LilyPad MP3

Product Overview

Give your fabric creations the gift of music and sound. The LilyPad MP3 Player is your all-in-one audio solution, featuring an Arduino-compatible microcontroller, an MP3 (and many other formats) audio decoder chip, a micro-SD card socket, and a stereo audio amplifier. Whether you are building a talking plush toy or an interactive costume, this board provides everything you need to play custom audio files directly from a micro-SD card.

All-in-One Sewable Audio

Playing audio in hardware projects can often be complicated, but this board simplifies the entire process. Out of the box, the LilyPad MP3 Player comes with default firmware that allows it to play specific audio files the moment one of its trigger inputs is grounded. You can also write custom code using the free Arduino IDE to change how the board behaves!

To make integration into your garments as easy as possible, the board includes plenty of built-in hardware. Driven by an ATmega328p microprocessor and a VS1053B decoder chip, this board makes reading from a micro-SD card and outputting high-quality audio as easy as possible. A TPA2016D2 stereo amplifier and a dedicated headphone jack let you connect speakers directly to the board, or plug in headphones for quick testing. Power management is just as easy thanks to the onboard MCP73831 3.7V LiPo charger, which lets you run your project and recharge the battery without extra hardware, with a preset 500mA charge rate.

Beyond standard playback, the five trigger inputs also function as analog, serial, and I²C connections, letting you add extra sensors or switches. You can even use the expandable interface to solder in an RGB rotary encoder (not included), giving your clothes a physical interface for track selection and volume adjustments.

Sewable E-Textile Design

LilyPad is a wearable e-textile technology developed by Leah Buechley and cooperatively designed by Leah and SparkFun. To ensure these components integrate seamlessly into your wardrobe (no pun intended), LilyPad relies on some specific hardware choices:

• Sewable Tabs: The LilyPad MP3 features 12 large conductive connection pads that let you stitch it directly into fabric with conductive thread.
• Low-Profile Build: Even though it's one of the largest LilyPad boards, it still fits in the palm of your hand and will lay perfectly flat against your garments.
• Washable Hardware: Built to withstand real-world use, your finished clothing can be washed without damaging the electronics.

The board is compatible with sketches written for the MP3 Player Shield. Our example code uses Bill Porter's MP3 Player library, which makes writing new code very easy. All you need to do is add a microSD card and some speakers, and you're ready to rock.