AWE Designer 8.D.2.5

2024-JUNE-29

New Features

• Reduced load and save times for AWJ files, and updated AWJ version to 3.0

• Added option in Layout Properties menu to force bind_wire commands to happen before other wire allocations

• Added options in Generate Target Files menu to select target instanceID and to include a Lookup Table in the generated .awb/.aws

• Added support for Multi-Instance in Module Tests tool

• Added support for Multi-Instance and Multi-Canvas in the Tuning Interface Test tool

• The minimum MATLAB version required for using Pro editions of Designer has been updated from R2017b to R2021b

  • Designer is no longer tested with MATLAB R2017b, so using this version may result in inconsistent or faulty behavior

Enhancements

• Improved the validation of AWJ files against a custom JSON schemas

• BuildFlash.exe tool now warns user when filenames are truncated due to length limitations

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue with building Multi-Canvas layouts when different instances have different block sizes

• Improved error detection and message clarity for invalid subsystems with only a virtual module between input and output

• Ensuring that correct target information is available in profiling after doing attach to running target

• Fixed issue that was preventing layouts saved with invalid paths in ParamSet module from being loaded

• Execution order for Param Set and Status Set style modules can now target modules in subsystems

• Fixed issue where the 'controlled by' field for modules on the canvas was not always being updated

• Removed support in Designer for module argument inputs beginning with '0b'

• Fixed issue where module argument strings starting with '0x' were being improperly converted to decimal values

• Fixed issue in Designer when running on Multi-Instance target with more than 16 instances

• Updated AWE Server Flash Manager to be able to access different Flash File Systems on Multi-Instance or Multi-Canvas target

• Loading and saving module arrays from file now maintains full precision

• Fixing corruption in layout file after running process files

• Fixing user inspector operability after running manual profiling

• Fixed a number of issues that could cause Tuning Interface Test to hang, and improved flexibility of modules required to run the test

• Fixed issue where copying an invalid subsystem to a new layout could corrupt the layout

• Convert to Subsystem will now retain custom objectIDs for modules

• Failed attempts of Convert to Subsystem now correctly restores original subsystem

• Designer now throws a warning if the output HW pin is not fract32

• Restored the right click Help option for RUS/CRUS on the canvas

• Improved robustness of test_start_audio MATLAB function in the case of Multi-Instance targets

• Fixed issue when loading layouts with out-of-sync module control information

AWE Designer 8.D.2.4

2024-MARCH-15

New Features

• Updated AWJ version to 2.1 to reduce overall file size

Enhancements

• Revamped MATLAB AWE framework by adopting more efficient implementation, resulting in faster build and load times

  • AWE objects are now passed as handles, instead of copied-by-assignment

  • Existing user scripts may not be compatible if they rely on assignments creating new objects. To address this, update scripts to explicitly call the 'copy' function (see (8.D.2.5) Updating MATLAB User Scripts to 8.D.2.4/8.D.2.5+ for more details)

• Standard edition is now built using MATLAB 2023b (requires MCR version 2023b Update 3)

  • MCR Download URL: http://ssd.mathworks.com/supportfiles/downloads/R2023b/Release/3/deployment_files/installer/complete/win64/MATLAB_Runtime_R2023b_Update_3_win64.zip

• CRUS modules now support controlling internal variables with ParamSet modules

• Added calculated layout block rate in profiling results, in addition to existing measured time per process

• Added information in AWE_Server about heap alignment words for the attached target

• Plot Frequency Response now uses different colors for each channel

• Improved robustness when loading corrupted .awd's

Bug Fixes

• Updated peak profiling tool to always plot last value and to support clockDividers >= 10

• Fixed support for CRUS that include MATLAB subsystem modules

• Copy pasting a RUS will now always control the correct User Inspector

• ObjectID's can now be updated for modules even if layout can't be built

• Prevented users from updating module arguments while a layout is running

• Fixed Example module pack's VS project

• Corrected AWJ saving of any font size used in Annotation modules

• Fixed canvas labels for all subsystem types for User Inspector values

• Subsystem canvas labels are no longer shown in raw double precision

• Prevented unnecessary ModuleList.h files from being generated for multi-canvas targets

