Looking for member insight into the JR6001 Serial MP3 Custom Programmable Sound Recorder Module

Question

Does any members have resources they are willing to shared relating to JR6001 Serial MP3 Custom Programmable Sound Recorder Module?

I use Arduino’s microcontrollers in animation projects for model railroad layouts. Some of the animation projects include sound. I’m working to replace the DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player Audio Voice Module Board I currently use for sound generation, with a JR6001 Serial MP3 Custom Programmable Sound Recorder Module board.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005001437371458.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.660e63c0EE8o1g

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4000493349080.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.660e63c0EE8o1g

The DFModules require memory cards and the replacement modules don’t. Smaller memory cards are harder to come by as well as increasing my cost. Using 16G cards for less than 100Meg of audio files is inefficient.

In my enthusiasm, I made an online purchased of a few JR6001 modules without doing more extensive research. My initial research provided documents that was encouraging. I now discover there is little vendor support and searches for the module don’t generate usable results. I’m looking to connect the module to Arduino Nano’s. The serial communication protocol details that I have found for the module is limited. There doesn’t appear to be a library that supports this particular device.

I’m hoping the support for the DFROBOT voice module https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1741.html might provide some insight. They provide considerable information on serial communication. I should have purchased their modules instead of the much cheaper alternate model. I never seem to learn that lesson that cheap is just as good. Buyer be ware!

I have limited experience using Arduino serial protocols. I’m thinking of connecting two Nano’s together over serial to become more familiar with the protocols. I have to do some pin soldering on the voice modules so I can breadboard them for testing. My first attempt will be using the DFROBOT information. It seems to be the most comprehensive.

I was looking for an Arduino library that would enable both selections and playing of an MP3 file communicated to the module. I've witnessed on this site obscure questions be asked through members posts and someone having an answer. That knowledge potential just blows me away. I’m figuring maybe someone is just a cheap as me and hoed a row of knowledge to get this device working they might be willing to share.

fmilburn · Answer

Sorry but I am unable to help. However, I have also been using the DFRobot modules with the memory cards and would be interested if you or others find a way to get the others working.

colporteur · Answer

I just got a resupply of the DFPlayer modules. It might be a knock-off of the DFRobot player. I had some random failure problems with them lately. It has been suggested to avoid powering them from the Arduino supply. I'm giving that a try to see if it reduces my throw aways. I've loaded audio on to these solid state modules fairly easy. They appear as a USB drive in Ubuntu. They come with a collection of Chinese MP3 audio files. I replaced them all with some others and the unit plays fine connected as a USB device. I read in some documentation I stumbled across that a USB connection overrides the serial communication. The note may have not been for this specific device. I'm hoping to kludge together enough stuff to get it working. It does eliminate the SD card overhead.

ralphjy · Answer

Not the answer to your specific inquiry, but I noticed that AliExpress has quite a few similar sound player modules. In the particular, the JQ6500 seems to be well documented and also has a contributed Arduino library - https://github.com/sleemanj/JQ6500_Serial . Datasheet - https://components101.com/modules/jq6500-mp3-player-module-pinout-features-datasheet-working-application-alternative . Not sure how similar these modules are (whether the serial control syntax is the same), but it might be worth buying something that is documented. Really a tough go with these cheap Chinese parts.

dougw · Answer

Here is a quick video of someone using it. http://video01.alibaba.com/vod-icbu/a9b5b21ee64d2b47/yk6LuqdJwFbQFes1az5/J0umYflPVSHz3nXi626_248410107423_sd_hq.mp4?w=96… Probably not complete enough....

genebren · Answer

Sean,

I don't know if you have found this link yet, but it does contain a PDF file that show various serial command strings to control the playback unit. I am not sure if the communications protocol is fully described, but it might be just plain text with no headers/trailers.

From https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AJygk9SpOXGITurUk9lDWA6ZbE9E4Hut click on the JR6001 directory and download JR6001 en.pdf

Good luck!

colporteur · Answer

With eight hours of effort I've exhausted my knowledge level. First it appears the modules I have are sensitive to power. If I use PC Computer power by breaking out a USB port the unit appears to interact the way I would expect. Sending the line AA 01 00 AB I get a return identified in A & C. If I use power from buck/bust board, 3.3 & 5V from Raspberry Pi or a DC Variable wall wart 3,3, 4.5 & 5 I get the characters identified by B. I did try the Cutcom application. The items identified by the 1 are the response when the AA command are issued. Same response for both. Identifier 2 is what is returned on power up. The LED on the module lights momentarily and then goes out. The LED is on all the time in the video. I noted the LED is on when the modules is connected to the USB port. With the module connected for serial and the USB connection is made, the LED comes on a the module appears as USB storage. The Cutecom console doesn't respond to commands. The documentation indicates the USB overrides the serial. When the USB cable is removed from the module output identified with 3 I did these tests with two different modules and they both behave the same,

dougw · Answer

I have had lots of problems with noisy USB wall warts, which prompted me to make a USB connector for my big power supply. It has come in very handy many times.

