VS1073 - Versatile Audio Encoder, Decoder, and Codec Integrated Circuit

VS1073 is the newest IC in the VLSI Solution's MP3 audio coprocessor family. VS1073 is equally capable at encoding as it is of decoding audio files, all through a simple SPI-like serial interface.

The VS1073 IC can encode a multitude of audio formats, from lossless FLAC and PCM to lossy formats MP3, Ogg Vorbis to G.711 u-law, G.711 A-law, and G.722 (details provided in list below). The proprietary MP3 and Ogg Vorbis encoders have been carefully tuned for highest possible audio fidelity for high-quality audio streaming or recording.

VS1073 can play back MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, OGG, LC-AAC, HE-AAC, FLAC, ALAC, APE, AC-3, DSD, and WAV IMA ADPCM, G.711 u-law, G.711 a-law and G.722, as well as multiple AIFF formats, making it very suitable for hi-fi audio playback and streaming applications.

VS1073 also offers a full-duplex codec mode. The codec mode makes it possible to create real-time full duplex audio for voice applications like internet phones and two-way audio radio links. Codec mode supports IMA ADPCM, G.711 u-law, G.711 a-law, G.722, and WAV PCM audio formats.

VS1073 provides many built-in audio functions, like a 5-band equalizer, as well as sound effects like a speed shifter and VLSI Solution's proprietary EarSpeaker earphone room-simulation processing. It is also possible to mix PCM sound effects or audio from a stereo analog input on top of playback audio.

To make VS1073 even more versatile, it has 32 KiB of program RAM for custom applications. Combined with an interface with VLSI Solution's Integrated Development Environment VSIDE, the platform offers almost endless customization options.

Upgraders will be happy to know that from a hardware point of view VS1073 is a pin-compatible replacement for the best-selling VS1063 and VS1053 audio coprocessors, with the exception of digital voltage, which has been lowered from 1.85 V to 1.25 V.

All these features, combined with CD-quality Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog signal path performance, a new 32-bit I2S bus for outputting digital audio, and an earphone amplifier capable of driving a 30-ohm load, make VS1073 an easy-to-use audio codec IC that offers unforeseen versatility in usage.

• Encodes a multitude of audio formats, all at 8-48 kHz, mono and stereo. New features compared to VS1063 in bold. New features compared to VS1053 in italics.
  • MP3: All sample rates and bitrates of MPEG 1.0, 2.0 and 2.5
  • Ogg Vorbis
  • FLAC lossless audio (16 bits)
  • RIFF WAV 16-bit PCM
  • RIFF WAV IMA ADPCM
  • G.711 µ-law and A-law
  • G.722 ADPCM
• Decodes multiple formats up to 48 kHz, new features in bold:
  
  • MP3 = MPEG 1 & 2 audio layer III (CBR+VBR+ABR, full accuracy)
  • MP2 = MPEG 1 & 2 audio layer II
  • MP1 = MPEG 1 & 2 audio layer I
  • Ogg Vorbis
  • MPEG4 / 2 AAC-LC(+PNS), HE-AAC v2 (Level 3) (SBR + PS)
  • WMA4.0/4.1/7/8/9 all profiles (5-384 kbps)
  • FLAC lossless audio (up to 24 bits)
  • ALAC lossless audio (up to 24 bits)
  • Monkey's Audio (APE) lossless audio
  • AC-3 (ATSC52, downmixed to stereo or user-selectable two channel output)
  • (RIFF) WAV (PCM, float, IMA ADPCM, G.711 µ-law/A-law + G.722 ADPCM)
  • AIFF/AIFC (PCM, float, G.711 µ-law/A-law + G.722 ADPCM)
  • DSD (stereo only)
  • Ogg Opus
• The full-duplex codec mode allows both input and output using the following formats:
  
  • 16-bit PCM
  • IMA ADPCM
  • G.711 µ-law and A-law
  • G.722 ADPCM
• Streaming support
• Up to 112 KiB RAM for user code and data
• 32-bit I2S output for external DAC
• High-quality stereo A/D converter
• Serial, SPI-style control and data interfaces
• Can be used either as a slave audio co-processor or as a standalone processor
• UART for debugging purposes
• New functions may be added with software and up to 8 GPIO pins
• EarSpeaker Earphone Spatial Room Processing
• Bass and treble controls
• 5-channel equalizer
• Low-power operation
• High-quality on-chip stereo DAC with no phase error between channels
• Zero-cross detection for smooth volume change
• Stereo earphone driver capable of driving a 30­-ohm load
• Quiet power-on and power-off
• Separate voltages for analog, digital, I/O
• SPI flash boot for special applications
• SCI Multiple Read mode making reading recorded bitstreams from VS1073 through SPI twice as fast
• Pin-compatible replacement for VS1053 and VS1063, except for digital core voltage of 1.25 V (down from 1.85 V) (control software still needs to be modified)