Easy Sound fx With A DFPlayer Mini For Your Model Railroad

[@NeilIves]

This video is exactly what I needed at the moment: My current project is using an Arduino to replicate the chimes of an old clock. I couldn't figure out how to wait for a sample to stop before playing the next one. Many thanks!!!! :)

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help!

[@jroche26]

T

[@wilzdart]

Tom you are the man! I have ordered the parts I will need to build it. I got one from the manufacture and one from your amazon page along with the IR. Thanks!! keep you posted

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help Will. let me know if you need any help with it.

[@AndrewHillG]

Thank you! Finally someone is explaining the code. Thank you.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help.

[@TrainDetailsbyGuss]

Thank Toms Trains, Good video. Thanks for your helps. Loved the info.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

That sounds very crisp and clean!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Joe

[@nscaledelights]

Thanks Tom your video is going into my saved playlist Ive been looking for something like this for a while as Im new to DCC-EX. I want announcements to play when a train pulls into the station.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad it was helpful! With the new version of DCC-EX, the DFPlayer mini code is written in so you can have sound files and also lighting. Here's a link to their Discord where you can get instant updates and chat with the developers: discord.gg/ff9r3NtATN

[@nscaledelights]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Thanks again.

[@DennisMurphey]

I am mounting my board in the tender with an auto Chuff sensor on the drive gear and key fob radio receiver, I have a chuff trigger and 4 buttons to send IR Pulse to the MP3 Player. 5VDC from the regulator and rectifier from AC track. I wanted stereo so chuff can operate un interrupted but for $5 I can add a second MP3 board. I play in 1950s American FLyer S Gauge so we have bigger tenders. I hope it works. Dennis

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Great idea. Thanks for the input!

[@DennisMurphey]

@@TomsTrainsandThings I can report back it worked . BUT you need two speakers Not a big deal There are some tiny speakers.

[@rondlh20]

The pop is a design "feature", You can modify the 8002 amplifier pinout, the shutdown pin (pin 1) is connected to ground via a 0 ohm resistor (at bottom), so the amplifier is always operational. You can change this and use an Arduino pin to fire up the amplifier when needed. This strongly reduces the power up pop.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Design Feature? I contacted DF Robot 3 years ago asking how to correct this pop. They know nothing about it and had no answer to correct it. I heard form another user a while back on how to eliminate the pop with a little bit of soldering on the bottom side.

[@rondlh20]

@@TomsTrainsandThings I solve it by controlling the 8002 amplifier with a digital IO pin. Using the busy signal of the MP3 decoder solves the big pop, but a small pop remains and sometimes pops between tracks are detectable.

[@ZanesTrains1972]

Great how to Tom I will be using some like this on my layouts for sure.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Zane. easy and cheap!

[@tomertrashman5723]

thank you very much! I didn't use this for a railroad, but is sure helped either way!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help!

[@chrisgallagher85]

Thanks for sharing - very helpful

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeffdesoto209]

Hey Tom, Im getting back into the hobby after 30+ years, and looking for sounds for a Blacksmith Forge, Sawmill and I wasnt sure if there is/was a program to let the trains run an operation through the computer so we can just sit and watch. I seen your video to have different sounds as the train moved around the track, but could it be set with an IR detector, so as the train goes round and trip the sounds? Thx, Jeff

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

I'm not aware of any commercially available product for that.
You may have to build your own with Arduino and DF Player or if you want more control, DCC-EX allows lighting & sound in their setup

[@cadillacescalade5428]

Kool I need one of those for my crossing bells.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

works great

[@cadillacescalade5428]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Would it work hooked up on IR sensor?
I've got a sound module that I put a bell on but not sure how to hook up up with my arduino an board.
I seen this thinking maybe it would work put a few bell an engine sounds on the card.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Take a look at this one: ruclips.net/video/CvSN1GUt5ak/видео.html

[@shanestrains4724]

Thanks for the Arduino Made Easy series. The series and your other tutorials have been immensely valuable and helpful to me. I've been able to get some Details West flashing cross bucks to work using the IR sensors and simply Daisy chained several of them in an East/West approach senario to have them work over multiple tracks. Just now I'm experimenting using the dfplayer and IR to sound bells at a crossing on a seperate Arduino...now to figure out if there is a way to combine the two into one seamless sketch, or somehow wire the same sensors to work with the second Arduino? (scratches head).

