Software-Defined Audio

With the QNX Acoustics Management Platform

Delivering on the promise of the software-defined vehicle, the QNX® Acoustics Management Platform (AMP) is a software-defined audio solution that brings multiple acoustics management features together in a unified platform—helping to reduce hardware and cost while ensuring the consumer audio experience reflects the excellence expected of the automaker brand.
Request a Trial

A Pre-Integrated, Extensible Solution for Building Cost-Effective Acoustics Systems

Software-Defined

  • High-performance software-only solution
  • Reduces or eliminates specialized DSP cores
  • Leverages high-performance application processors

Integrated

  • Pre-built, software-defined routing and mixing
  • All modules are fully managed with a single universal tool, QNX® LiveAMP
  • The QNX® Hypervisor enables seamless integration with Linux® or Android™ infotainment guest OSs

Intelligent

  • Adaptive software with automated features
  • Scalable support from base to premium audio systems
  • Powerful intelligent tuning tools
  • Opens possibilities for new capabilities and advanced features

Software-defined solution can save weight and cost

Specialized acoustics hardware can add weight and cost

A Fully Integrated Software Architecture for Managing Vehicle Acoustics

QNX AMP enables automakers to design and manage the total sonic experience in their cars with a pure software solution designed to run on both general-purpose application processor cores and DSPs. Because of this flexible design QNX AMP can save bill-of-material costs and time to production while enabling new features and uncompromising sound quality. 

The QNX Acoustics Management Platform can provide an estimated 17.4% cost savings and an estimated 6.0% mass savings per automotive audio system.*

*Comparison based on a single 5-door compact car model with engine sound enhancement and a 10-speaker premium branded audio system. Cost and mass savings may vary.

Product Brief
Media section background image

QNX LiveAMP

QNX® LiveAMP is a PC-based graphical tool for tuning, diagnosis, configuration, and analysis of the QNX AMP. Adjust all system parameters, injection and streaming signals and vehicle data at multiple tap-points in the system in real time. Support automated tuning including QNX® Compact Head and Torso Simulator (CHATS). Monitor using device-under-test and reference microphones and generate real-time spectral displays and configuration files. The tool also offers offline sound design for QNX® Active Sound Design (ASD).

Premium and Branded Audio Enablement

QNX AMP’s premium and branded audio enablement capability brings the media processing segment of the software-defined vehicle to life. The QNX® software design is pre-integrated but flexible, supporting third-party brand integration on DSP or application processors. It offers built-in, system-wide audio management for ducking and barge-in and provides multi-zone capture and playback. Because it relies on software and not on specialized hardware, the QNX software-defined audio solution can lower the costs of bringing premium or branded audio features to any automotive trim level.

QNX Acoustics for Voice

QNX® Acoustics for Voice is an advanced, modular library of field-proven algorithms designed to detect and isolate voice from cabin noises including those caused by road surfaces, construction, engines, weather, and other vehicles. It sets a new standard for hands-free quality, dramatically improving the clarity, quality and accuracy of in-car communication and speech recognition systems. QNX Acoustics for Voice supports rigorous requirements for smartphone connectivity including Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, along with wake word and virtual assistants.

QNX In-Car Communications

QNX® In-Car Communications (ICC) enables safer conversations. Instead of shouting or turning around to be heard, drivers can speak to passengers at a normal volume while keeping their eyes on the road. Multiple capture and playback zones allow front-to-back back-to-front and passenger-to-passenger communication. QNX ICC dynamically adapts to noise conditions and adds enhancement only when needed.

QNX Active Sound Design

QNX® ASD offers a complete vehicle sound design and active noise control solution that allows sound designers to control the desired ambient noise from both within the vehicle and outside the vehicle (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems supported). QNX ASD includes a suite of software components that reduces unwanted cabin noise, enhances, and creates new engine sounds, and projects sounds to pedestrians. Sound components can be pre-tuned and pre-calibrated in real-time using QNX LiveAMP.

QNX Software Audio Management

QNX® Software Audio Management (QNX SAM) delivers a comprehensive loudspeaker management, media playback and sound field optimization solution built entirely in software, reducing or eliminating the need for external DSPs. It enables high resolution of media playback streams on the main application or infotainment CPU. The audio system architecture is specified via software configuration and can scale from a base-level audio system with four loudspeakers to a high-end audio system with twenty or more loudspeakers.

QNX Chimes and Safety Alerts

As more ADAS and autonomous features are deployed, monitoring of the playback signal is essential for when drivers are required to attend to a situation and take over control. QNX® Chimes and Safety Alerts (QNX CSA) enables the monitoring of chimes and safety alerts using one or more in-cabin microphones and one or more chime reference signals. Because the solution is software-based, automakers can eliminate dedicated ECU hardware.

Resources

Brief

QNX Acoustics Management Platform Product Brief

Download the Product Brief

Video

Software Defined Audio for the Software Defined Vehicle

Watch Now

Video

QNX® Acoustics Management Platform in the Cloud

Watch Now

Blog Post

Automotive Acoustics: How to Address Complexity

Read the Blog Post

Webinar

Managing the Complexity of Automotive Acoustics

View Webinar

Infographic

QNX Acoustics Management Platform Infographic

DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC
More Resources

FAQ

What is a car acoustics system composed of?

A vehicle acoustics is made up of a multitude of specialized hardware and software systems that work together to deliver the safety, comfort, and infotainment features consumers expect in their vehicles. These can include: the source unit, playback systems, sound control and safety systems, along with the software required to manage all of these disparate systems.

What is QNX AMP?

The QNX Acoustics Management Platform (AMP) is a software platform that brings multiple audio management features together in a unified software platform.

What challenges can QNX AMP solve?

QNX AMP enables automakers to design and manage the total sonic experience in their cars with a pure software solution designed to run on both general-purpose application processor cores and DSPs. This flexible design saves bill-of-material costs and cuts time to production while delivering new features and uncompromising sound quality. 

By how much can QNX AMP help automakers reduce automotive acoustics system mass and cost?

  • The QNX Acoustics Management Platform can provide an estimated 17.4% cost savings per automotive audio system.*
  • The QNX Acoustics Management Platform can provide an estimated 6.0% mass savings per automotive audio system.*

*Comparison based on a single 5-door compact car model with engine sound enhancement and a 10-speaker premium branded audio system. Cost and mass savings may vary.

Can I get a trial of QNX AMP?

Yes. You can request a free trial of QNX AMP by filling out the trial request form.