Audio Dithering Circuit for Enhanced Crisper Music

In this post we will discuss a simple circuit concept which can be used to transform an ordinary analogue audio signal into a much vibrant and crisper digital music, by adding an external random noise to the audio, which is also known as pink noise.

Video dithering is a procedure for generating an image file which may have a enhanced realistic look. In this process the content for the color of each pixel are added or deducted with aggressive values. This approach delivers a deviation to the image which provides an extra effect to the texture which looks richer than the normal smooth, monocolor images. The greater the dithering added, the more deviant the final effect is.

The above description explains how a video can be enhanced through the method of dithering, but you may be still wondering what exactly is audio dithering? How does dithering technology help to transform a low quality analogue audio signal into a rich, crisper digital audio?

What is Audio Dithering

The principle implemented to achieve video dithering also identically applies for audio technology. When an external randomly sampled noise is added to an analogue audio signal, it breaks the audio into more granular form, transforming it into a more vibrant and interesting sound which is more pleasing to our ears.

The higher the random noise added to the input music, the greater will be the deviant output. In the proposed dithering circuit since we use an A/D converter that breaks an analog wave into sections, a resultant sinewave appears quite like the Fig. 1A; if some more dithering is added, the output may look like Fig. 1B. Dithering passes across every single step repeatedly rather than just once.

This implementation provides a digitized output which is a lot more gratifying to hear and might even turn an unclear distorted digitization into something which may be a lot more attractive to hear.

By simply applying the dithering method, a 1 bit, 10-kHz sample can reach through an absolute rubbish to a well-known figure. The miracle range for noise input is approximately 70% of 1 bit. This means that , if you apply an input of 8 bits with a input signal of 2 V peak-to-peak, the noise level to be induced will be:

• V_noise = V_inp-p / 2ⁿ bits x 0.7
• V_noise = V_inp-p / 2⁸ x 0.7
• V_noise = 2 / 256 x 0.7
• V_noise = 5.5 mV

How the Circuit Works

Rferring to the circuit shown in Fig. 2, we can observe that the configuration using capacitors C1 --- C3, transistors Q1, Q2, and resistors R1-----R4 form a pink-noise generator circuit. Transistor Q1 is hooked up like a reverse-biased diode junction, and is accustomed to crank out a white-noise (haphazard noise) signal. That white noise signal is capacitively coupled to the base of Q2 through C1. Transistor Q2 amplifies the noise signal. The Q2 output is applied to C2, for eliminating for for filtering out the higher frequencies tso that it replicates pink noise far more strongly.

Parts C4, U1, U2, and R5-R14 are configured to form an audio- amplifier/noiseamplifier/mixer circuit respectively.

The noise generator output is adequately high for serving the intended functions and this only needs some buffering, that's all. The filtered pink-noise signal is supplied by means of C3 and R5 to the inverting input of U1, which generates an boosted and an inverted replication of the input audio signal.

Op-amp U2, in association with resistors R12 and R8 are put together to provide a optimum gain of 100, getting rid of an extra preamp stage before the digitizer. The output of U1 and U2 merge at the junction of R14 and C4, and are the finalized enhanced super digitized audio is supplied circuit's output jacks.

Construction

It is advised that you build the Digitized audio circuit over a PCB. A PCB layout for the proposed enhanced digital music circuit is demonstrated in Fig. 3.

Once the pcb is etched out you may start procuring the parts, and then start the construction work. Begin by soldering the IC sockets around the areas as pointed out in Fig. 4. Next, assemble and solder all the components on the PCB accordingly. Ensure that all components that have polarity are installed using the appropriate direction. You can incorporate RCA-type phono jacks for the audio input and output.

Power Supply

The only single important thing that you need to take care with this circuit is the power supply.

The power supply ghas to be specifically a regulated pure DC with absolutely zero ripple content. For this reason, we recommended using batteries for powering the circuit. Considering that the output is a high-impedance output, a couple of 9 V batteries could simply go on for months, even if you do not incropaorate a switch still the battery can probabaly last for many months.

Testing

Testing the dithered music enhancer circuit is actually pretty easy, since you simply do not need to calibrate anything here. Initially, rotate the audio volume control (R12) completely to the minimum position and adjust the dithering control (R11) to the maximum limit.

If you analyze the audio output for the dithering, you will be able to detect a low-level of pink noise. Now begin turning R11 down and move the R12 upward, insert an audio source into the AUDIO IN jack (J1) and analyze the output sampled audio. You will be able to detect a sound which is simply the input audio without any enhanced dithering.

To enable the introduction of the dithering, rotate pot R12 to minimum and start tweaking R11 while the audio gets sampled. Without any audio input, adjust the potiometer R11 so that the sampling of the input audio jumps up and down through the center by 1 bit each way.

Next, adjust the potentiometer R12 until you find the audio reaching the most optimal amplitude. Once these procedures are complete, you will be surprised to hear the final enhanced digital dithered music, which will appear a lot clearer, crisper, sharper and more "apparent".