SparkFun
SparkFun Music Instrument Shield
Do you ever wish your Arduino was more musically talented? Or maybe your project could use some cool sound effects. The SparkFun Musical Instrument Shield is...
Do you ever wish your Arduino was more musically talented? Or maybe your project could use some cool sound effects. The SparkFun Musical Instrument Shield is an easy way to add great sounding MIDI sound to your next Arduino project. This board is built around the VS1053 MP3 and MIDI codec IC, wired in MIDI mode. Simply connect a speaker/stereo/pair of headphones to the 1/8" stereo jack on the shied and pass the proper serial commands to the IC and you’ll be playing music in no time!
The VS1053 contains two large tonebanks including various piano, woodwinds, brass, synth, SFX and percussion sounds. The shield is also capable of playing several tones simultaneously (maximum polyphony of up to 31 sounds!). Take a look at our example code to get an idea of how easy it is to add musical zest to your next Arduino gadget.
In this version, we’re using a better regulator, corrected the speaker connectors, and have the reset pin pulled high. We’ve also included solder jumpers for pin 3 and 4 so they’re selectable.
Documents:
- Schematic
- Eagle Files
- Quickstart Guide
- Example Code
- Datasheet (VS1053)
- Illumitune Project (tutorial) (video)
- GitHub
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
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Audio & Video
Brands
Music Instrument Shield Schematic
Schematic · 53.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
VS1053 Datasheet
Datasheet · 695.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 649.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
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Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
