Re: attenuator (Bob Masta )


Subject: Re: attenuator
From:    Bob Masta  <audio@xxxxxxxx>
Date:    Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:38:37 -0500
List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>

I haven't done an exhaustive search recently, but in general the problem with these digital potentiometers is that they are just that - potentiometers, not the sort of attenuator one typically wants for audio work, which would allow setting any dB value with 1 dB resolution from 0 to 100 dB or more. If you search on "digital attenuator", be careful because the vast majority (maybe all) returns will be for microwave and other RF devices. "Digital audio attenuator" gets into the proper frequency range, but the products typically don't have nice 1 dB steps... they have fine steps at high levels and coarser steps at lower levels. Since you mention RS232 control, are you using "older" technology? If you have a system with an old ISA data bus (pre-PCI), you can use an old ISA-bus Sound Blaster like the SB16 or AWE32 as an attenuator. These had outstanding specs... *way* better than lab-type units of the day. They allowed 2 dB steps over a 138 dB range. Even though the sound card sample rate was limited to 48 kHz, the frequency response attenuators alone on the SB16 were only 1 dB down at 60 kHz, -3 dB at 110 kHz. You can see typical specs at <http://www.daqarta.com/atn-sb16.htm> Best regards, Bob Masta ============= On 17 Nov 2011 at 17:23, David Smith wrote: > Pawel, > > There are hundreds of different "digital potentiometer" chips > available to do this. > For example: > > Dual 8 bit digital potentiometer ,3 wire serial port, clocked > communications. > > Accuracy is typically specified in parts/million. > You can use them directly on analog audio or use them to set gain of > amplifier stage. > Communication software for this is trivial if you can flip a few bits > on a computer port. > > Dave Smith > > > > > On Nov 17, 2011, at 3:40 PM, Paweł Kuśmierek wrote: > > > Dear list, > > > > I was wondering if you know of any commercialbly available precise > > digitally controlled (i.e., repeatable) attenuator with fast and > > quiet attenuation changing. Preferably, but not necessarily > > controlled via RS232. > > > > All suggestions welcome, > > > > Thank you, > > > > Pawel Kusmierek > > Bob Masta D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis www.daqarta.com Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Signal Generator Science with your sound card!


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