Belfast-based Audio Codecs Ltd and New Zealand-based RF consultancy Virscient have announced the introduction of Skylark BLE, a new Bluetooth low-energy digital wireless module for live entertainment, AV installation and broadcast applications.
The Skylark BLE Module is based around the Nordic nRF53 platform and is stated to provide audio in/audio out latencies of less than 10 ms, as well as a more robust link. Available as a stand-alone and a licensed OEM product, it addresses a popular platform and is designed to provide professional grade audio performance.
Skylark BLE is the result of a collaboration between Audio Codecs Ltd, which develops the low-latency (stated as under 2 ms), 24-bit/48 kHz Skylark digital audio data compression algorithm, and Virscient, a consultancy with expertise in wireless and the Internet that develops products semiconductor and manufacturing companies.
The new module runs on the application processor and incorporates Audio Codec’s Skylark algorithm and Antennaware’s Bodywave RF antenna that’s specifically designed to address the effects of “body blocking'”and the highly annoying audio drop-outs this can cause. Virscient has added its own proprietary RF middleware, which combined with the resilience of Skylark and the additional 20 dB of gain due to Bodywave are designed to help ensure a solid Bluetooth RF link.
Jonny McClintock, spokesperson for the consortium, says: “By leveraging the popular Nordic Bluetooth Low Energy platform and using the exceptional design skills of the Virscient team, we have been able to demonstrate the value and quality of both the Bodywave RF antenna and the Skylark audio codec. End users will enjoy a rock-solid link and incredible audio, all delivered at a previously impossible 10 ms.”
McClintock adds that the consortium is planning to reduce the latency even further and will also be supporting alternative RF frequencies such as UWB, a move to address the rapidly emerging Headphone 3.0 market.
