Shield for Arduino based on the VLSI Ogg Vorbis / MP3 / AAC / WMA / MIDI audio decoding chip (VS1053B) produced by VLSI. It allows generating a certain number of musical notes by synthesizing the sounds of a large number of musical instruments, both melodic and percussion, behind commands given by a data channel; the accepted commands can be various formats, including the popular MIDI, which is the standard used for decades to interface music synthesizers and electronic keyboards to the PC. For communication with the host device (the microcontroller that governs the synthesizer), the VS1053B is used in this shield in serial mode.

The shield takes power from Arduino through pin 5V and common GND; with the 5 volts the PAM8043 amplifier module works, while for the 3.3 volts and the 1.8 volts the LDO linear regulators provide (MIC5504-1.8YM5-TR and MIC5504-3.3YM5-TR).

The integrated VS1053B has a stereo audio output connected to a printed circuit jack socket to which a headphone can be connected. Furthermore, the same output is connected to a small power BF amplifier (not included in the shield) with low impedance outputs which raises the signal level just enough to drive a pair of 3 watts and 4 ohm impedance speakers each.

The shield is supplied already assembled except for the Arduino strips that must be welded.

Note: the mini amplifier code PAM8403POT is not included (see related products).

Electrical diagram