WM8960
Production Data
REGISTER
ADDRESS
R27 (1Bh)
Additional
Control (3)
BIT
2:0
Table 12 ALC Control
LABEL
ADC_ALC_SR
[2:0]
DEFAULT
DESCRIPTION
000
ALC Sample Rate
000 = 44.1k / 48k
001 = 32k
010 = 22.05k / 24k
011 = 16k
100 = 11.25k / 12k
101 = 8k
110 and 111 = Reserved
ALC SAMPLE RATE CONTROL
The register bits ADC_ALC_SR must be set correctly to ensure that the ALC attack, decay and hold
times are correct for the chosen sample rate as shown in Table 12.
PEAK LIMITER
To prevent clipping when a large signal occurs just after a period of quiet, the ALC circuit includes a
limiter function. If the ADC input signal exceeds 87.5% of full scale (–1.16dB), the PGA gain is
ramped down at the maximum attack rate (as when ATK = 0000), until the signal level falls below
87.5% of full scale. This function is automatically enabled whenever the ALC is enabled.
Note:
If ATK = 0000, then the limiter makes no difference to the operation of the ALC. It is designed to
prevent clipping when long attack times are used.
NOISE GATE
When the signal is very quiet and consists mainly of noise, the ALC function may cause “noise
pumping”, i.e. loud hissing noise during silence periods. The WM8960 has a noise gate function that
prevents noise pumping by comparing the signal level at the input pins against a noise gate threshold,
NGTH. The noise gate cuts in when:
Signal level at ADC [dB] < NGTH [dB] + PGA gain [dB] + Mic Boost gain [dB]
This is equivalent to:
Signal level at input pin [dB] < NGTH [dB]
The PGA gain will then be held constant (preventing it from ramping up as it normally would when the
signal is quiet).
The table below summarises the noise gate control register. The NGTH control bits set the noise gate
threshold with respect to the ADC full-scale range. The threshold is adjusted in 1.5dB steps. Levels
at the extremes of the range may cause inappropriate operation, so care should be taken with set–up
of the function. Note that the noise gate only works in conjunction with the ALC function, and always
operates on the same channel(s) as the ALC (left, right, both, or none).
REGISTER
ADDRESS
R20 (14h)
Noise Gate
Control
BIT
LABEL
7:3 NGTH
[4:0]
0 NGAT
Table 13 Noise Gate Control
DEFAULT
DESCRIPTION
00000
0
Noise gate threshold
00000 -76.5dBfs
00001 -75dBfs
… 1.5 dB steps
11110 -31.5dBfs
11111 -30dBfs
Noise gate function enable
0 = disable
1 = enable
w
PD, August 2013, Rev 4.2
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