Audio application based on FreeRTOS operating system

Abstract

This current report describes in detail how the Quartet code for a Microchip PIC18 microcontroller, developed by Pere Domenech in his Final Degree Project, has been migrated to a Microchip PIC24 microcontroller. The original Real Time Operating System has also been migrated from OSA RTOS to FreeRTOS. The RTOS modification will allow future upgrades without the need to change the RTOS. The Quartet software is an audio synthesizer which uses a low-pass filtered PWM output to create a mono audio signal. The original code has 3 different instruments and 4 voices: Bass, Violin, Guitar 1 and Guitar 2. Each instrument has its own sound, specific waveform and envelope. Each voice has its own score. The 4 voices are mixed during the synthesis and played through a single PWM microcontroller output. This report explains step by step the software migration process: Operating System migration, Compiler migration and Microcontroller Instructions migration. The process is explained in detail. Therefore, it is highly recommended to read it while studying the final PIC24 Quartet code. At the end of the report, the hardware validation and experimental modifications are explained. Finally, some future improvements, limitations and suggestions are commented. This project is a continuation of the Quartet code for microcontrollers but it is clear that more improvements and modifications will be done in the future.