What is a small Linux SBC for audio applications?

Hello

I'm looking for a Linux SBC (single board computer) for an embedded audio application. Basically I'd like to turn a USB device into a musical instrument, without having to carry around a laptop. In the process I plan on learning how to work with embedded linux.

Therefore I'm looking for a cheap SBC with:

• basic cpu, ram and flash storage (anything will do)
• 1 stereo audio output
• 1 usb port
• 1 serial port for the console

and optionally:

• battery operated
• support for a small LCD screen and a couple hardware buttons

I certainly don't need a full array of expensive interfaces, such as VGA, SATA, PCI, and whatnot.

Can anybody suggest me a specific model or a distributor? I'm based in Europe.

Thanks

I think the PC Engines alix1d has all you need and it is relative cheap.

Thank you for the pointer to PC Engines.

The alix1d is too fancy for my needs. The alix3d3 is somewhat better, but it still has 2 miniPCI slots, Ethernet, and VGA, that I don't need, not to mention x86 compatibility, that certainly weigh in the final price.

Speaking of price, why are these boards so expensive?
If this is the price of a bare system board, I might as well hack a Roku player!

Any other hint?

You could always look at the beagleboard its small at about 4" square and you can purchase addons such as touch lcd and battery pack and is reasonably priced.

It shoulc be noted however that its a development board per-say, not a production board although I use mine as a home server strapped to lots of USB drives quite nicely and its really power consumption friendly. I'll also probably buy another one and the lcd/battery addons to develop some ideas I'm working on.

Hi Tobia,
I have a similar requirement, full duplex audio and WiFi too:

• audio in (line level preferred)
• audio out
• 802.11g
• USB
• Ethernet
• must run preemptive kernel
• battery powered

I'm considering striping down the Asus EeePC 900. Heard the Beagleboard audio isn't reliable or just flat doesn't work. Gumstix is too expensive. Which SBC did you select?

Gary

Hi Gary

I gave up on my project, at least until general purpose linux-based embedded hardware doesn't get cheaper, if it ever will.
€100 for an embedded board is not cheap, considering you can have a second-hand EEE Box for roughly the same price.

I thought about using an Arduino with a couple addon boards, but that won't work, as I really need Linux's device drivers and time-sharing facilities.

Please let me know if you find anything.

I've seen some internet radio based on nxp lpc313x / atmel AT91sam9260. So you might want to check this out.
However, usually embedded system development boards are not cheap, simply because they are not massed produced in large quantities.

Hi Tobia,
My feeling exactly, why spend more than the cost of a used eee box? I'll let you know if i find something cheaper. Mine is a cordless speaker application for which I'm using abandoned laptops. They have bad keyboards and displays but are functional otherwise.

Hi cnxsoft,
Do you know if there's a low cost SBC based on lpc313x / atmel AT91sam9260? I couldn't find one on the web?

Thanks everybody,
Gary

The one I know are (well) over 100 Euros.

For LCP314X (LPC313X DevKit is phased out), there is Embedded Artists Kit for 179 Euros http://www.embeddedartists.com/produ...pc3141_kit.php
For AT91SAM9260, there is the Evaluation Kit (AT91SAM9260-EK - http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/to...p?tool_id=3933) for 520 USD on DigiKey / 440 USD an Avnet.

Otherwise, if you need something cheaper you may purchase a retail product using those chips, but you'll open to open the casing and may have to do some soldering to connect the debug connector (e.g.UART).

cnxsoft,
I'm doing this work on my own for myself and not a company and so I'm very cost conscious. Thanks for the advice.
Gary