I think the Audio FX Sound Board may be just what the doctor ordered for my project but I've never done anything like this before and have a few questions:
The Board "just needs a 3 to 5.5VDC battery" Is this something you guys sell? And how long will such a battery power the Board? I'm installing the push button player with a ten minute piece of audio in a fairly busy location for roughly twelve weeks - can I expect that battery to last the duration? Is there any other way to supply power?
How is volume controlled on playback to headphones?
What sort of button do I need to activate the board, and is that something you sell?
Can you offer any advice about how the board should be enclosed?
Thanks
Audio FX Sound Board questions
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_rick
- Posts: 35092
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
The biggest battery we have is this one:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/353
Or one of these:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1566
But those aren't going to last 12 weeks. Your best bet might be a car battery and a buck converter:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1385
Even a car battery won't last that long if you are also powering an amplifier. Depends on what the demand is. You might need two car batteries in parallel.
There are two volume pins on the board:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1385
You can use any type of momentary switch to activate the sounds. All you are doing is connecting a GPIO pin to ground momentarily. We have several different styles of momentary buttons. I'd need to know more about your application to recommend one.
Ditto for the enclosure. I don't know what your requirements are.
https://www.adafruit.com/products/353
Or one of these:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1566
But those aren't going to last 12 weeks. Your best bet might be a car battery and a buck converter:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1385
Even a car battery won't last that long if you are also powering an amplifier. Depends on what the demand is. You might need two car batteries in parallel.
There are two volume pins on the board:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1385
You can use any type of momentary switch to activate the sounds. All you are doing is connecting a GPIO pin to ground momentarily. We have several different styles of momentary buttons. I'd need to know more about your application to recommend one.
Ditto for the enclosure. I don't know what your requirements are.
- joe1275
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:12 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
What is the current requirement of the 16mb version without on board amp? Can I use a 12v to 5v buck step down converter off a plug in 12V DC supply?
- adafruit_support_rick
- Posts: 35092
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
You can use a step-down. But can you use a 5V supply directly?
I don't know the exact current requirement, but it's around 10mA. That will go up a bit if you're playing sounds and driving headphones.
I don't know the exact current requirement, but it's around 10mA. That will go up a bit if you're playing sounds and driving headphones.
- snapshot
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:16 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
Is there any way to use ac power instead? The board will be used in a stationary exhibit with plenty of access to power.
- joe1275
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:12 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
I was trying to eliminate a power supply for my 12v project - is there any particular reason you prefer a 5v plug in supply over a buck converter?
- adafruit_support_rick
- Posts: 35092
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
If you have ac power, just use a 5V power supply.snapshot wrote:Is there any way to use ac power instead? The board will be used in a stationary exhibit with plenty of access to power.
If all you've got is 12V, a buck converter is fine. No need for a separate 5V supply.joe1275 wrote:I was trying to eliminate a power supply for my 12v project - is there any particular reason you prefer a 5v plug in supply over a buck converter?
- joe1275
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:12 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
If I permanently tie trigger one to ground, will it automatically play the corresponding file on power up?
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
Yes, but it will also re-play the sound every time the track ends. The basic trigger just looks to see if the corresponding input pin is pulled down. It doesn't track whether the pin was released while the sound was playing.
You can get the effect you want by connecting a 10uF capacitor between the pin and GND, and maybe putting a 10M resistor in parallel with the cap.
When the system is shut off, the capacitor will drain to 0v through the 10M resistor. When you power the system up, the cap will charge through the FX pin's 100k pull-up resistor, and will remain low long enough to trigger the sound. After that, the cap voltage will remain at 3.3v and won't be able to trigger another sound until you remove power and allow the cap to discharge.
You can get the effect you want by connecting a 10uF capacitor between the pin and GND, and maybe putting a 10M resistor in parallel with the cap.
When the system is shut off, the capacitor will drain to 0v through the 10M resistor. When you power the system up, the cap will charge through the FX pin's 100k pull-up resistor, and will remain low long enough to trigger the sound. After that, the cap voltage will remain at 3.3v and won't be able to trigger another sound until you remove power and allow the cap to discharge.
- joe1275
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:12 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
I don't really care if it loops - actually the power will only be on for five or ten seconds at a time (shorter than the track). It will play the sound of thunder to warn of sprinklers going off. I just wanted to make sure it would simply begin playing the first track on power up and then, in essence, reset on power down for the next cycle.
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Audio FX Sound Board questions
In that case, you can connect the pin directly to GND.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.