Beginner
10 min

Experience seamless and dynamic sound control with PT2258 and PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Unleash sonic perfection at your fingertips!

EVC Click with PIC32MZ clicker

Published Dec 10, 2023

Click board™

EVC Click

Development board

PIC32MZ clicker

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Discover a new level of audio quality and convenience with our six-channel digital volume controller, featuring an integrated electronic volume control circuit, designed to deliver sonic perfection with effortless control.

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

EVC Click is based on the PT2258, a six-channel electronic volume controller from Princeton Technology. This IC contains six digitally controlled audio attenuators, which can attenuate signals between 0dB and -79dB. Each channel can be individually controlled by two-byte commands, sent over the I2C interface. Although digitally controlled, sound signals within the PT2258 remain in the analog domain. The PT2258 offers a very clear and undistorted sound. The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the PT2258 is specified to be 105dB (1V RMS at any input), while the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is only 0.005% (200mV RMS at any input). THD gets worse as the input signal rises: 2.8V RMS results in THD of 1%. The maximum input signal should stay below 2.8V, else too much audible distortion may appear at the output. The Click board™ is equipped with two rows of standard 2.54mm (100 mil) headers. There are six pins at each row, allowing the inputs and the outputs to be easily interfaced with the existing multichannel equipment. This Click board™ should be connected on the signal path,

either in front of the amplifier itself, or in front or behind other sound processing equipment (e.g. equalizer, delay, room correction, and more). That way, an optimal audio signal level will be ensured for the Click board™. Each input/output pair runs through an internal attenuator, which provides up to -79dB of attenuation, in 1dB steps. Although it seems like a very high attenuation, using it with amplifiers with high gain values may lead to still hear the sound, even after the full attenuation. Therefore, the PT2258 features a MUTE function, that completely cuts the audio output. To set attenuation of a certain level, two bytes must be consequently sent over the I2C interface. There are both -1dB step commands and -10dB step commands for each channel. To achieve the desired attenuation at the specific channel, two commands should be sent consequently: one for -10 dB attenuation, and one for -1 dB attenuation. These commands can be sent in any order. However, sending a single command or adding a MUTE command between two attenuation commands may lead to unpredictable results. This Click

board™ is supported by a mikroSDK compliant library of functions, which greatly accelerate software development, by simplifying the software development. The I2C slave address of the Click board™ can be set using two SMD jumpers, grouped under the I2C ADD label. First SMD jumper is labeled as C1, while the second jumper is labeled as C2. These jumpers are used to configure bits CODE1 and CODE2, allowing several different I2C addresses to be selected. These jumpers can be independently moved to either position, allowing to select the desired slave address. Please refer to the PT2258 datasheet for more information about configuring the I2C slave address. The Click board™ uses the I2C interface for the communication. It can be interfaced with both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers (MCUs) by simply switching the SMD jumper labeled as VCC COMM to a desired position. However, thePT2258 itself still requires 5V for its operation, since it requires a power supply voltage between 5V and 9V.

EVC Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

PIC32MZ Clicker is a compact starter development board that brings the flexibility of add-on Click boards™ to your favorite microcontroller, making it a perfect starter kit for implementing your ideas. It comes with an onboard 32-bit PIC32MZ microcontroller with FPU from Microchip, a USB connector, LED indicators, buttons, a mikroProg connector, and a header for interfacing with external electronics. Thanks to its compact design with clear and easy-recognizable silkscreen markings, it provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under

any circumstances. Each part of the PIC32MZ Clicker development kit contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the possibility of choosing the PIC32MZ Clicker programming method, using USB HID mikroBootloader, or through an external mikroProg connector for PIC, dsPIC, or PIC32 programmer, the Clicker board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development kit. The USB Micro-B connection can provide up to 500mA of current, which is more than enough to operate all onboard

and additional modules. All communication methods that mikroBUS™ itself supports are on this board, including the well-established mikroBUS™ socket, reset button, and several buttons and LED indicators. PIC32MZ Clicker is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem, allowing you to create a new application in minutes. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

PIC32MZ clicker double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

524288

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
I2C Clock
RD10
SCL
I2C Data
RD9
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
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Take a closer look

Schematic

EVC Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the PIC32MZ clicker as your development board.

