quality audio to compact consumer and industrial devices.
This technology replaces traditional capacitive components with precision optical sensing, using a laser to measure membrane movement with femtometer accuracy to eliminate air-damping noise. The resulting SBM100B flagship model offers a 132 dB dynamic range and 80 dB SNR, providing 24-bit digital output suitable for high-end consumer and industrial applications, including ANC headphones and professional audio systems.
Episode 131
XMOS GenSOC Configure Physical ICs Using Natural Language Prompts Instead of Complex Code
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Mark Lippett, CEO of XMOS, joins to tell us about their fabless semiconductor company that specializes in high-performance multicore microcontrollers designed to bridge the gap between traditional hardware (like FPGAs) and software-defined solutions. Their unique xCORE architecture allows developers to implement complex functions—such as digital signal processing (DSP), artificial intelligence (AI), and custom I/O—entirely in software with deterministic, real-time performance. The parts can be architected using a natural language GUI, so any device that requires real-time processing (AKA Audio) but doesnt have a volume to support custom ICs or have the budget for extensive FW development can benefit from such a device.
Episode 130
Neurable AI-Powered Non-Invasive EEG to Track Brain Activity to Improve Focus, Productivity
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Dr. Ramses Alcaide joins to explain Neurable. Neurable develops non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) designed to integrate into daily life through products like the Master & Dynamic MW75 Neuro headphones. The company utilizes proprietary AI and EEG sensors to analyze cognitive health, tracking metrics such as focus and stress levels to help users manage burnout. With a long-term goal of enabling device control through thought, Neurable is moving beyond traditional, medical-grade, and, in some cases, military-focused, neurotechnology.
Episode 129
Dirac ART is Advanced Room Treatment That Uses Speakers to Actively Cancel Bass Resonances
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Nilo Casimiro Ericsson, product manager for home and pro plus, is one of the founders of the firm, so we went to the horse’s mouth to get the details on the DIRAC ART product. Dirac Live Active Room Treatment or ART) is an advanced software-based room correction technology that uses a home theater’s existing speaker system to manage bass and eliminate room resonance, eliminating the need for physical, passive acoustic panels. It acts like “noise-canceling headphones” for the entire room, utilizing MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology to create a cleaner, tighter, and more balanced soundstage.
You basically use a measurement microphone and software on a computer to calibrate your room. The calibration process for Dirac Live ART involves using a measurement microphone and software on a computer to create a digital model of your room. While standard room correction systems treat each speaker individually, Dirac ART uses these measurements to treat your entire speaker system as a unified network. It’s a very cool piece of kit to deal with the infinite living spaces and conditions that we subject our audio experiences.
Episode 128
Renesas launches a dualmode BT 20hr battery for Assisted Hearing – LE Audio Auracast Classic
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Adrie Van Meijeren, the product marketing director for audio & voice at Renesas Electronics, joins to present their new dual-mode Bluetooth IC, the DA14870.
This new BT chip can enable hearing assist devices by providing ultra-low power consumption and high-quality audio streaming through support for Bluetooth 6.0 and LE Audio, Auracast and BT Classic. These chips are critical for both Over-the-Counter (OTC) and clinical audiology devices because they allow for miniaturised form factors and extended battery life, even during continuous audio streaming.
This means that the same hearing aid or hearing assist devices can adjust between use for assisted hearing and high-quality audio playback on the same device. At least from the BT link perspective đŸ˜‰
Episode 127
Auracast, BLE, and the Future of Bluetooth. How the New BT Works!
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Jackson Keating, a freelance firmware developer and expert in Bluetooth architecture from Wiser Devices, joins the podcast.
Jackson is here to explain the shift currently occurring in wireless connectivity: the move from Bluetooth Classic to Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) Audio. The development and deployment have been painfully slow, and the details on the protocol, even BT SIG people have never been able to explain to me, so in this episode, we explore the LC3 Codec, Auracastâ„¢ Broadcast Audio, the protocol, and other bits that everyone is asking and no one is answering.
Episode 126
MVoid Acoustics Explains the Utility of Dinaburg C2S Driver Technology in Automotive Audio
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Daniel Fletcher and Guy Fletcher (latter from Dire Straits fame) join to introduce and explain their groundbreaking spatial audio technology. Birthed at the intersection of speaker development and recording engineering experience and technology, Airsound Ltd. aims to deliver Studio-proven sound. They offer the technology as an embedded solution to produce a new generation of audio products, delivering effortless spatial audio.
Airsound Spatial uses dipole sound steering to present any number of audio channels from a simplified electroacoustic architecture. Each speaker can contain as few as 3 physical audio channels to recreate height and width from any Spatial Audio sound source. It’s a game changer, reducing the cost of implementing spatial audio whilst delivering a better experience.
Airsound promises a new relationship between streamed content and consumers – a World of pure sound without installation complexity, compatibility difficulties, or compromised experience.