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Getting Started with ReSpeaker Lite

Introduction​

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Get One Now 🖱️

Powered by XMOS XU316 AI Sound and Audio chipset, this dev board excels in audio processing with its integrated dual microphone array, ideal for speech recognition and voice control. Featuring advanced onboard audio front-end algorithms, the XU316 chip provides interference cancellation, echo cancellation, and noise suppression. It supports I2S and USB connections and is compatible with Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 (Sense), Adafruit QT Py, Raspberry Pi, and PC.

Features​

  • Dual Microphone Array for Far-Field Voice Capture: The 2 high performance digital microphones capture and extract far-field speech and voice (up to 3 meters) even in noisy environments as it cancels point noise using two microphone input.
  • Onboard AI ASR Algorithms: Powered by XMOS XU-316 AI sound and audio chip, the kit includes Natural Language Understanding algorithms for Interference Cancellation (IC) , Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Noise Suppression, Voice-to-Noise Ratio (VNR), and Automatic Gain Control (AGC), enabling high quality voice capture.
  • Embracing Open Source：This board is compatible with popular hardware platforms (XIAO ESP32S3 (Sense), Adafruit QT Py) via I2S, and compatible with Raspberry Pi, PC via USB (Audio Class 2.0 (UAC2)).
  • Onboard RGB LED: the board features a programmable WS2812 RGB LED, supporting custom effects and offering a visual interface for your applications.
  • External Power Supply Support: this board supports external 5V power supply, which can be flexibly applied in different scenarios.
  • DFU for Custom Development: the board supports custom firmware update via DFU-Util.

Specification​

Core ChipXMOS XU316
Digital MicrophonesHigh-Performance Digital Microphones * 2
Sensitivity-26 dBFS
Acoustic Overload Point120 dBL
SNR64 dBA
Power SupplyUSB 5V, External 5V
Dimensions35*86 mm
Audio OutputSpeaker Connector / 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Maximum Sampling Rate16Khz
SpeakerSupports 5W Amplifier Speakers.

Hardware Overview​

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Pin Out​

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1Dual Microphone ArrayProvides high-quality audio input.
2Power Indicator LightIlluminates when powered on.
3RGB LightProgrammable WS2812, provides visual interface
4Mute Indicator LightLights up red when the mute button is pressed.
5USR ButtonUser-defined button.
6Mute ButtonMutes audio input when pressed.
7XIAO ESP32S3 (optional)For further development and integration.
8XU316 Core ProcessorResponsible for audio processing and transmission.
9External Power Supply Solder PadSupports external 5V power supply.
10USB Type-C PortUsed for power and data transmission.
11Speaker ConnectorFor audio output. Supports 5W amplifier speakers.
123.5mm Headphone jackOutput audio, We can plug active speakers or Headphones into this port.
13External power pad 1Unused IO pins on the XIAO ESP32.
14External power pad 2Unused IO pins on the XU316.
15JTAGFor debugging and programming the XU316.

Get Started​

Out of Box Usage​

ReSpeaker Lite is a plug-and-play modular voice interface, no driver required, just plug it to your PC, you will see a voice device named 'ReSpeaker Lite'.

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Update firmware​

Firmware Download​

note

There are 2 versions for the ReSpeaker Lite board:

To use it as a USB sound device, please flash the USB version firmware(default firmware).

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To use it with XIAO ESP32S3, please flash the I2S version firmware.

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Wiring​

Connect the ReSpeaker Lite Board to your PC via the USB cable.

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Install DFU Util​

dfu-util is a command line tool for Device Firmware Upgrade via USB port.

  • Download dfu-util-0.11-binaries.tar.xz and extract it to your local system, e.g., D:\

  • Change directory to the dfu-util.exe
    e.g., D:\dfu-util-0.11-binaries\win64(if you are using win32, please change win64 to win32)

  • Append the path of the dfu-util.exe to the system environment variable Path: My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables > Path.
    Please note that paths in the variable Path are seperated by semicolon ;. This will allow dfu-util to be executed globally in command prompt.

