inexpensive controllable audio storage and playback?

[blackbeard]

I would like to add a few sound effects currently in mp3 format to a project and i was wondering if there are any inexpensive ways to do this. the arduino shield is too expensive for me and a bit over kill since i need about 1 minute of audio between the 5 to 10 second or so effects. i've heard of people using cheep audio recording toys with one per effect but that would be my last option since that really kind of sucks to look at.

[blackbeard]

bump

[billhowl]

Have you read this?

AVR WAV player
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=6472.0

Voice Recognition and Speech using Arduino
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/346

Speech Synthesizer
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/211

A Talking Voltmeter
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/ee476/FinalProjects/s2010/ab673_csb88/ab673_csb88/index.html

Sound Generation by AVR Micro – Tutorial I
http://extremeelectronics.co.in/avr-tutorials/sound-generation-by-avr-micro-tutorial-i/

Arduino Audio DAC Options
http://www.uchobby.com/index.php/2008/01/08/arduino-audio-dac-options/

[blackbeard]

thanks but i'm looking for more of an alternative to the arduino shield as i've found them to be very expensive. also i'm not looking to recognize or synthesis speech rather to play pre recorded sound files.

[galannthegreat]

Have you thought about making your own? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, aren't all Arduino shields open source? If so take the schematic and make your own one for a cheaper price. Just a thought.

[blackbeard]

Have you thought about making your own? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, aren't all Arduino shields open source? If so take the schematic and make your own one for a cheaper price. Just a thought.

i don't think it's open source. besides i don't want to use an arduino since my device can't exceed $30 (somewhat flexible) and should fit in a 1"x1.5"x3" if at all possible. i'd like to incorporate it into a plushie if it clears things up

[rbtying]

All Arduino and derivative shields are open source, it's just how the community runs.  You're not likely to find any good controllers and circuits under $30 unless you're skilled enough to do some soldering and build your own board, but for 1"x1.5"x3" you'd have to be pretty experienced.  By the way, just about nothing in MP3 will work xD.  MP3 requires some actual processing to play, and only a dedicated circuit that someone's done some serious work on (ie, prototyping) is going to cut it.  Stick to WAV, or an audio recorder.

http://www.sunrom.com/components/integrated-circuits/audio-recording/apr6016-16-min.-recording-playback-voice-ic

Perhaps try this?  It's at least a DIP, but I've never used one.

[galannthegreat]

SD cards use the SPI protocol, you could use one to store WAV files and play them back using an op-amp and filters. Look more into using SD cards for playing WAV files from a microcontroller. I myself am currently researching this too for my own purposes.

[billhowl]

All the links that I have give you are some of the speech and effects sounds that generate by software means and it cost you nothing.

In the Talking Voltmeter link is a project that convert your sound files to Wave file and generate sound using PWM output through software means using AVR Atmega644 will cost less then $30.

[Soeren]

Hi,

SD cards use the SPI protocol, [...]

Just a minor correction... SD cards can use the SPI protocol, but it's not nearly as fast as the "real SD protocol" (which is only for the blessed few paying loads for it).

[galannthegreat]

Hi,

SD cards use the SPI protocol, [...]

Just a minor correction... SD cards can use the SPI protocol, but it's not nearly as fast as the "real SD protocol" (which is only for the blessed few paying loads for it).

Thanks for the information Soeren. I'd be interested in learning how this method could be incorporated on a microcontroller. You have any links on this?

[GearMotion]

Hi,

SD cards use the SPI protocol, [...]

Just a minor correction... SD cards can use the SPI protocol, but it's not nearly as fast as the "real SD protocol" (which is only for the blessed few paying loads for it).

Thanks for the information Soeren. I'd be interested in learning how this method could be incorporated on a microcontroller. You have any links on this?

There are tons of projects demonstrating it.

http://elm-chan.org/docs/mmc/mmc_e.html

http://frank.circleofcurrent.com/cache/fat_sd.htm

http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=printview&t=56331&start=0

[galannthegreat]

Thank you very much for posting that, http://elm-chan.org/docs/mmc/mmc_e.html cleared a lot of things up for me

[macdad-]

This chip is relatively old yet very handy(Doesn't require any encoder/decoder circuitry/algorithms, just standard analog interfacing):
http://www.8085projects.info/datasheets/APR9600.PDF

I'm not sure if they are still in production, but you can find some on Ebay.

Stores about 8 messages, with adjustable sampling rate and adjustable message length(NOTE: The two are inversely proportional to each other). But if you have it on the lowest sampling rate, you can record more or less a minute per message(8 minutes total for each Message slot).

Of course you would have to record from your computer's speakers into the microphone input on the chip, which can be done via a phono jack from your sound card output to the chip's input(I wouldn't recommend as it puts your sound card at risk).