Ambi'Son

Additional information

Any kind of project is possible. Need advice (feasibility, which version to pick, how to build it, an idea, a question...)? Get in touch. And if you would like a hand with the making, my workshop is open to you.

Here are a few examples of what can be done with it:

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Protection, as an option

The Ambi'Son is sold bare, with no cover. Building it a case is strongly recommended, to keep anything conductive away from the board (risk of a short circuit). The same goes for every similar board, such as Bare Conductive's "Touch Board", the "Teensy Audio Shield" or Adafruit's "Audio FX Sound Board".

I now offer a protection kit: 2 laser-cut wooden plates, 1 wooden stilt for the play button, 8 spacers, 8 screws and 4 feet, to give the board a basic cover. It comes as a kit, to assemble yourself.

Detailed use

• Read the full manual (in French).
• Get your own set of steps: the options to order, the parts, the files and the wiring, based on what your installation has to do.

You will find plenty more information further down this page.

Designed and built by hand in my workshop, it is meant for projects such as listening posts and museum displays, stage design and sound installations, interactive objects, model making, and so on.

Technical specifications

• Choose your options and set it up, in a few questions
• Full manual (in French)
• Power:
  • Standard DC socket (5.5 mm x 2.1 mm, known as "DC5521"), 7 to 12 V DC
  • Screw terminals, 7 to 12 V DC
  • USB-C (through the Nano's socket)
  Powering the board through the DC socket or the screw terminals is recommended. If you power it over USB-C through the Nano, the switch built into the volume knob cannot cut the power, and the Vout output cannot be used.
• Inputs and outputs: several of the Nano's pins are accessible (some are already used by the board)
• The Nano is programmed over USB-C with the Arduino IDE. My own program is already loaded for simple use: I change it far too often to publish a version here, so just ask me for it and I will send you the latest one.
• Audio player: a genuine DFPlayer Mini from DFRobot.
• Storage: microSD card and/or USB stick (depending on the version, sold separately), up to 32 GB
• Formats: .mp3 preferably, or .wav (16 bits / 48 kHz max)
• Channels:
  • Stereo on the Line output
  • Mono on the Speaker output (left and right mixed together)
• Playback, chosen with the push button:
  • On a loop, at random
  • On a loop, in order
  • Once, a single file
• Impedance: LINE (for 1 to 4 pairs of headphones such as this one or this one plus a splitter, or an external amplifier) or SPK 3W (3 W amplified into 4 ohms), selected with a switch.
• Volume: adjusted by hand, with digital control. The switch built into the knob cuts the power when the board runs off the DC5521 socket or the screw terminals, but not when the power comes through the Nano's USB socket.
• Audio outputs available:
  • 3.5 mm jack socket
  • Screw terminals
  • Bluetooth (depending on the version, one receiver at a time)
• Consumption: between 100 mA and 200 mA depending on your build
• Size: 78 mm x 55 mm (not counting the knob and the jack socket), 20 mm thick. Mounting holes: see the last picture.
• Sensitive to damp and rain: use it indoors, or well protected.
• Handmade by me.

Included

• The Ambi'Son board (in the version you chose)
• A wooden protection kit (if you picked that option)
• The program, already loaded (simple use)

Not included

• A microSD card or a USB stick, to hold your files
• A 3 W loudspeaker or resonator, to hear your sounds
• A DC power supply, to power your board
• A DC extension cable, to put some distance between the supply and the board
• A DC splitter, to run several boards off a single supply
• A battery holder, to power it from batteries or cells
• A jack splitter, for up to 5 pairs of headphones.
• A protective case

Pictures, videos, components, colours, version and so on: not contractual.