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help. I have a video that uses two arduinos for lighting & sound. It's the one with the welder. You can use the same principle.

[@shanestrains4724]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Thanks, I just watched the video and checked out the sketch. I'll give it a go and see what I can come up with. I'll be sure to let you know.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

look forward to hearing from ou on this.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

Hi question for you? How can I add this to your railroad crossing sketch? I noticed in the loop that they are similar written but I've been trying to add the df player to it...and so far I've been unsuccessful.
Could you possibly make a video on this subject or be able to walk me through on how to add.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Sprry for the late reply, was on vacation.
I don't have a video for this but... This video may help you to understand how to add the DFPlayer to a sketch
ruclips.net/video/CvSN1GUt5ak/видео.html
You can find more information on my website
tomstrainofthought.com/projects/

[@mosleyau]

Good video Tom! Im having same problem with speaker popping at power up and off. Also have a little back noise "bep bep bep" when song is playing. Other than that works great

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Austin. I think the popping at power up can be eliminated with a capacitor. I'll have to try that out if and when it becomes annoying. lol

[@mosleyau]

To remove the pwr pop sound and background noise I cut the ground wire from the speakers going to the dfplayer. That worked for me

[@octaviomoreno3292]

Thank you! such a helpful video mate, greetings form Mexico!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad I could help.

[@stewartdavis8618]

Hi Tom great channel I think I have learnt more over the last couple of weeks watching your videos than I have in the last 10 yrs !!
On a tech point being a beginner at this do I cut and paste the sketch and put it int Arduino ??

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Stewart, yes you and cut and paste, or copy an entire sketch. You can do whatever is easiest for you to get your sketch running.

[@it-les8812]

Thank you Tom from Ukraine.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Your welcome. Glad I could help.

[@warbonnet64]

Wow! This is just what the doctor ordered for me Tom! I've incorporated your arc welding sketch using an Arduino UNO board at several locations of my train layout and would love to add sound to them. Soooo, is it just a matter of adding your sound sketch onto the tail end of the welding sketch or is it more involved than that?
And just as a side bar, I thoroughly enjoy watching your tutorial's. You have a wonderful way of taking what appears to be a daunting project into a way that makes sense and easy to understand. Keep up the great work!
Jack

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Jack. I made a few modifications to the basic welding sketch to have the led's come on with the welding sound. Here it is: ruclips.net/video/CvSN1GUt5ak/видео.html
I'm working on a new web site right now, so the reference to the code in the video is incorrect. I should have the code to all my sketches on the new web site with in a few weeks.

[@warbonnet64]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Hey Tom, man, that was a lightning fast response. You must have yourself wired to your computer 24/7 (lol). I just clicked on the link you sent me and then in the description the link that shows the sketch's of how you wired the led's to the sound. Unfortunately that link just says you may be selling your domain and lists a bunch of other unrelated links. Hmmm, did I miss something along the way?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

You just lucked out. I was answering comments from a recent upload when yours showed up. Like I stated in my previous comment, the code is no longer available. The old domain name was hijacked by the provider when I discontinued service with them. I paid for an additional year for the domain name but they cut me off of that also when I closed my web page. New site is:tomstrainofthought.com/ Still under construction.

[@warbonnet64]

@@TomsTrainsandThings I do consider myself lucky. I really do. I figured you'd knocked off for the weekend and I wouldn't hear from you for years but there you are.
Had I read your mail and absorbed it I would have saved myself the embarrassment of sending my last email. Fortunately the red is beginning to fade out of my face.
I shall anxiously await your newly created website to be complete. In the mean time I'll tell the boys down at trackside they'll have to wait a wee bit longer for that welder sound...

