I just finished designing a new version of my PIC chip-based audio module. This version uses the PIC 16F883 microcontroller with an ISD 1420 audio recording/playback chip. It’s always so exciting to design a PCB then have the shiny manufactured boards arrive! This version has been redesigned to use the PICKIT2 for both programming the chip in-circuit, and also for serial communication back to the PC which allows me to simplify the board and eliminate the RS232-TTL converter IC from the design.