Build a Larson Scanner with Sound Using an ESP32 -- Episode 670

Excellent project. Finally got all my parts in and routed out the copper. Wanted to confirm the top/bottom and left/right. At 4:23 you shows the copper routed out. Using the single notch at the bottom right, if I flip it over horizontally, that notch will be on the bottom left. Correct? Which way with the connector be on the ESP-32 be facing? Sorry for the questions. I am better at soldering the un-soldering.

Depends on which ESP32 devkit you are using, the pinouts are different.

Video of board and esp32

Dave I made a video of what I have.  I am still confused because my items are not lining up.  Let me know if the link does not work.  Thanks

Your stripboard is the mirror image of what Mark's board above is. 

You'll either need to:

1. solder the ESP32 onto the 'wrong side' of the board
   (space the header socket off the board enough to get your soldering iron tip under the black plastic.)
2. spin the board around 180 and reuse the uncut tracks and bridge any cut ones that need bridging
3. start over with a new board

If you look closely at Mark's component layout diagram, you can see where he made the cuts to the tracks on the copper side.

You could perhaps use a right-angle header as a 'surface mount'.

Just make sure they are spaced apart correctly before soldering.

If you keep the pins facing each other under the ESP32, it will leave the holes free for the jumper wires. 

I will just get a couple more boards,  So if I route out the copper, as in in my picture, it should be good to go?

Yes, that is the copper side view.

I got the new boards in and made the appropriate slots.  Soldered everything in and tested it out.  The LEDs are working.  Made adjustments and that is working.  I just don't have any sound.  Tried 2 different speakers and no sound.  I am not using the PUI audio speakers but have 2 small speakers from I pulled out of some computers.  Not sure the watts on them. Do you think that could be the problem?  I did put a volt meter on it and plugged it on.  i couldn't find any connections that showed a volt running through them.  Would you give me a couple of connections to see if my solder joints are bad

.

On the amplifier module you should be seeing 3V3 on both the Vin pin and the GAIN pin (via the two red wires).

GND should be connected to the ESP32 GND (via the blue wire).

DIN should be connected to the ESP32 pin D25 (via the two grey wires).

BCLK should be connected to ESP32 pin D32 (via the two orange wires).

LRC should be connected to D4 (via the yellow wire)

Check that the copper tracks are cut between the sound module and the ESP module.

Check ESP32 D32 has been cut between the ESP32 and the 5V supplying the middle pot.

Check ESP32 D23 has been cut between the yellow wire and LRC (easy to miss that one)

Looks like you can get more gain by adjusting the GAIN pin connection if needed: 

On the amplifier module you should be seeing 3V3 on both the Vin pin and the GAIN pin (via the two red wires).

GND should be connected to the ESP32 GND (via the blue wire).

DIN should be connected to the ESP32 pin D25 (via the two grey wires).

BCLK should be connected to ESP32 pin D32 (via the two orange wires).

LRC should be connected to D4 (via the yellow wire)

Check that the copper tracks are cut between the sound module and the ESP module.

Check ESP32 D32 has been cut between the ESP32 and the 5V supplying the middle pot.

Check ESP32 D23 has been cut between the yellow wire and LRC (easy to miss that one)

Looks like you can get more gain by adjusting the GAIN pin connection if needed: 

I got the sound to work!!!  But yes, it isn't that loud.  So if I understand your Table 8.  If I connect/route the 3v3 to the gain, I should get a louder volume?

As yo can tell i am not fluent in Arduino.  Will you be adding other sound effects?  I was thinking of a random "By your command" 

"...So if I understand your Table 8.  If I connect/route the 3v3 to the gain, I should get a louder volume?..."

The GAIN pin should already be connected to Vin ( 3V3 ) via the red wire.

Try disconnecting GAIN from 3V3 to see if you get an improvement; then connect GAIN to GND. Be careful that you don't short GND and Vin together.

You could perhaps wire in a multipole switch with the common connected to the GAIN pin to allow you to easily select between the various options. You will need 2x 100k resistors.

"...As yo can tell i am not fluent in Arduino..."

Getting hands-on with projects like these and then trying to add new features, will help increase your experience.

"...Will you be adding other sound effects?..."

It's not my project, so I'll leave Mark to answer that one

"...I was thinking of a random "By your command" ..."

Looks like that is already in the resource file provided above.

Attaching it to the GND did make it louder.  It's not like a KISS concert but louder than what it was before.  I see the resources with the sound files in it.  Could you direct me to a site that will teach me a little about combining two json files

"...Attaching it to the GND did make it louder.  It's not like a KISS concert but louder than what it was before..."

Looks like you get another 3dB yet if you connect to GND via a 100k resistor.

"... Could you direct me to a site that will teach me a little about combining two json files..."

There is a little intro to JSON here

https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_json.asp

It work.  Did get a little bit more sound out of it.  Sounds better

UGH!! Back to school 

Looks like there is also an audio volume setting in the code:

OK.  I must be looking at something totally different.  When I do a search through what I believe is the source code.  I do not see any audio listings.  I am opening the ESP32 board library in Google.  I can see what looks to be programming.  It's has been years.  Did some programming in Pascal and C but this doesn't look anything like it.

Try looking in the program sketch file: Cylon.ino