AWE Designer 8.D.2.3

2024-JANUARY-26

New Features

• Created a Feedback Settings module that enables setting feedback wire properties using Layout Variables

Enhancements

• Added 'Hierarchy Level' column in exported profiling reports

• Allow RUS to be loaded from folders that contain a comma in the name

• Improvements to layout build times:

  • Removed module runtime status from Subsystem canvas text

  • Improved build time progress bar redraw performance

  • Removed unnecessary redraw when building

  • Removed extraneous target reads when redrawing canvas after completed builds

  • Removed obsolete functionality in generate_version. Function now always returns -1

  • Removed extraneous target queries messages when building layouts

Bug Fixes

• Fixed Attach to Running Target for Multi-Canvas applications

• Fixed profiling percentage calculations in Multi-Rate, Multi-Instance systems

• Fixed Push Button User Inspector for Multi-Instance systems

• Made update to avoid unnecessary target queries for read-only Checkbox User Inspectors

• Removed test-only code that could cause system to become unstable in case of a test failure

• Added 'extern "C"' to generated InitAWB.h files to improve C++ application support

• Improved the canvas text for Reusable Subsystems

• Removed newline from canvas text when module status is not Active

• Fixed peak profiling not working with multi-instance targets when active instances are not consecutive

• Fixed using a semi-colon separated list of variables to be controlled via one user inspector

  • Note that you cannot use variables in different instances with one user inspector, they must all be on the same instance

  • An error notifying the user of this will only show if you open the user inspector after building and running the layout

• Fixed creation of layouts using subLayoutIds for non-multi-instance targets

AWE Designer 8.D.2.2

2023-NOVEMBER-8

New Features

• Module documentation and Designer User's Guides are now hosted on DSP Concepts website

Enhancements

• CPU load per core is now displayed in AWE_Server if target has defined core affinities

• CPU overflows in AWE_Server now calculated correctly for layouts running across multiple cores (SMP)

Bug Fixes

• Module properties window will no longer close when a layout is run

• Matlab will now force values to be within min/max range set by the module variable or array

• Fixed failure with virtual modules in feedback wire path

• Fixed issue with module compatibility with previously saved AWJs

• Fixed loading of AWD's that contain subsystems with no input or output pin

• Fixed propagation of accumulated delay through subsystems

• Update AWE_Server to do deferred processing on all Native instances, not just instance 0

AWE Designer 8.D.2.1

2023-SEPTEMBER-18

New Features

• (BETA) New Multi-Instance feature allows processing of audio across multiple AWE Core instances on different cores in a single layout

  • Native target now defaults to 4 instances, editable in AWE_Server

  • Relies on a new sharedHeap buffer allocated in shared memory on the target

  • Performs all IPC of audio using new IPC Buffer module

  • Released as a beta feature, with known limitations:

    • IPC Buffer module will be updated in compatibility breaking ways in future releases. Will need to update AWE Core and Designer to align

    • (Native target only) deferred processing only works on Instance 0. Use Instant updates for Param Set and other modules when on other instances

    • Module regressions can only be run on Instance 0

    • RUS and CRUS with User Inspectors can not be run on instance 0

Enhancements

• Redesigned and improved the Profile Block by Block and Manual Profiling menus

  • Manual Profiling moved to Profile Running Layout menu and layout must now be running to use

• Redesigned and improved the Peak Profiling menu in Designer - summarize

• Improved AWJ loading to allow hierarchical module names to exceed 63 chars

• Added default RUS path to default Designer installer search paths

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue where AWJs weren't storing output pin properties, causing spurious diffs in AWJ files

• Fixed issue with saving AWJ where default values of clockDivider were not being stored, even if required

• Saving updated RUS's that have User Inspectors will now store module variables correctly

• Fixed bug when deleting feedback wires that was causing build failures

• Cleared feedback wire status from modules when copy / pasting to avoid build errors

