Adafruit
Adafruit Music Maker MP3 Shield for Arduino w/3W Stereo Amp [v1.0]
The Adafruit Music Maker MP3 Shield with 3W Stereo Amp turns any Arduino into a powerful audio player, recorder, and MIDI synthesiser — with built-in amplifi...
The Adafruit Music Maker MP3 Shield with 3W Stereo Amp turns any Arduino into a powerful audio player, recorder, and MIDI synthesiser — with built-in amplification for driving speakers directly. Powered by the VS1053B codec chip, it decodes MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, FLAC, WAV, and MIDI formats, and can also record audio in PCM (WAV) or compressed Ogg Vorbis.
This version includes an on-board 3 W per channel Class D stereo amplifier (TPA2012) that drives 4 or 8 ohm speakers — ideal for projects that need to be loud without external amplification. Volume control is handled digitally by the VS1053 chip. Also available without the amplifier as the Music Maker MP3 Shield (line/headphone output only).
Key Features
- VS1053B Codec – Decodes MP3, MP4/AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, FLAC, WAV (PCM/ADPCM), MIDI; encodes Ogg and WAV
- 3 W Stereo Amplifier – Built-in TPA2012 Class D amp drives 4–8 Ω speakers directly
- MicroSD Card Slot – Plays from any FAT16/FAT32 card (64 MB or larger)
- Stereo Line/Headphone Output – With filter caps and ground reference
- Built-In MIDI Synth – Dozens of instrument and drum sounds via 31,250 baud MIDI
- Digital Audio Controls – Adjustable bass, treble, and volume
- 7 Extra GPIOs – Read buttons or drive LEDs through the Arduino library
- Full Level Shifting – 3.3 V / 5 V for both SD and codec chips
- Recording Capable – Microphone input breakout for audio capture
Compatibility
- Arduino UNO, Leonardo, and Mega
Ideal For
- Loud audio playback without external amplification
- Portable speaker projects and boomboxes
- Interactive exhibits and talking props
- MIDI synthesiser and drum machine builds
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit Music Maker MP3 Shield with 3W Stereo Amp (assembled and tested)
- 2× 2-pin terminal blocks
- 1× 0.1" male header strip
- 1× 2×3 female header (ICSP)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- baud
- Baud is the signalling rate of a serial connection, often used as the speed setting for UART communication. Matching the baud rate matters because both connected devices must use the same setting for readable data.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- microSD card
- A microSD card is a small removable memory card used to store files such as audio tracks. For this product, the card is where the sound files live, so its capacity and formatting can affect how many sounds you can use.
- MIDI
- MIDI is a standard way for electronic instruments, controllers, and software to send musical control messages such as notes, velocity, and timing. If a board supports MIDI, it can be triggered from keyboards, drum pads, sequencers, or other music gear rather than only from buttons or code.
- Shield
- An add-on board that plugs into a main controller board to give it extra features such as sensing, motor control or communication. Knowing a product supports shields helps you judge whether it can connect neatly into an existing maker-board setup.
Find this product in
Audio & Video
Brands
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
