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Spectacle Audio Board
The Spectacle Audio Board allows you to add sound from a microSD card to your Spectacle projects. Each board accepts a microSD card with sounds in .ogg format, and has a 1/8" (3.5mm) audio jack line-level output ready to be amplified. It is important to know that the files used by the Spectacle Audio Board must be in OGG Vorbis format. This free codec has a higher compression ratio than MP3 and, more importantly, can be used without paying a licensing fee to any third-party organization. We use the free, open source program Audacity to convert from whatever the file’s current format is to OGG Vorbis.
The Audio Board is equipped with three 3.5mm TRRS jacks: two for Spectacle control signals from a Director Board and one for an amplified speaker. The one labeled “In” should be plugged into a board that is closer to the Director Board than the Audio Board is, or into the Director Board itself. Make sure to pay attention to the directionality of the jacks, as they will dictate how your Spectacle modules speak with one another and with the Director Board. As with every other Spectacle module, you will need the Director Board to operate any Spectacle project.
We have written an in-depth User's Guide and Audio Board Hookup Guide to help direct you through each step of setting up this and any board in the Spectacle product line. You will be surprised by how easy and quick it is to make yourself into a Spectacle!
Spectacle is a product ecosystem centered around a simple idea: creative people shouldn’t have to learn new skills to use electronics in their projects. You’ve spent years developing the skills you use, and SparkFun wants to recognize that and help you expand your creations to include electronics without requiring you to spend years learning about electronics and programming.
Note: The “Out” jack is not for audio signals. Plugging an audio device into one of the Spectacle jacks could cause damage to the audio device. The audio jack on the Audio Board produces output suitable for amplification only. It is not suited to headphones or unpowered speakers.
Spectacle Audio Board Product Help and Resources
Spectacle User's Guide
May 4, 2017
The Spectacle system is designed to help those without electronics or programming experience integrate electronics into projects.
Spectacle Light and Sound Kit Hookup Guide
May 4, 2017
All the information you need to use the Spectacle Light and Sound Kit in one place.
Spectacle Audio Board Hookup Guide
May 4, 2017
All the information you need to use the Spectacle Audio Board in one place.
Spectacle Example: Super Mario Bros. Diorama
May 4, 2017
A study in building an animated diorama (with sound!) using Spectacle electronics.
Core Skill: Programming
If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.
Skill Level: Noob - Programming will be limited to basic drag and drop interfaces like ModKit or Scratch. You won't be writing code, but you will still need to understand some basics of interfacing with hardware. If you?re just using a sensor, it's output is analog.
See all skill levels
Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Noob - You don't need to reference a datasheet, but you will need to know basic power requirements.
See all skill levels
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Customer Reviews
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For a "user-friendly" product line I really think you guys dug yourselves into a hole with this board.
First off, using audio jacks, on an audio board, for something other than audio is inherently confusing. Second, the three jacks are clearly labeled: "Audio out", "In", and "Out"... and then right next to that you have the words "Audio Output"... Which is the board name, right? But it's right next to the data input jack. It almost looks like it could refer to the jack.
While the target audience isn't necessarily tech savvy, they're probably smart enough to navigate all this... It just seems a bit self-defeating to create a "user-friendly" product which then requires dire warnings like "don't connect your audio there or you'll wreck the board".
I think it's an interesting product line otherwise, though. I think it could be really valuable to a lot of people.