• Fixed system test errors for modules connected to feedback wires

• Updated to correctly fail builds if output pin does not have a clockDivider of 1

• Fixed issue with layout variables where module arguments were being overwritten with defaults

• Fixed syntax error in scripts generated from generate_mfile.m

• Removed an unnecessary error message when clicking on module classes in Layout Properties menu

• Removed obsolete SMP module from Designer

AWE Designer 8.D.1.3

2023-JULY-21

Enhancements

• Improved functionality of the Advanced menu in Sink inspectors

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue in User Inspector Controls not honoring array element accesses

• Interpreted modules now support passing multiple input arguments to preBuild and postBuild functions

• Fixed problem where custom functions assigned in Interpreted Modules were not being correctly assigned if they did not have spaces around equal sign

• Fixed system test failure for ParamSet

• Fixed issue with reverting RUS to subsystem not restoring canvas size

• Renaming a CRUS that contains custom ObjectID's no longer causes layout build failures

• Added missing module names to missing module error message when using AWJ

• Fixed file validation logic in get_gsys to allow passing in AWJ files

• Fixed issue where Debug modules could be excluded from AWS file when generated in Debug mode

• Corrected manual profiling tool to use the layout's instance ID instead of 0

• Fixed issue loading arrays from .csv's with an extra trailing comma

• Designer Layout Properties menu now includes virtual modules in total module count

• Ensuring that Peak Profiling tool does not plot extraneous zeros at the end of profiling

• Fixed an issue with using SPI tuning interface with multi-instance target

• Fixed AWE Server crash if switching instances but the target is disconnected

• Removing unnecessary redraws when scrolling horizontally

• Setting Debug Status is now disabled in protected subsystems

• Improved error message clarity for frequency response computation with no markers

• Fixed issue with propagating channel names across subsystems

AWE Designer 8.D.1.2

2023-JUNE-2

Enhancements

• Will now detect if an input WAV file is missing before building the layout

• Improved robustness and usability of layout variables

• Updated taskbar icons for Designer and AWE_Server applications

• Now allowed to replace a RUS that has the same name as an existing module

• Improved notification to user when overwriting a CRUS

• Removed 'subsystem' tag from default module search list for new RUS/CRUS

• Removed unneeded information from AWJ files to make file size smaller

• Column names for arrays in the module properties panel will now show associated channel names when appropriate

• Added multiple sections and improved clarity to DocHub Designer documentation

Bug Fixes

• Source modules will now correctly inherit clockDivider from subsystem pins

• ModuleList.h files for layouts with CRUS will now include all necessary module classes

• Fixed issue with clashing objectId's and unsaved inspector values when using multiple of the same CRUS

• Sharing a CRUS with a user inspector will now work on any machine

• Deleting a CRUS will now delete all relevant files

• Added missing header files to installer to allow custom module creators to successfully compile

• Fixed issue where modules would lose debug status if a module argument was changed

• Changing arguments of a module will now result in the proper default values for new variables and arrays

• Corrected how module variable steps are handled if they are beyond the allowable variable range

• Now safely handling NaNs when entered in module variable values in the module properties window

• Inspector values will no longer be corrupted if they are opened multiple times

• Copying modules beyond the size of the canvas will no longer corrupt the canvas size

• Corrected position of layout name on the canvas

• Fixed awe_designer script so it no longer opens an unresponsive window if passing in an AWD

AWE Designer 8.D.1.1

2023-FEBRUARY-15

Enhancements

• Improved error message clarity when modules are not found in an AWD

• The Instance drop-down list on the canvas now correctly populates based on the connected multi-instance target when an AWD is opened

Bug Fixes

• Fixed forward compatibility issue with loading AWJs

• Fixed an issue with loading AWD's with subsystem modules set to Debug runtime status

• Loading an AWD now restores all Subsystem module variable values

• Fixed a possible crash related to the module alignment feature on canvas

• Fixed a possible crash when using an .ini file with invalid characters or sections

• Enabled the Permissions -> Allow Tuning feature on the right-click menu for Subsystems

• When in tuning mode, the Paste Settings option now sends updated values to the target

