Help with product choice

Sensors Sound & Audio
1

My plan is for a bit of a time-machine radio. In simple terms, it would be plugged in for power, have an on/off switch, and when the user presses a button, LED lights would randomly flash for 5 seconds, a servo would scan across an analog radio dial, and then a random audio file will play. It would be like listening to the radio during whatever time-period the machine has randomly chosen.

Internally, I figure there would be the Redboard hooked up to a Qwiic Mp3 Trigger module. I’d code the button trigger to activate the random lights and the servo. I’ve got a good bit of that coding figured out - programmer by trade, and then somehow find a way to trigger a random file to play. My understanding is the Mp3 trigger uses song selection based on pin triggers. Hopefully I can tap into that to make this word.

This leads to a few questions.

  1. Overall, can this be done with a single redboard, qwiic Mp3 trigger module, and a servo? Do I need any other/different hardware?

  2. I calculate up to 13 LEDs flashing during the “random startup.” after that, probably six would stay on. Between powering the 13 LED’s, the servo, and the MP3 trigger, it seems I’d exceed the power pull required. I thought I’d seen a power-supply just for a breadboard and then the ground wires are connected. ANd somehow, it was ok to trigger from the redboard to the breadboard with the LED’s without producing the magic smoke. Is that possible?

2

Found if I use a 74hc595 that will take care of my power needs for the leds with an extra power supply

3

Hi Dan, thanks for posting!

  1. Overall, can this be done with a single redboard, qwiic Mp3 trigger module, and a servo?

I think that should work for you. You could mix and match the type of Arduino and the audio board but the two you’re thinking of will play nicely with one another.

For the question on LEDs, you could use a 74HC595 or two for your LEDs and those will handle the LEDs power requirements just fine. Another option would be to use some [addressable LEDs, those can be powered off your 5 volt rail and only need a single pin for data and will also play nice with the rest of your parts.](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12986)