  • Open the start menu and type cmd. Press the enter key. In the terminal that comes up, check if dfu-util.exe path is set with dfu-util -V command:

C:\Users\yiping>dfu-util -V
dfu-util 0.11

Copyright 2005-2009 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2021 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to http://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/tickets/
  • Run dfu-util -l to check if ReSpeaker Lite is detected: 
C:\Users\yiping>dfu-util -l
dfu-util 0.11

Copyright 2005-2009 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2021 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to http://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/tickets/

Found DFU: [2886:0019] ver=0205, devnum=9, cfg=1, intf=0, path="1-1.4.1", alt=2, name="DFU DATAPARTITION", serial="0000000001"
Found DFU: [2886:0019] ver=0205, devnum=9, cfg=1, intf=0, path="1-1.4.1", alt=1, name="DFU UPGRADE", serial="0000000001"
Found DFU: [2886:0019] ver=0205, devnum=9, cfg=1, intf=0, path="1-1.4.1", alt=0, name="DFU FACTORY", serial="0000000001"
tip

If you get a "Cannot open DFU device" error like this, please keep following this step. If not, please go to Step 3 to flash firmware.

C:\Users\yiping>dfu-util -l
dfu-util 0.11

Copyright 2005-2009 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2021 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to http://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/tickets/

Cannot open DFU device 2886:0019 found on devnum 9 (LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED)

  • Install Zadig and open it. Click Options -> List All Devices.

  • Find ReSpeaker 2 Mics Array or ReSpeaker Lite or DFU FACTORY (Interface 3) from the device list, install WINUSB v6.x.xxxx.xxxxx driver.

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  • After installation is completed(that will take a few minutes), please do power-cycle and run dfu-util -l again, ReSpeaker Lite should be detected right now

Flash Firmware​

  • Connect the ReSpeaker board to your PC.
  • Run the following command dfu-util -R -e -a 1 -D /path/to/dfu_firmware.bin:
    • On Linux please run sudo dfu-util -R -e -a 1 -D /path/to/dfu_firmware.bin
C:\Users\yiping>dfu-util -R -e -a 1 -D D:\Downloads\respeaker_lite_i2s_dfu_firmware_v1.0.7.bin
dfu-util 0.11

Copyright 2005-2009 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2021 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to http://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/tickets/

Warning: Invalid DFU suffix signature
A valid DFU suffix will be required in a future dfu-util release
Opening DFU capable USB device...
Device ID 2886:0019
Device DFU version 0101
Claiming USB DFU Interface...
Setting Alternate Interface #1 ...
Determining device status...
DFU state(2) = dfuIDLE, status(0) = No error condition is present
DFU mode device DFU version 0101
Device returned transfer size 4096
Copying data from PC to DFU device
Download        [=========================] 100%       270336 bytes
Download done.
DFU state(7) = dfuMANIFEST, status(0) = No error condition is present
DFU state(2) = dfuIDLE, status(0) = No error condition is present
Done!
Resetting USB to switch back to Run-Time mode
caution

After flashing is completed, please restart the board.

  • Check the firmware version:
dfu-util -l

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Comparison​

ReSpeaker LiteReSpeaker Mic Array v2.0reSpeaker 2-Mics Pi HAT

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Core Chip

XMOS XU316

XMOS XVF-3000

-

Microphones

PDM MEMS Microphones x2

PDM MEMS Microphones x4

Analog MEMS Microphones x2

Voice Capture Distance

3m

5m

3m

Sensitivity

-26 dBFS

-26 dBFS

-

Acoustic Overload Point

120 dBSPL

120 dBSPL

-

SNR

64 dB

63 dB

-

Onboard Audio Processing Algorithms

  • Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)
  • Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
  • Noise Suppression (NS)
  • Interference Cancellation (IC)
  • Voice-to-Noise Ratio (VNR)
  • Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)
  • Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
  • Noise Suppression (NS)
  • Beamforming
  • Direction of Arrival (DoA)
  • De-Reverberation
  • Voice Activity Detection (VAD)

-

Compatible Hardware

  • XIAO ESP32S3(Sense)
  • Adafruit QT Py via I2S
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Any computer or SBC running Linux, macOS, and Windows via USB
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Any computer or SBC running Linux, macOS, and Windows via USB
Raspberry Pi ONLY

Perfect for

Directional sound capture, ideal for linear or elongated setupsOmnidirectional sound capture and localization, best placed in the center of open and multi-directional environmentsDirectional sound capture, ideal for linear or elongated setups

FAQ​

  • Can't find the ReSpeaker Lite sound device.

    Check the firmware version, make sure the firmware is USB version and above2.0.5.

    dfu-util -l

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    If it's not USB version, please follow this step to flash the firmware.

  • Can't detect ReSpeaker Lite USB sound device on Windows after flashing USB firmware?

  • Open the start menu and type Device manager. Press the enter key. Find ReSpeaker Lite device, right click it and select Uninstall device. Select Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall. After that, restart the device and Windows will re-install the right sound card driver for it.

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Resource​

ReSpeaker Lite XMOS Firmware

ReSpeaker Lite Github

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