• Fixed invalid heap memory values for profiling results on multi-instance targets

• Audio Start/Stop commands sent from AWE Server now support multi-instance targets

• Deleting paramSet will now remove the "controlled by" variable element on the canvas

• Router module now allows adjustments to the number of output channels

• Fixed an issue with the BufferSourceInt32 array input being inappropriately rounded for large numbers

• Image Inspector now correctly loads file paths that have been manually entered

• Added header file to Pro installer to allow users to compile a subsystem module with flattenOnBuild=0

• Corrected the default handling of complex data for modules while in Bypass mode

• The Update Property feature now works for subsystem modules

• Fixed VS projects included for the Example module pack

• Fixed a bug that was ignoring case of module names and preventing wiring of modules

• Fixed a problem with Postbuild ignoring modules marked for debug when built for release

• The channel name defined inside a subsystem is no longer overwritten by the input channel name

AWE Designer 8.C.2.7

2022-DECEMBER-05

New Feature

• New Compiled Reusable Subsystems (CRUS) feature provides IP protection for shareable modules by compiling subsystem contents into AWB format

Enhancements

• New DSP Concepts logos implemented in the AWE Designer platform

• Native target's fundamental block size can now be set by the user in AWE_Server.ini

• Improvements to the Creating a User Inspector and Reusable Subsystems (RUS) sections of the AWE Designer User Guide

• Module size is automatically reduced when the number of input pins is reduced

• Module pin information is now saved in AWD files

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue in the Designer canvas instance dropdown that prevented using more than 7 instances

• Fixed an intermittent crash in Table module inspectors

• Convert to Subsystem feature now creates pins in the order of the module positions on the canvas

• Removed spurious error message from MATLAB console while using Convert to Subsystem feature

• Fixed an issue with renaming subsystem pins

• User Inspector Panels no longer change to a debug state when the subsystem is changed to debug

• Updated AWJ's to save subsystem canvas size

• Corrected the order in which coefficients are loaded from AWD's to fix an issue with Hilbert module and other subsystems

• Corrected a problem with source modules not inheriting clockDividers correctly when copied from other layouts

• Fixed a problem preventing the creation of feedback wires from arbitrary wires

• Error dialogs no longer cut off text underneath the scroll bar

• Fixed an issue with deleting or showing help for RUS in Standard and STMicro editions of Designer

• Fixed an issue while creating RUS with object ID's assigned to subsystem modules

• Corrected the implementation and usage of complex range input pins

• Fixed generate_mfile MATLAB script script to support subsystems with layout variables

• Fixed set_feedback_pinType MATLAB script to actually set the feedback type of the pin

AWE Designer 8.C.2.6

2022-SEPTEMBER-21

New Feature

• Reusable Subsystems (RUS) can now be deleted using the right-click menu from within the module browser

Enhancements

• Layout loading times have been improved by avoiding redundant operations

• Flash File System maximum filename length increased to 56 chars

• Invalid variable mask values (greater than 24) are no longer generated in ControlInterface.h files

• Sink Properties modules have been updated to avoid warnings when rounding the sample rate

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue that prevented some wav files from being fully processed

• Fixed frequency domain plotting resolution of log x-axis in Sink Inspector

AWE Designer 8.C.2.5.A

2022-JULY-21

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue with coefficients not loading if array size is larger than default

• Improved robustness of startup code to avoid crashes with corrupted persisted settings

• Fixed custom inspectors so that they properly save and load settings

• Fixed problem with missing modules in a layout not being fully deleted

AWE Designer 8.C.2.5

2022-JULY-05

New Features

• New Reusable Subsystem (RUS) feature can be used to generate shareable and portable subsystems using native Audio Weaver modules

• New Interpreted Modules can be used to share custom made Audio Weaver modules with users of Standard Designer

Enhancements

• Extended AWE Server USB proxy supports targets with more than one USB HID endpoint

• Updated Module User's Guide to explain building of custom modules in Visual Studio in x86 mode

• Improved error message when using Layout Variables with module variables instead of module arguments

