Pull string bump switch for AudioFX Soundboard

[Alexh82920256]

New to electronics, playing with a DIY project..

Looking to build a pull string activated Soundboard (think Woody from Toy Story). I want to include seven individual phrases, that will play independently from one another each time the pull string is triggered. The Audio FX Mini Soundboard looks like it could work, but I have to engineer a bump switch mechanism to activate the audio file when the string is pulled.

Ideally this will be powered by 3x 1.5v battery and fit within a compact 3D printed housing unit (approx 3”x2”x1.5”).

Hoping someone can explain the best way to put this together and the components needed.

I have found projects on the web where people have made what I am trying to accomplish but none will share their design.

Thanks for your time!
Alex

[Alexh82920256]

Images from the web on similar projects

[Alexh82920256]

Another image

[Alexh82920256]

Housing unit

[adafruit_support_bill]

Can you open up the string retraction mechanism?
If you can get access to the reel that winds up the string, you could use an IR reflective sensor or a hall sensor to detect when the reel is rotated and use that as a trigger.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3930
https://www.adafruit.com/product/158