[@warbonnet64]

@@TomsTrainsandThings And by the way, how rude of that provider just cut you off after you had paid for another year. I think I'd let the air out of his tires if I could find him. All...four...tires.

[@hanswurst9866]

Is there any Arduino code to increase and decrease the playback speed to make some chiptune music?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Use Audacity to for your audio clips

[@gjdanco4260]

Hi Tom...enjoyed your video...entered the code as you show on video and then opened serial monitor...(isBusy) command always stays low for some reason...cant get it to show high. I changed your if statements to reflect ir sensor low and can get music to play. Any ideas why this is happening? Thanks for reading this.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Your IR sensor may work differently than the one I used. The isBusy statement was very hard for me to catch a change also in the serial monitor. As long as the LED on the DF Player is lit, you know the condition has been met (isBusy). It's an indication for the code to know when the DF Playerr is playing a clip, and waits till it's over.
It was a pain to troubleshoot this in the beginning because it was hard to pin down actually when the isBusy was initiated and ended.

[@gjdanco4260]

Hi Tom...thank you for your reply...I will play with the code over the next few days. It appears on my DF player, "is busy" appears to be reading low from start up. Also, in another or your videos, you mentioning a pro version...how are you liking that compared to just the mini? Thanks again from British Columbia...Geoff

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

@@gjdanco4260 I just received my Pro last month, haven't tested it out yet, but in looking at the wiki, the code is much easier to use and there is nearly no set up.
Will be looking at it next week

[@gjdanco4260]

@@TomsTrainsandThings hi Tom...went back to project and thought to myself the code says int busy =5; but I don't have a jumper to pin 5. I wired up the breadboard as per instructions in the DF player link as you had no schematic provided. Went back and listened to your video and you mention a busy pin on DF player. Went back to instruction sheet, found that pin and provided a jumper to pin 5 on the uno....SUCCESS. Enjoying the satisfaction of troubleshooting this and getting it to work....something I have been unable to do until I discovered your video.....thanks for helping me out with this.

[@davidruhe6498]

I must have something wrong in the pin connections from the arduino to the mini df player and sensor. It is not working at all. The wiki dos not help because the sketch isn't the same as yours. do you have a fritzing diagram of the connections?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Unfortunately I'm between web pages and there is no Fritzing component for the DFPlayer available anywhere. All the connections are on my paper onscreen & in the code on screen.
VCC - 5V
RX - 11 with iK Resister
TX - 10 with 1K Resister
SPK 1 - Speaker
SPK 2 - Speaker
Busy - 5
GND - Ground
If you want a sensor to trigger the activity, hook it up to pin 3 or any other pin you desire that you would declare in the code.

[@davidruhe6498]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Thank you

[@clydealcott3379]

Is there a way to make this device play more than 2 songs at a time... I thought of making a launchpad or keyboard.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Anything is possible

[@clydealcott3379]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Sir can you please tell me the command or perhaps provide code snippet...?

[@ahmetselim1166]

Do you recommend me any mini speaker I want it portable and light

[@BurnerStudio]

nice tutorial, but i have a question... it's possible to define different audio samples from SD card and to modify the code to play that on different conditions?
example: if i made a thermometer and it show a specific value, on 25 degrees to play a specific sample from SD card, and so on... what you think, it is possible ?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thank you. You can do anything with code. In your example a switch/case statement would work to access specific clips for each condition. I found when uploading clips to the SD card, even though you have them numbered sequentially and time & date stamp are in order, the SD reader reads them offset by 1. I'll have to look at my video clips that I haven't published yet to see how it was done correctly to get the desired results. If you run into this problem send me an email and I'll let you know how I did it.

[@BurnerStudio]

Ok, thanks for the reply :D

[@blurrrrrr44]

Having a code that plays different sounds at different temp's is exactly what i want. Can't make it happen, i can't code.