• Extended layout compile timeout to support very large layouts

• Added more .awd example files to Examples/Module Usage

• Results in Designer's profiling window are now cleared between RT and Manual Profiling runs
  AWD Example folder is now the default initial path when opening AWDs from the File menu

• Feedback wire error now highlights module causing error

• Profiling results now show the channel count of each module

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue where updated module paths were not persisting in Standard edition of Designer

• Extended default timeout for flash erase commands sent to target to allow for long erase times

• Fixed issue loading .awj files that contain measurement plots

• Fixed issue where subsystems with Release modules were improperly marked as Debug and failed to build

• Open All option on subsystems tab menu now works fully in runtime mode

• Improved the robustness of AWE Server's audio device detection and loading to avoid crashes at startup

• The search bar in Designer no longer searches through subsystem modules

• Fixed possible audio glitch when using multi-rate modules and the buffer pool wire memory algorithm (beta)

• Prevented users from changing protected subsystems and layouts by using keyboard shortcuts

• Updated MATLAB scripts to more robustly detect if the target has floating point or fixed point modules

AWE Designer 8.C.2.4

2022-MAY-12

Enhancements

• Native target updated to prevent audio processing from being interrupted by lower priority AWE tasks

• Improved error reporting when surpassing the maximum number of channels on a wire

• Updated profile_all_modulelibsto accept arbitrary block size (RT685 & Hexagon)

• Changed default .csv names for module testing outputs for clarity

• Improved formatting and clarity of saved .csv for peak profiling tool

• Improved presentation of the Native audio preferences GUI

• Improved module spacing and distribution capabilities in Designer

• Validated Windows 11 compatibility

Bug Fixes (Modules)

• Corrected build error when ParamSet modules are set to debug

• All source modules now have empty clock divider when first created

• Fixed error checking for modules to prevent building with input pins of differing sizes

Bug Fixes (Canvas)

• Module variable values shown on canvas will now update when modified by User Inspectors

• Feedback wire with inherited properties now succeeds without subsystem input pins

• Changes to Layout Properties now prompt user to save layout

Bug Fixes (General)

• AWJ files with empty subsystems now load successfully

• Fixed failure for PFID_GetExtendedInfo when using SPI Tuning Interface

• Fixed capitalization typo for AWECore header file in generated ModuleList.h files

• Addressed issue with "Record File Name" textbox field in Layout Properties menu not always being editable

AWE Designer 8.C.2.3.A

2022-APRIL-15

New Feature

• Removed Reusable Subsystem feature to allow for future incompatible improvements

AWE Designer 8.C.2.3

2022-APRIL-6

New Features

• AWE_Server Preferences menu added to expose common settings and options

• Comm timeouts can now be specified in the Connect to Target menu in AWE_Server

• Created Fract32 version of test_comm_speed

• Added ability to select individual modules in system test menu

• Added Version field to AWJ file

Enhancements

• Improved speed of accessing module variables, resulting in faster layout build times

• Improved and fixed issues with precision of floating-point numbers in Designer

• Improved documentation of help file generation for reusable subsystems

• Improved error message when two module libraries have a duplicate ClassName

• Improved error message for non-existent layout variables

• Improved error messages for User Inspector Controls with invalid modVar values

Bug Fixes (General)

• The AWD file name no longer overwrites the record file path in the Designer Layout Properties menu

• Ctrl-S shortcut functions properly while module inspector window is focused

• Tuning Interface Test tool no longer causes Designer to freeze on failure

• Fixed bug in feedback wires preventing previously saved AWD's from loading

• Enabled renaming unconnected subsystem pins

• Fixed issue with loading newly saved AWD's with subsystem modules in older versions of Designer

• No longer calling prebuild when a variable is changed while the layout is running

• Designer no longer freezes when running layout while module array has unapplied changes

• AWJ files properly store measurement values

• AWJ files with corrupted or invalid format display a useful error dialog

• Multiline error windows will now have a scroll bar

• Corrected baud rate setting for SPI proxies in AWE_Server

Bug Fixes (Interface)

