Ambi'Son

Additional information

All kinds of projects are possible. Need advice (feasibility, choice of version, build, suggestions, questions...)? Contact me.

Here are a few examples of what you can do with it:

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Protection, optional

The Ambi'Son is sold bare, without protection. It is therefore strongly recommended to make a case for it, to avoid any contact with conductive objects (risk of short circuit). This applies to all similar boards, such as Bare Conductive's "Touch Board", the "Teensy Audio Shield" or Adafruit's "Audio FX Sound Board", for example.

I now offer a protection kit made of 2 laser-cut wooden plates, 1 wooden extension for the play button, 8 spacers, 8 screws and 4 feet, to give the board basic protection. It is a kit to assemble yourself.

Volume

The volume is set with the potentiometer, from 0 to 100 %. Turned fully to the left, until it clicks, it also switches the module off (only when powered through the DC jack or the screw terminal, not through the Nano's USB-C).

Handy, but a double-edged sword in a public place: a visitor may turn the sound down to the minimum, or even switch the unit off by accident. On request, I can modify the program to remove the on/off function, or raise the minimum volume to 10 or 20 %. That way, the unit always stays audible.

Museums, local authorities and businesses

I provide quotes and invoices on request, with submission through Chorus Pro for French public bodies, and payment by bank transfer (VAT not applicable, article 293 B of the French General Tax Code). As each module is made by hand, write to me for a bulk order: we will agree on the lead time together.

Detailed use

• Read the full manual (in French).
• Get your step-by-step guide: the options to order, the equipment, the files and the wiring, depending on what your installation needs to do.

You will find even more information further down this page.

Exposi'Son or Ambi'Son?

Technical specifications

• Choose your options and set it up, in a few questions
• Full manual (in French)
• Power supply:
  • Standard DC plug (5.5 mm × 2.1 mm, known as "DC5521"), 7 to 16 V DC
  • Screw terminal, 7 to 16 V DC
  • USB-C (through the Nano's interface)
  It is recommended to power the module through the DC plug or the screw terminal. If you power it via the Nano's USB-C, the switch built into the potentiometer cannot cut the power, and the Vout output cannot be used.
• Inputs/Outputs: some of the Nano's pins are accessible (some are already used by the module)
• Nano programming via USB-C with the Arduino IDE. My program is preloaded for simple use: I update it too often to publish a version here, so ask me for it and I'll send you the latest one.
• Audio player: genuine DFPlayer Mini by DFRobot.
• Storage: microSD card and/or USB stick (depending on version, sold separately), up to 32 GB
• Formats: preferably .mp3, or .wav (16-bit / 48 kHz max)
• Channels:
  • Stereo on the Line output
  • Mono on the Speaker output (left and right mixed)
• Playback, selected with the push button:
  • Loop, random
  • Loop, in order
  • Once, a single file
• Impedances: LINE (to connect 1 to 4 headphones such as this one or this one + a splitter, or an external amplifier) or SPK 3 W (amplified, 3 W into 4 ohms), selected with a switch.
• Volume: potentiometer from 0 to 100 % (digital control), with an on/off switch at the left end stop. See the "Volume" section
• Available audio outputs:
  • 3.5 mm jack
  • Screw terminal
  • Bluetooth (depending on version, a single receiver only)
• Power consumption (measured peaks: white noise, maximum volume, 9 V supply):
  • Module alone: 35 mA
  • Headphones or Line output: + 5 mA
  • USB stick: + 45 mA
  • Bluetooth connected: + 100 mA
  • 3 W speaker (4 Ω): + 400 mA
  • Several modules with speakers on one power supply: 0.5 A per module
  • Recommended power supply: 9 V, 1 A (DC power supply)
• Dimensions: 78 mm × 55 mm (potentiometer and jack excluded), 20 mm thick. Drilling details: see the last image.
• Sensitive to humidity and rain: for indoor use, or protected.
• Handmade by me.

Included

• Ambi'Son module (chosen version)
• A wooden protection kit (if the option is chosen)
• Preloaded program (simple use)

Not included

• microSD card / USB stick, to store your files
• Speaker / exciter of 3 W, to hear your sounds
• DC power supply, to power your module
• DC extension cable, to increase the distance between power supply and module
• DC power splitter, to connect several modules to a single power supply
• Battery box, to power it with batteries or rechargeable cells
• A jack splitter, to connect up to 5 headphones.
• Transmi'Son, to connect an external amplifier without hum when it shares the module's power supply, and/or to control its volume
• Exten'Son, to easily add buttons, on the ADKey inputs
• Expan'Son, to add 16 inputs/outputs per board via the I2C bus, up to 128 when chained: buttons with the supplied program, LEDs or relays by programming the Nano
• Protective case

Photos, videos, components, colors, version, etc.: non-contractual.

Enclosures and cases

To 3D print, laser cut or build yourself, with their source files.

See the 3 enclosures and cases made for this board →

Standards and recycling

Certifications, safety and recycling →