[@joey0618]

@1:20 well done...

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Joe

[@Zork876]

Hey Tom, thank you for the great video. I’m not looking to make a railroad, but I am looking to make a toy that can play a random assortment of sounds and flash some lights. I’m very new to this and was wondering what I should look out for when it comes to speakers? I need a tiny speaker, and I found 1 that is 8 ohm and 3 watt with full range audio. Didn’t know if there is anything specific I should worry about. Thank you and have a wonderful day

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

I have a few more videos on the DF Player where I show speakers and even hooking up an amplifier.

[@Zork876]

@@TomsTrainsandThings thank you very much. Just bought all of the primary components (including the speakers). Really excited. Thanks once again!

[@davidruhe6498]

Fantastic video but was wondering what the connections were from the arduino to the DFPlayer and the infrared sensor. Do you have a diagram, the DFRobot one doesn't show everything.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

You can find the pin designation other than the obvious in the code. The rest are on the diagram in the DFRobot wiki which is in the description.
I also have a few more videos on the DFPlayer mini.

[@davidruhe6498]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Thanks for your quick reply>

[@davidruhe6498]

Also what about the connections for the infrared sensor and arduino?

[@davidruhe6498]

Just went back thru the code and I found what I needed. Thanks again

[@terrypin999]

I'm obviously not looking in the right place, but I cannot find your sketch code!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Still working on building all the pages for the code on my new web site: Should be up shortly: tomstrainofthought.com/projects/

[@cadillacescalade5428]

Hi Mr. Tom I'll be receiving my df mini today an I downloaded the full sketch my question is do I copy it under the void set up or the loop set up ?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

If you download the entire sketch, you don't need to add it to anything. Use it as is.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

@@TomsTrainsandThings okay, so question how do I change the EQ levels 🤔 and setting it for my SD card and stuff ?
I'm sorry for asking so many questions but just trying to get familiar with this unit.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

@@TomsTrainsandThings and also how do I add it in with my sketch to perform with it ?
I was copying your sketch with IR sensors so my sound would activate when the train hit the IR sensor.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

Hi Mr. Tom, I finally got it working
Now question can I use your sketch that you made for the IR sensors?
Or could you send me a copy of your sketch 🤔 ?

[@rparks9607]

Hi Tom, I have no electronic knowledge, or coding knowledge. I’m trying to do what you are showing here, but I. can’t see how you have everything set on the breadboard and uno. Can you tell/show me where all the wires go for this setup. Thanks in advance.
Ronnie

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

There is a link to the DF Player Mini Wiki in the description that shows everything.

[@kurtumlauf5823]

I don't want to use Arduino, I have the DF player working with momentary switch but want to make it loop, without Arduino. Thoughts?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Check the df player wiki for the manual commands. You can do almost anything through the matrix

[@TheBigkaw815]

Hello, Tom. Would you happen to recall what sensor you were using in the video? If so, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

You'll find a link to my Amazon page in the description. The sensor is listed in the Arduino section.

[@TheBigkaw815]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Hello again, Tom! Please excuse my hiatus, however I was not notified of your response. I would just like to say thanks !
- Tomm.

[@ianhill20101]

Wonder if this is adaptable to a scalextric 🚗 sample from the motor signal, i wouldnt have a clue how to write a sketch that could take advantage of throttle curve and time duration etc seems a complex little problem.
Im sure i can get enough full audio volume and compact from using a modern smartphone setup ;)

[@ianhill20101]

3d print a micro speaker enclosure with a tuned chamber for a smart phone setup and mount the board amp etc to it keep it compact.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Neither would I, not familiar with it!

[@ianhill20101]

@@TomsTrainsandThings nice sounding loco mind i like it 👌

[@mstanco3153]

thank you for the fantastic videos you make ps i finally figured out how to post a comment.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Glad you finally got it Michael.

