The Cryptography Playbook
A2³'s security focuses on data integrity, user privacy, and the unique State-Locked Encryption for sensitive payloads, not traditional content DRM.
The Hardware Foundation
Core Board
Cortex-A53 CPU with 64 MB DDR RAM and a 24-bit DAC/ADC for high-fidelity audio.
Secure Element
ATECC608B provides a hardware root of trust for key storage and cryptographic operations.
I/O
USB-C (Audio/MIDI), 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O, BLE-MIDI/RTP, and ⅛″ TRS balanced aux-in.
Chassis
Deposit-refundable aluminium shell or a 3D-printable eco-shell for sustainability.
Isolated Firmware Architecture
Audio-OS
Real-time JACK audio server, Beat-Map DSP (<10ms latency), and stem multiplexing.
Crypto-OS
Handles all FIPS routines, the SLE key ladder, and the multi-sig vault operations. Isolated from audio.
Live-OS
Manages hot-plug drivers, MCP-Lite control surfaces, and the VST/OSC bridge for stage use.
Core Security Primitives
Secure Boot & Reproducible Builds
The device ensures firmware integrity from boot-up using cryptographic signatures. All firmware builds are reproducible, allowing anyone to verify that the official code matches the binary running on their device, with SHA-256 hashes published for pinning.
State-Locked Encryption (SLE)
The cornerstone of A2³'s security. It generates ephemeral encryption keys from a user's live biometric data (like HRV/GSR), making decryption impossible without the user being present and in a similar physiological state.
Social-Recovery Quorum
To prevent gatekeeper lock-out, users can designate a trusted group (e.g., 3 of 5 friends or other devices). This N-of-M quorum can collectively authorize access recovery, ensuring no single actor (not even the user) is a single point of failure.
State-Locked Encryption (SLE) Flow
SLE generates a one-time decryption key from the user's live physiological state. This key exists only in RAM and is zeroised after use, making it impossible to extract or brute-force. This is for securing any payload, from sensitive documents to unique artistic parameters.
Access Control: What They See
| Scenario | Pirate / Hacker Sees | Owner Sees |
|---|---|---|
| Device is Lost/Stolen | Encrypted, unreadable data blob. | Can recover access via social quorum. |
| Payload is Intercepted | AES-GCM encrypted ciphertext. | Secure transfer, owner decrypts on device. |
| Owner is Coerced (Torture) | Incorrect physiology fails to generate key. | Payload remains locked and secure. |