User guide

August 2001 5
Reviewing the Key System Components
Digital Signal Processor
The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is a microprocessor
dedicated to manipulating digital signals. Each DSP supports
four voice processing (VP) resources, also referred to as
channels. A board such as the RDSP/432, which provides two or
four VP resources, has only one DSP. A board such as the
VRS-32, which provides 32 VP resources, has eight DSPs.
Firmware
The firmware is a set of algorithms that run on the DSP. The
firmware provides voice processing features such as tone
detection and generation, file compression and expansion, pulse
detection, and playback speed and volume control. The
firmware algorithms operate simultaneously but independently
of each other, allowing boards to perform multiple functions.
You download firmware to the DSP when you load the drivers.