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Micro B Connector Clicker Access - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Flip&Click PIC32MZ MCU step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

After loading the code example, pressing the "DEBUG" button builds and programs it on the selected setup.

Application Output Step 1

After programming is completed, a header with buttons for various actions available in the IDE appears. By clicking the green "PLAY "button, we start reading the results achieved with Click board™.

Application Output Step 3

Upon completion of programming, the Application Output tab is automatically opened, where the achieved result can be read. In case of an inability to perform the Debug function, check if a proper connection between the MCU used by the setup and the CODEGRIP programmer has been established. A detailed explanation of the CODEGRIP-board connection can be found in the CODEGRIP User Manual. Please find it in the RESOURCES section.

Application Output Step 4

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for EVC Click driver.

Key functions:

  • evc_set_volume_part - This function sets the volume for the selected channel, uses two variables.

  • evc_set_volume_full - This function sets the volume for the selected channel, uses one volume variables.

  • evc_mute - This function mute and unmute the sound.

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief EVC Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This application allows manipulation of 6 channel volume control
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization driver init, default configuration and sets first volume.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * emulates user input and exectuyrd functions based on set of valid commands.
 * 
 * *note:* 
 * Additional Functions :
 * 
 * void test_change ( )               - Emulates user input to change parameters.
 * void mute( )                       - Mute nad 
 * void play ( )                      - Start new settings of the cahnnel
 * uint8_t get_current_channel ( )    - Return current channel.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "evc.h"

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

static evc_t evc;
static log_t logger;

// ------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

uint8_t get_current_channel ( uint8_t ch )
{
    if ( ch == 1 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_1;
    }
    if ( ch == 2 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_2;
    }
    if ( ch == 3 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_3;
    }
    if ( ch == 4 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_4;
    }
    if ( ch == 5 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_5;
    }
    if ( ch == 6 )
    {
        return EVC_CHANNEL_6;
    }
    return EVC_CHANNEL_1;
}

void play ( evc_t *ctx )
{
    uint8_t current_channel;

    if ( ( ctx->play_flag == 1 ) && ( ctx->mute_flag != 1 ) )
    {
        current_channel = get_current_channel( ctx->channel );
        evc_set_volume_full( ctx, current_channel, ctx->volume );

        log_printf( &logger, " Channel [ %d ] -- Volume [ %d ] \r\n", ctx->channel, ctx->volume );
        
        ctx->play_flag = 0;
    }
}

void mute( evc_t *ctx )
{
    /* Mute and Unmute */
    if ( ctx->mute_flag == 0 )
    {
        ctx->mute_flag = 1;
        evc_mute( ctx, EVC_ALL_CHANNEL_MUTE );
        log_printf( &logger, " All channels MUTE !!!\r\n" );
    }
    else
    {
        ctx->mute_flag = 0;
        evc_mute( ctx, EVC_ALL_CHANNEL_UNMUTE );
        log_printf( &logger, " All channels UNMUTE !!!\r\n" );
    }
}

void test_change ( evc_t *ctx )
{
    ctx->channel++;

    if( ctx->channel > 6 )
    {
        ctx->channel = 6;
    }
            
    ctx->volume--;
    if( ctx->volume < -79 )
    {
        ctx->volume = -79;
        mute( ctx );
    }

    ctx->play_flag = 1;

    Delay_ms( 750 );

}

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    evc_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );

    //  Click initialization.

    evc_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    EVC_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    evc_init( &evc, &cfg );

    evc_default_cfg( &evc );
    log_printf( &logger, " \\-/-\\-/ START EQUALIZER \\-/-\\-/ ");
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    //  Task implementation.

    test_change( &evc );

    play( &evc );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}


// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources