AudioLab

AudioLab is a NUCLEO-F429ZI-based USB audio and embedded DSP platform built around the TLV320AIC3104 stereo audio codec.

The project is organized as a mixed hardware, firmware, and host-software repository. The hardware defines the codec daughterboard and supporting electrical design, the firmware runs on the STM32F429ZI target, and the host-side software supports configuration, control, measurement, and validation.

Repository Structure

.
├── assets/
├── docs/
│   ├── context/
│   ├── reference/
│   └── specs/
│       ├── firmware/
│       ├── hardware/
│       ├── power/
│       ├── software/
│       └── system/
├── firmware/
│   └── stm32/
├── hardware/
│   ├── altium/
│   │   ├── library/
│   │   └── project/
│   └── docs/
├── software/
│   └── host/
├── tests/
└── tools/

Directory Roles

hardware/ contains electronic design source files and exported hardware deliverables. The current Altium layout is:

• hardware/altium/project/: Altium project files, schematic documents, and PCB documents.
• hardware/altium/library/: Altium schematic and PCB library files.
• hardware/altium/pcb3d.step: exported PCB 3D model.
• hardware/docs/: exported schematic and PCB PDFs for review without Altium.

The current implemented hardware project is centered on hardware/altium/project/AudioLab.PrjPcb, with the top-level schematic audiolab.SchDoc, codec schematic codec.SchDoc, power schematic PowerSupply.SchDoc, PCB document AudioLab.PcbDoc, and generated PCB outputs under Project Outputs for AudioLab/.

firmware/ contains embedded code for the target board.

• firmware/stm32/: STM32F429ZI firmware, including USB Audio device behavior, SAI/I2S audio transport, I2C codec control, DMA buffering, and real-time DSP blocks.
• firmware/stm32/ currently contains the DSPLink proof-of-concept PlatformIO firmware project. DSPLink is the firmware proof-of-concept name and still needs target-contract cleanup before it can be considered the final AudioLab TLV320AIC3104 firmware.

software/ contains host-side code that runs on a PC.

• software/host/: utilities or applications for device discovery, configuration, codec/DSP control, measurement workflows, and validation support.
• software/host/ui-prototypes/dsplink-preset-tuner/: static DSPLink preset tuner prototype. It is a UI concept, not the stable AudioLab host-control implementation.

docs/ contains project documentation and specification deliverables.

• docs/context/: source context and research notes used to shape the design.
• docs/reference/: reference material for proof-of-concept or implementation work.
• docs/specs/system/: system requirements specification.
• docs/specs/power/: power distribution architecture.
• docs/specs/hardware/: hardware architecture specification.
• docs/specs/firmware/: firmware architecture specification.
• docs/specs/software/: host software architecture specification.

tests/ contains future validation and regression checks. It should be used for firmware tests, host-software tests, hardware bring-up checks, audio loopback tests, and measurement verification scripts when those artifacts exist.

tools/ contains developer and lab utilities that support the project but are not part of the firmware, host software, or hardware source. Examples include export helpers, register-table generators, descriptor inspection scripts, and measurement-processing tools.

assets/ contains non-source project media such as reference images, figures, and exported visual material used by documentation or reports.

Current Hardware Status

The committed hardware implementation is the most complete part of the repository. It includes Altium source, project-owned libraries, generated board outputs, exported schematics, an exported PCB drawing, a 3D STEP model, and board render images.

The implemented hardware boundary is:

PC USB and NUCLEO-F429ZI
  | USB D+/D-, I2C, SAI/I2S, reset, 5 V, ground
  v
AudioLab TLV320AIC3104 codec daughterboard
  | codec power, analog I/O, measurement and bring-up access
  v
audio sources, headphones, line outputs, and lab instruments

Firmware and host software now include the allocated DSPLink proof-of-concept artifacts. DSPLink targets a NUCLEO-F429ZI-controlled ADAU1701/TSA1701 DSP board and a Multifunction Shield, so it is not yet the final TLV320AIC3104 AudioLab firmware contract. The allocation and required target cleanup are documented in docs/specs/system/dsplink-allocation.md.

Development Intent

The repository should keep implementation artifacts separated by engineering boundary:

• Hardware design files stay under hardware/.
• STM32 target firmware stays under firmware/.
• PC-side support software stays under software/.
• Specifications and reports stay under docs/.
• Verification artifacts stay under tests/.
• Helper automation stays under tools/.

Avoid adding a top-level src/ directory that repeats these boundaries. If a subproject later needs source/include separation, add that structure inside the subproject itself, for example firmware/stm32/src/ or software/host/src/.