Intuitive real-times platform for audio signal processing and musical instrument response emulation

In recent years, the DSP group at the University of Manchester has developed a range of DSP platforms for realtime filtering and processing of acoustic signals. These include Signal Wizard 2.5, Signal Wizard 3 and Vsound. These incorporate processors operating at 100 million multiplication-accumulations per second (MMACs) for SW 2.5 and 600 MMACS for SW 3 and Vsound. SW 3 features six input and eight output analogue channels, digital input/output in the form of S/PDIF and a USB interface. For all devices, The software allows the user, with no knowledge of filter theory or programming, to design and run standard or completely arbitrary FIR, IIR and adaptive filters. Processing tasks are specified using the graphical icon based interface. In addition, the system has the capability to emulate in real-time linear system behavior such as sensors, instrument bodies, string vibrations, resonant spaces and electrical networks. Tests have confirmed a high degree of fidelity between the behavior of the physical system and its digitally emulated counterpart. In addition to the supplied software, the user may also program the system using a variety of commercial packages via the JTAG interface.