Audio Playback with Modulation

ELP 305 : Design and System Laboratory

Ritik Vijayvergiya : 2014EE10479
Utkarsha Agwan : 2014EE10492
Akshunn Jindal : 2014EE10424
April 13, 2017

Date Performed: April 6, 2017

Instructor: Professor Subrat Kar & Professor SMK Rahman

List of Figures
1 Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Circuit Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1 Objective
Learn to use signal conditioning, shaping and manipulation operations for in-
terfacing with real world appliances.

1.1 Problem Statement

To reproduce the audio signal on a speaker with different modulations in terms
of amplitude and frequency using an 8-bit parallel DAC by using multiplication
based on scaling of potentiometer input. Frequency modulation can be achieved
using multiplication of delay similarly.

1.2 Going Further

a. Playback an audio file using UART communication and a buffer for mod-
ulation.

b. Playback an audio file recorded on a SD card (see the format you would
use for storing the audio data in a file).

1
2 Apparatus
We used the following equipments and machines :

• Arduino Board • Potentiometer

• 8 bit DAC0800 – analog passive potentiome-

ters (wiper)
• LM386 Audio Amplifier – Digital potentiometers
• Bread Board for prototyping • Arduino Code Editor Software

3 Challenges Faced
a. Making the circuit work was a challenging task. DAC0800 was required
to be connected very carefully, lousy circuits posed problems.
b. The selection of proper values of resistances and capacitances was a crucial
part which took a fair bit of our time.

c. Varying the frequency of beats appeared a bit challenging to us and to

programme it properly required a fair amount of effort from our part.

4 Block Diagram for Interfacing

For block diagram refer figure 1 on page 3

5 Circuit Diagram
For circuit diagram to connect DAC0800 to Arduino refer figure 2 on page 4 (7)

2
Figure 1: Block Diagram

3
 Figure 2: Circuit Diagram

6 Flowchart for Code

4
7 Observations
a. Analog potentiometers they are prone to performance changes by the
virtue of their design and reliability concerns over time. They are more
sensitive to shocks and vibrations and the mechanical wiper contact re-
sistance can change due to oxidation, ageing and wear. This reduces the
usable lifetime of an analog potentiometer. (8) On the other hand, digital
potentiometer consists of a number of CMOS transmission gates. As there
are no mechanical elements, the digital potentiometer is resilient against
shocks, wear, ageing and contact.
b. Question 1 : How and why would you use a digital potentiometer? More
importantly, where (in which design application) would you absolutely in-
sist that a digital potentiometer be used?
A digital potentiometer is built either from a resistor ladder integrated cir-
cuit or a digital-to-analog converter although a resistor ladder construction
is the more common. (3) They are convenient for use where environmental
factors can adversely affect a mechanical pot. Environments with vibra-
tion or particles like dirt, dust, moisture or grease that can gum up the
shaft can drive one to choose a digital potentiometer. (4) Digital Poten-
tiometers - their common applications :
• Attenuators for DC and AC signals
• Varying the gain of an Op-Amp
c. Question 2 : What would happen if we chose to digitise using 4-bits instead
of 8-bits? What if we chose 24-bits instead of 8-bits?
The variation of analog signal for n-bits we are giving varies from 0 to 2
to the power n. This will have corresponding effect i.e. more rich sounds
for more bits and more level of control and vice versa for less.

8 Conclusion & Result

By adjusting the knob of potentiometer two variations can be achieved.
• Corresponding to delay in signals we can adjust frequency and infer the
change from the pitch of the sound from speakers.

• Other potentiometer can be used to adjust the loudness of the sound from
the speaker and this also can be easily inferred by audio inspection.

References
[1] Tutorial on DAC0800. Available at http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/
dac0800.pdf

5
[2] Tutorial on LM386. Available at http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/
lm386.pdf
[3] Information on Digital Potentiometers. Available at https://en.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_potentiometer

[4] Information on Digital Potentiometers. Available at http://www.

analogictips.com/what-is-a-digital-potentiometer/
[5] Popular Audio Formats. Available at http://
all-streaming-media.com/streaming-media-faq/
faq-Description-of-popular-audio-formats-MP3-WMA-OGG-AAC-WAV.
htm
[6] Proteus Simulation. Available at http://saeedsolutions.blogspot.in/
2013/07/8051-dac-using-dac0808-code-proteus.html
[7] Circuit Diagram. This diagram is available on the internet we made direct
connections in physical world.

[8] Analog potentiometers. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Potentiometer

9 Link to Code Repository

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UZNJyIpnnNSpIfA67fxO7AOtjarICgib4qmGq2blY70/
edit?usp=sharing