Want to connect a speaker/amazon echo to arduino.

Hey all. So I am working on this project in which, when an IR sensor senses an object, it will trigger the speaker and play a greeting like "Hello" or "Welcome". I am trying to achieve this using an Arduino. I was planning to connect the speaker to the arduino using a 3.5mm cable. How can I achieve this? Any help is appreciated.

https://www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/cnyqz9/want_to_connect_a_speakeramazon_echo_to_arduino/

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aswinth over 5 years ago

Sounds like a fun project and it is easy to build. But connecting your Echo to Arduino though a audio cable will not work. Your Echo cannot take input through its audio port. The best way to do it sending signal to it wireless, and since your echo is already connected to internet the best way is to send signal to your echo using this internet.

Also this way you can place your Arduino with IR senor (or any desired sensor) at any location in your home. All you have to do is connect your Arduino to internet using a wi-fi module like ESP8266. If you are confused on how to get it done refer this Arduino Amazon echo interfacing project. The project uses an Arduino UNO to control an AC bulb but, you can edit it and adapt the project easily for your requirement.

All the best have fun!!
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BigG over 5 years ago

There is a way to connect a speaker to Arduino UNO, for example, and play audio but it won't sound very good. An online search on google or youtube will reveal.

To get Arduino to play decent audio through a speaker it needs an amplifier, to boost the volume or audio output, and an audio driver to decode standard audio files like .mp3 or .wav file formats and to make the audio output sound "smooth" with a high frequency clock and a good bit of RAM for audio buffering and a DAC + DSP that also helps reduce noise etc. .

There are plenty of ready made boards out there using codec chips like VS1053, for example.

You will also need a way to store the audio clip, such as an SD card, for example.

Here are two off-the-shelf examples:

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-music-maker-shield-vs1053-mp3-wav-wave-ogg-vorbis-player

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/little-soundie-audio-player-hookup-guide

Note, there is a also an alternative with some of the new Arduino boards, such as Arduino MKR1000, or with ESP32 or ESP8266 which offer I2S output. If the MCU has I2S then all you need is an amplier and you get good audio output.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3006
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beacon_dave over 5 years ago

If you want to output audio samples to a loudspeaker, then you may find Mike Cook's book "Arduino Music and Audio Projects" of interest, especially the chapter on sampling:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kK1PCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA359#v=onepage&q&f=false
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