Pic vs. AVR for audio?

[fr0st]

I've now got the resources to learn one. I'd only really be using it for audio purposes like amp controls.
Which one is better/more flexable for audio puproses?

[Petter]

From my "research" and what I hear from friends in the know, AVR is easier and more flexible + you can stop the clock on the AVR meaning that it is not resonating when "idle".

You will likely get varied opinions on this one, and the best way to go for you might be a function of your existing profile -- in software AND how you plan to utilize the equipment (how do you build circuits etc.).

You mention amp control -- perhaps you want some ADC sections to monitor voltages. This might also influence the choice of family.

I am of course assuming that you are going to be doing housekeeping work and not digital audio stream processing where you might want to look at a DSP or even a PC.

Petter

[Pjotr]

Originally posted by Petter
From my "research" and what I hear from friends in the know, AVR is easier and more flexible + you can stop the clock on the AVR meaning that it is not resonating when "idle".

Agree with that. But digital noise is not an issue if it is done properly. Stopping the clock and let the MCU go into sleep is easy with the AVR’s indeed. It will be awakened on an interrupt (e.g. a key press).

PIC’s as well as the AVR’s are both suitable for housekeeping tasks. I personally stick with the AVR’s. I’ve found them indeed more flexible and easier to program in assembler. They range from “Tiny” to “Mega”. Development tools cost almost nothing. A simple connection to the printer port will program them “in circuit”. But this is the same for most PIC’s.

My advice: Dig through bot architectures and the op-code list. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

Cheers.

[till]

pro pic:

- free samples

- very cheap diy programmers

- lots of examples in the internet how to use them, turorials, and:

Remote relay volume control kit.

PCB layout of audio controller with PGA2310

http://www.mhennessy.f9.co.uk/

what means some people on this board descided for PIC, (i play with them for some weeks now) and you are welcome to join and help us. If you are interested you may mail me.

[paulb]

[i]My advice: Dig through bot architectures and the op-code list. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with.
[/B]

Architecture & instruction set are only important if you're doing something high performance (although you may want to check the powerdown features). For hobbyist stuff, what is more important is where you can buy evaluation boards; price of assembler / compiler etc.; the price; the features; and probably most important: the user groups.
From what I've heard, either is a good choice. AVR has a good user group, I'm sure the PIC has one too.

[till]

No need to buy an evaluation board:

This is my cheapo ev. board for 16F876:
7805
cristal up to 20 Mhz or resonator
pot for testing the ADC on portA
alps rotary encoder (0,45€)
LCD (7€, 2*16C), most expensive part
ICSP

in future i will add a max232 (they sent me soic, i wait until maxim send me a DIP)

PGA2310 and relais board will be connected as doughterboards.

[jackinnj]

new intro development kit -- runs off the USB port, etc. -- only $39 -- should be available this week.

When it comes to programming, I use PicBasic Pro -- but I test the code out on a Basic Stamp II before committing to solder -- it's a breeze programming with PBP and you don't have to take the chip out and reprogram it if you have an error.

[peranders]

AVR pros:

Flash meory, easy to program with a cheap programming device in-circuit-programming, very neat.

Modern cpu core

Fast

cons: Not so good documentation, could be better

PIC pros: Easy to learn, good documention

cons: Memory management


Both: works very good in industrial enviroment but AVR needs a reset chip otherwise the EE-memory can be corrupted.

Go for AVR! Cheap starter kit STK-500! 40-50 USD only.

[maczrool]

Originally posted by peranders
AVR pros:

Flash meory, easy to program with a cheap programming device in-circuit-programming, very neat.

Don't forget Microchip has a whole line of Flash based PICs.

Stu

[guido]

Dont want to say pro or con here. I am using pic's, since i got some for free one day. Think they can do more or less the same,
comparted to AVR.

Also the pic i am using is able to stop the clock and go into sleepmode (16F84). And eeprom and etc. No experience with AVR..

Just look for info on the net for what you want to do with it.
If you then need some help with something, you can ask people.

You don't need to buy a developmentkit. There are many programmers on the net, just connecting to a pc port. Development software is downloadable at microchip, guess all is the same for AVR.

Have a look at my www to see what can be done with a pic.
There are two more preamps here with pic's.

Greetings,
GuidoB