The inside of your next car is about to sound radically different—and vastly more intelligent. Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) and Cadence’s Tensilica IP Group have teamed up to overhaul the industry-standard SHARC automotive audio processors, delivering a massive 5x performance boost designed specifically for the AI era.
As automakers pivot to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the new ADSP-SC84x/2184x platform represents a major architectural leap. The most critical upgrade is the shift from a 28nm to a 16nm process, drastically improving energy efficiency and cranking up operating frequencies.
But the real engine behind this new platform is the brand-new SHARC-FX processor core.
Moving from Traditional DSP to Neural Networks
Historically, in-cabin audio relied on traditional signal-processing algorithms. Today, the industry is racing toward AI-driven models to handle highly personalized, adaptive environments.
Co-developed with Cadence and built on its heavily optimized Tensilica DSP architecture, the SHARC-FX core features an expanded instruction set optimized for both modern signal processing and AI workloads.
This allows the processor to handle real-time, neural-network-based audio inference right at the edge. By natively supporting optimized kernel routines for popular AI frameworks like Google’s LiteRT™, automakers can easily offload heavy AI models from the vehicle’s host CPU directly to the SHARC-FX core for faster, more energy-efficient execution.
This leap in raw computational power paves the way for a new tier of in-vehicle experiences, including:
- Seat-specific, personalized sound zones
- Immersive 3D audio rendering
- AI-enhanced road noise and engine order cancellation (RNC and EOC)
- Next-generation acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS)
- Generative AI audio and highly intelligent, hands-free voice assistants
Under the Hood: Specs and Ecosystem
Beyond the SHARC-FX core, ADI has packed the new ADSP-SC84x/2184x platform with hardware upgrades vital for modern automotive engineering.
The platform introduces an LPDDR4 memory interface, a significant bump in on-chip L2 memory, and a dedicated hardware security module (HSM) to lock down automotive cybersecurity. Additionally, it offers two optional connectivity cores that bring enhanced communication and mainline Linux support to the table.
To ensure developers can actually harness this new hardware, ADI is backing the launch with a robust software ecosystem.
The platform integrates seamlessly with Cadence’s compiler and tools, ADI’s own EZ-KIT® evaluation system, CrossCore® Embedded Studio, SigmaStudio+™, and heavy-hitting third-party frameworks like DSP Concepts’ Audio Weaver.
For decades, ADI’s ADSP family has been the quiet powerhouse behind the world’s most advanced infotainment systems. With this latest Cadence partnership and a heavy pivot toward AI hardware, the company is ensuring it remains the undisputed brains of automotive audio for the next generation of vehicles.
Leadership Comments
“As the complexity of automotive audio, acoustic and voice applications continues to grow, it became clear that we needed a DSP architecture capable of delivering significantly higher performance and on-chip AI capability while maintaining the deterministic real-time behavior our customers depend on,” said Andrew Lanfear, head of Automotive Audio & Networking, ADI. “Given their leadership in DSP IP, working with Cadence was the natural choice for ADI. The ability to create custom instructions using Tensilica Instruction Extension (TIE) technology allows us to accelerate proprietary audio and voice algorithms while providing dedicated DSP resources for real-time voice offload and next-generation automotive workloads.”
“ADI’s selection of Cadence’s Tensilica DSP technology for the next generation of ADSP processors underscores its focus on high-performance automotive audio and AI,” said Amol Borkar, group director, product management, Tensilica DSPs, Cadence. “The advanced architecture in the SHARC-FX core is optimized for on-chip AI/ML and signal-processing workloads, enabling applications such as music genre identification, music source separation (MSS), and real-time vocal removal to run efficiently on the DSP, while the host CPU remains dedicated to vehicle-domain and operating system functions.”
“DSP Concepts has been a long-time trusted partner of both Cadence Tensilica DSPs and ADI, enabling rich audio applications on both platforms,” said Chin Beckmann, CEO of DSP Concepts. “Through the integration of their technologies in our Audio Weaver (AWE) framework, we were able to witness and validate the winning, best-in-class results of this amazing collaboration between these industry pioneers.”
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