• "Edit accumulated delay" value is no longer obscured by vertical scroll bar

• Disabled the "Use Audio file input" Manual Profiling option on embedded targets without a filesystem

• Designer properly filters module browser on Multi-Instance targets

• User Inspector Control correctly displays "controlled by" on canvas

• Fixed flickering behavior of User Inspector Controls

• Property view populated for User Inspector Control after navigating into subsystem

• Opening a module inspector no longer closes the module property window

• Help file is accessible in right click menu for reusable subsystem modules (RUS)

• Dragging and dropping of a RUS onto an existing module in the module palette other than a RUS is no longer permitted

• Enabled modifying values in "Array" tab of "Module Properties" when layout is protected

• Space before = in String Annotations no longer gets deleted

• Sink inspector successfully draws when in a subsystem and a member of an inspector group

Bug Fixes (Modules)

• "Convert to Subsystem" on a subsystem with feedback wire completes without Designer freezing

• Feedback wires propagate new thread ID info

• Fixed buffer pool error for isolated modules with feedback wires

• Feedback wire initial values propagate properly

• Edit box User Inspector Control is usable with Wave File Sink modules

• Fixed Meter User Inspector Control mapping property

• Fixed User Inspector Controls attached to debug modules in release build causing Matlab errors

• Creating User Inspector Control from a Sink module functions properly

• Knob User Inspector Control properly handles step size with respect to max/min values

• Sink inspector no longer displays signal at fixed sample rate of 48 kHz

• Fixed and improved TableInterp and TableInterpXY modules

• Designer no longer displays clockDivider in Wire Info box

• Fixed issue preventing use of MeasurementV2 module inspector

AWE Designer 8.C.2.2

2022-JANUARY-7

New Features

• New support for multiple sublayouts with the same clock divider to be generated in Designer, using BufferUp/Down V2 modules

• Memory usage for each module and subsystem now shown on the canvas

• New AWJ text based (json) file format can now be used to save Audio Weaver layouts

• clockDivider is now a string instead of an integer in the Property Sheet

• Modules controlled by a User Inspector Controls are now shown with dashed outlines

• HTML doc files for reusable subsystems now have some fields automatically filled in

Enhancements

• Internal updates significantly improve layout build times

• Search bar in Designer will now return results for all subsystems in layout, not just opened subsystems

• Closing MATLAB dialog now always returns topmost window back to Designer

• The module property view is no longer closed when Running or Halting a layout

• Module Tests results now show full hierarchical names for subsystems

• Allowed Ctrl-S shortcut to work while modifying inspector dialogs

• Improved help documentation for awe_module/process.m

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where array variables could be truncated when opening unbuildable system

• Fixed bug in installer scripts that was preventing VS2010 redistributables from installing correctly

• Corrected CPU overflow detection for the Native target

• Fixed behavior where second instance of Designer was blocked after closing modal MATLAB window in first instance

• Fixed issue with "Record File Name" text box not updating when auto-increment/specify is changed

• Disabled custom module creator wizard menu in unsupportable Standard edition

• profile_all_modulelibs script will now run even if Profiling folder does not already exist

• Corrected display of grouping containers in Layout Properties dialog

• Fixed bug where some modifications to the layout did not mark the system as 'dirty'

• Sink inspector in subsystem now properly persists settings

• Now properly persisting channel checkboxes in Sink Inspector

• Control module count now correctly accounts for Subsystem Inspectors

• Inspector groups now respect a module's "Allow Tuning" setting

• Fixed undo and redo behavior for Convert to Subsystem feature

• Fixed issue with Convert to Subsystem failing in MATLAB 2017b only

• Accumulated delay now updates correctly in empty_subsystem module

• Show Channel Names option no longer resets when navigating into subsystems

• Fixed bug with channel names not fully propagating through subsystems

• No longer rounding integer array values to 7 digits. Full 32 resolution now supported

• Default clockDivider for source modules is now correctly

• Fixed bug that did not allow module arguments to be the empty string

• Fixed Vertical Alignment and Multiline options combo in canvas text box