Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board + 2x2W Amp - WAV/OGG Trigger -16MB

When it comes to sound modules and the ease of loading effects and hook up makes Adafruit the go too module for most applications

Within seconds of adding 5v power the amp chip got so hot I burnt my hand

If playback is set to loop, there's still a short pause between the end of the track playback and 'restarting' at the beginning. The documentation says that "there's a ~20ms delay (imperceptable) between WAV replays", but I beg to differ... It's more like 100ms second and is clearly perceivable/noticeable. (And yes, I'm using WAV files.)Also, it's got about 125ms delay between button press and audio start. That's too slow for my liking too. The documentation also states that is "within the 'instant feedback' expectation". But again, I beg to differ. Imagine if your first-person-shooter game had a 125ms delay between button press and weapon fire...Other than that, it seems like a neat gadget, just not what I need/want for my project. If you just want a customized 'Easy Button' type device that you can make say/play virtually anything you want, and even have up to 11 different phrases, then this is the thing for you. But if you want gapless playback and instant response to button presses, then pass on this.

I used this to add sound and lighting effects to a Star Trek phaser rifle (Type III from First Contact). I'm a prop builder and a novice when it comes to circuitry. I opted to give this product a try for a quick and easy install rather than trying to customize an Arduino micro-controller. Boy am I glad I did! This board has an integrated amp and is pre-programmed with various switching and audio playback capabilities. My specific application was simply a phaser sound when the trigger was pulled. I also wanted a synchronized muzzle flash which this board was also able to accommodate!Installation:BATTERY: I highly recommend a rechargeable lithium Ion battery pack, sizing dependent on your application and space requirements. Adafruit products have you covered here as well. You can also go with a AA or AAA battery holder, three-pack is ideal to provide 3.5v to the board. The battery is wired into the VIN and GRND pinouts.SPEAKER: A stereo audio pinout adapter is included and makes connecting a speaker super easy. Solder the adapter and screw the speaker leads in.SWITCH: The board comes with a series of audio switch pinouts. Wire a momentary switch to one of these pinouts and ground. The pinout number used will correspond to the audio file naming so be sure to make note of which pinouts you're using and what sound you want each of the switches to trigger.AUDIO FILES: This is where this audio fx board really shines. There is NO CODING involved here. The functionality is pre-programmed into the board. You can find a tutorial for the audio playback on Adafruit's site. In short, you'll name the file (.wav or .ogg) and load it to the board (USB from board to PC). That's it!SYNCHRONIZED LIGHTING: For my application, I wanted a muzzle flash to light up when the audio file was played. There is an ACT pin, or 'Activity pin' that allows just that. It grounds your component when the board is active, i.e. playing a sound. I soldered an LED to the ACT pin as the ground and then to my main parallel circuit + and viola! Muzzle flash!I love these little boards and plan to use these as my go to for costumes and props going forward. I've dabbled in Arduino and have no desire, at least not currently, to delve deeper into that world. If you need sound for a project, and possibly lighting, give this board a shot! For a few bucks more than Adafruit's site, I love the ability to grab one of these quickly with Prime Shipping. I'm impatient and there's nothing I hate more than a delayed project waiting for parts.

So I bought this unit to add sound effects to the haunted doll-house project my wife and I were working on. The Pi is not so good at audio. This unit let me work the way I wanted:Here are some tips:1 - Use the Serial connection NOT the push button approach. The push button approach works too even from a micro controller. But it uses a lot of pins. Also allows you to stop playing an audio file so as to start another. Check the playing pin first. Then if it is playing send the q for quit command. Don't send it if it is not playing as it kinda freezes the card up for a bit. Pause 250 milliseconds then start a new file.2 - Don't try to use PWM to control it. To many false positives.3 - The OGG file type Mono works very well. It's like a poor man's MP3. Use Audacity for free to generate them.A great early to use solution when your micro controler project needs audio! I'll use this one in future projects!