Thanks for the heads up Yagami...
I have 2 choices I guess
Keep on current path and change some register settings and no other changes required...
DSP1 OUT:
To DSP2
CH 0-2 TDM4
CH 4- Disabled
To DSP3
CH 5-7 TDM4
CH 8 Disabled
The rest of the setting from DSP2 to DSP3 will remain the same with the exception of changing from TDM4 to TDM2 ( 8CH )
This would let me maximise the use of each DSP:
DSP1 Out -> DSP1-12Ch + DSP2-12Ch )
DSP2 Out -> DAC1-16Ch + DSP2-8Ch )
DSP3 Out -> DAC2-16Ch + DSP1-8Ch )
These changes are not going to affect schematic in any way and can be easily implemented in Sigma Studio.
If I do have to go to ADAU1452 i would have to redesign the whole board and one way or another start from scratch. Yes, granted the 1452 has more "muscle" but as you mentioned yourself its quite limited in the I/O section but it does however have better SNR.
I have keep track of the fact that that even as a Single DSP the ADAU1442/5/6 is quite capable and by no means is no slouch at 180 Mhz and keeping in mind that there is 3 DSPs not one.
In this configuration I can still accomplish a lot of instructions.
What's worse case and scenario ??
I split up my processing across 3 DSP's equally.
Yes the 1452 is the new tough kid on the block but in one way or another I'm employing serial processing and can easily match if not beat the throughput of a single 1452.
When I started this project the goal was quite simple:
Offer a powerful multi channel DSP solution with integrated DAC for the DIY community.
With that being said, I want to keep the the whole assembly process DIY friendly so anyone with a very little or no previous SMD experience can assemble these boards with basic tools ( and by that I mean NO Hot Air Stations or re-flow ovens just a basic temperature controlled soldering station ).
The code is going to be simple and easily generated by anyone thanks to Sigma Studio and control over I2C can be achieved with any combination of hardware ( Arduino, BeagleBone, RasberryPie or any other microcontroler far that matter )
Flexibility from these DSP's is still unmatched and its hard for me to justify to scrap everything ( Starting with the schematic to the PCB and its layout, which I'm very close on completing now ).
IF the gains would have been on a magnitude where the performance was 10X or more, then yes I would have just started from scratch. At this point and time its hard to justify this. Maybe when the Gen5 or Gen6 DSP chips arrive 