[@TrongNguyen-tk7sx]

Hi everyone, i cant communicate between Arduino and dfplayer mini.i followed dfrobot.com but im getting an error " unable to begin".im in need of help,pleaseee

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Contact dfrobot for help. They have a forum for issues. I have around 10 df players with no issues. recheck your wiring. try another player.If you think your player is defective, contact the vendor where your purchased the device.

[@Jack__martins]

Hello, I am setting up a project that is a plug-in keyboard, (a toy), where the child will put the letters and a led will light and play an audio speaking letters (A, B, C ...).
So I am using MEGA arduino, and the DFPlayer Mini board for this project, besides 26 green LEDs, everything is working fine.
The contacts fit leds and even the audio. But the audio goes into a loop, and I would like the audio of each letter to be played only once.
How can I be solving this?
I'm sure it's something about my code that is attached here.
So how do I disable looping using DFPlayer mini ????

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

For each note you should choose a specific track: myDFPlayer.play(001);
Make sure this line is no where in your code: myDFPlayer.enableLoopAll();

[@Jack__martins]

@@TomsTrainsandThings This my code, how can I be breaking the loop?
pastebin.com/UACNiXm4

[@Jack__martins]

@@TomsTrainsandThings I saw in my code is has no line with myDFPlayer.enableLoopAll ();

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Use your print command to see what is going on in your (for) loop with nElements & .play. Maybe take out the +1 in myDFPlayer.play(i+1); see how it reacts to that.

[@Jack__martins]

@@TomsTrainsandThings I tried all this and a little more than I saw in forums and nothing.
www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/d8ww3s/help_with_audio_loop_dfplayer_mini/
facebook.com/groups/Arduino.AtMega8/permalink/2768831833128319/?notif_id=1569316995958637¬if_t=group_post_approved

[@insightmanners6876]

good video, but you can operate the dfplayer mini without a microcontroller, u can just use the IO1 or IO2 port directly

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Yep, but this is a build up of what can be done with it with Arduino. Like animating lights and other things with sound.

[@insightmanners6876]

@@TomsTrainsandThings ohhh right, that makes sense. BTW I already finish my project with dfplayer mini also and this module really sensitive, if the module cannot play the mp3 again, that's maybe because of the memory card was broke

[@noomarnaina9140]

I am using an metro m0 express and when I try using the SoftwareSerial.h and upload into my board it says that the library is not found can anyone help...

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Make sure it's entered into your sketch as follows:
#include
SoftwareSerial.h should be highlighted in the code.

[@MMRails]

Too hi-tech for me. I’m still wobbling a piece of steel to make a thunder sound effect. Great video as always though! -Mark

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Mark. Webols wobble, but they don't fall down! Never thought about wobbling the steel, I always vocalize the sound fx. lol

[@user-pe7hn2no6e]

Using amplifier is optional or Mandatory in some cases?!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

So far I have not found the need to amplify, but I may find a need some day! Thanks

[@chimpofm]

Good afternoon sir i hope this message finds you well, did you ever solve the powerup pop issue?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

No. When contacting the manufacturer they were no help in resolving the issue.

[@NeilIves]

@@TomsTrainsandThings Would it help to start with low volume and then ramp it up?

[@blurrrrrr44]

The code in the description doesn't match the code on your screen... several lines are missing.

[@blurrrrrr44]

I managed to re-make some of it from the text on the screen. Compared to other peoples missing or broken code this is actually almost about to kind of work. Limited options but.. works to a degree.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

If your talking about the Serial.Print Lines. Those are only used for the setup for the sketch while I'm building the sketch . This makes it easier to find what happens when during the execution of the sketch.

[@robertestep2080]

how much memory is your computer

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

32 GB

[@robertestep2080]

Thank you for the info love your show Merry Christmas you and yours

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Great stuff, Tom. I plan to use some of theae on my layout. Miles Hale has doe this using a child's science kit to make the sensor.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Thanks Ron. There are some on Amazon that I found 5 for $10. I may order them but they will take 3-4 weeks for delivery. I'm impatient though. lol I looking for a different sensor with a longer range.