ralphjy · Answer

Hi Sean, Just wanted to let you know that I think it is a power supply issue as you suspect. You inspired me to buy a couple of JQ6500 modules from Amazon which arrived yesterday. I posted about using them today JQ6500 MP3 Player . I used a Xiao board and the Arduino library from James Sleeman. Since the codes for the JQ6500 are documented, I thought it would be entertaining to to try the same process that you are using. I used RealTerm on Windows to send the Hex sequence. I am using an MCP2221A for the USB to UART interface. I hooked it up with the JQ6500 powered by the MCP2221A board and I was just getting jibberish from the speaker and in the terminal response. Interestingly enough even grounding the K1 pin produced jibberish which surprised me. The DC voltage measured a solid 3.3V on the DVM, but that doesn't show transients well. I then tried powering each board separately through their respective USB connectors, only connecting the UART pins and ground - and that worked!! Here's the working setup: And the RealTerm window. The Hex sequence is for PLAY. The OK response was when it started playing and the STOP when it finished. It's dinnertime and I didn't leave space to easily bypass the power at the JQ6500 pins on the breadboard, so I'll probably have to try that tomorrow. Ralph

fmilburn · Answer

Note that Ralph and I are in the US. Not sure if you get US Amazon fulfillment in Canada.

scottiebabe · Answer

Just adding food for thought. The serial commands for the JQ8400 ( https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/F6P/W2IY/J48PVN1C/F6PW2IYJ48PVN1C.pdf ) seem to align with the DFR0534 ( https://wiki.dfrobot.com/Voice_Module_SKU__DFR0534 ). If you have usb-serial breakout board it wouldn't be too difficult to give the commands a try.

colporteur · Answer

The JQ6500 had a few more pins than the units I have. Mine appear to be similar to docs I found on a Jq8400. I found some stuff on the JQ8400 but the link to the zip files doesn't appear to be working. https://github.com/sleemanj/JQ8400_Serial/blob/master/README.md#download-install-and-example I will stack your library find in the queue for testing with other possible libraries. I agree on the tough going. I'm usually venturing into products someone else has gotten to work. My skills are not at that level. Thanks for the link. I will keep you posted on progress.

fmilburn · Answer

As noted above I haven't used this module but my typical development process with the other ones is to use a bench power supply during development as Doug suggests and the typical use case is to separately power the module directly from a battery. One idea though - you might try a large capacitor between Vcc and GND at the module pins while using your wall wart. I'm assuming the Vcc pin is tied directly to 5V USB on the PCB.

fmilburn · Answer

I may have to make one of those :-)

ralphjy · Answer

Let me reiterate to see if I got this right. The JQ6500 is powered via USB. TX,RX & Gnd are connected to the serial interface. Speaker is connected. This configuration will play a MP3 file. Yes, that's correct. Although adding a capacitor to the JQ6500 power pins only made the problem slightly less intermittent. To my embarrassment, I discovered that my power jumper wire was making poor contact with the breadboard. I decided to replace all of the jumpers with a newer set and the problem went away. I'm now running in my original configuration with the JQ6500 getting power from the MCP2221A board. And everything is working great. I tried other commands and queries like changing and reading back the volume and that's all working. Much more convenient to use the library though . And I still need to remove that capacitor. Working configuration: Hope that you can figure out how to get one or two of these to try. Never tried Amazon from other countries. Worst case, Frank or I could probably get some for you. I'm not sure if I ordered some if Amazon-US would deliver to Canada with Prime.

dougw · Answer

I have ordered from Amazon-US before (I'm in Canada). Each supplier on Amazon indicates whether they ship to Canada. They don't all ship to Canada, but many do.

scottiebabe · Answer

I think we are on the same wavelength. My recommendation for a usb-serial adapter was only based on my past experiences, I just find it personally easier than trying to go directly to code. Here is an example of one serial terminal program I like to use RealTerm: I am sending a sequence of hex bytes to a pico which echoes them back. They happen to be valid assci codes as you can see in the return string.

scottiebabe · Answer

In Canada, for no-name electronics / China modules I have been ordering from https://www.universal-solder.ca/ and have been very pleased for at least 3 years now.

colporteur · Answer

I have added your resource to my list. I have used banggood.com for a number of years with good success. At one point I order so much stuff (multiple projects) they offer me a buyer status that provides some discounts. The downside, really long wait times and with the pandemic it takes weeks to discover they have back ordered stuff. I have been doing some light shopping at Aliexpress lately. I didn't see the JQ6500 on your resource. To bad I would have given them a try.

ralphjy · Answer

Hi Sean, Not sure exactly what you are looking for, but this module does have an external 2W audio amplifier (8002A) on the bottom side of the PCB that drives the SPK+/- pins. That's how I'm using it. The volume control on the JQ6500 chip has 30 levels and I've been using it halfway (usually a little less ~12-13). I want to use this module with 3.3V, but it may have issues at high volume (the spec that I have indicates an operating voltage of 3.5-5V, but I'm using 3.3V). The part has an interesting single pin key interface (ADKEY) that looks like it just uses an A/D to measure voltage off a divider. So, you could add volume keys with a couple of resistors. Maybe I'll write something up when I get the chance. The volume keys are dual function - short press for first function, long press for volume. Ralph