next topic »

[on:]

Hi everybody!
I have to build a prototype for my thesis I've never used Arduino before, so I'd like to know if what I wanna build is possible for one with no experience, and what I need to buy as pieces of hardware.
The thing it's pretty simple: I've 6 buttons, and I need to link each button to an audio file previously stored in the memory.
So it's like:
press button 1 -> MP3 1 plays
press button 2 -> MP3 2 plays (and hopefully MP3 1 stops)
ecc..

I'd also need to have the ability to easly change the MP3 stored.

Any suggestion where to start? thanks

[Reply #1 on:]

To play an MP3 file you need to buy an MP3 shield. The arduino has not got enough memory or processing power to decode an MP3 file.

Does it have to be MP3, what about a WAV file? A sound shield from Lady Ada will do that and it is much cheaper.

[Reply #2 on:]

Thanks for the reply! It doesn't need to be an MP3 at all cost...I can convert the audio files easly! so yeah, cheap is good

[Reply #3 on:]

You could have the arduino control what is played from a card like this

http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_53&products_id=284

[Reply #4 on:]

That looks an interesting card, the one from AdaFruit also has the audio amplifier, volume control and speaker but maybe he needs to have a more powerful one.

http://www.adafruit.com/products/94

[Reply #5 on:]

You could have the arduino control what is played from a card like this

http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_53&products_id=284

Thanks for the tip!

That looks an interesting card, the one from AdaFruit also has the audio amplifier, volume control and speaker but maybe he needs to have a more powerful one.

http://www.adafruit.com/products/94

Thanks! I don't know precisely how much power I do need...but I need to fit everything inside a cube 15cm x 15cm, and it needs to be heard

I've also found this shield, any opinion? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9715

Another little question, should I buy an Arduino UNO starter kit + one of those shields, or just arduino UNO + shield? (recall that I've never used this before..so I guess I should go with the starter kit).

thanks,
Alessandro

[Reply #6 on:]

I've also found this shield, any opinion? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9715

Well it says on the page:-

This product has been retired from our catalog and is no longer for sale.
This page is made available for those looking for datasheets and the simply curious. Please refer to the description to see if a replacement part is available.

So I guess it is not an option.
I would go with the starter kit and do some tutorials to get yourself used to the whole system before delving in to your project.

[Reply #7 on:]

You may also want to look into some type of Amplifier.

I don't have much experience here, but from what I've seen of Arduinos playing music, the volume maybe quite low.

[Reply #8 on:]

I've used this one with the arduino and its fairly straight forward and worked like a charm. 

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11029

You might also read up on it's implementation here: http://notlaura.com/slam-man-3000-mp3-trigger-v2-arduino-uno-n00b/