Build Your Own Retro-Style MP3 Player

Arduino® UNO R4 Minima

Arduino IDE 2.3.6

Arduino USB Type-C® Cable 2-in1

Grove - OLED Display 0.96"

SparkFun MP3 Player Shield.

Box 180 mixed buttons

Arduino® UNO R4 WiFi

<html><body><p>🎧 This compact device features five buttons: play/pause, next, previous, volume up, and volume down, plus an OLED screen that brings your music to life. The display shows a playback icon and a retro cassette animation that responds to play/pause actions, along with detailed 🎶 track info: number, title, elapsed time, and volume level. </p><h3>🛠️ Setup Instructions</h3><ol><li>Download the <code class="code">vs1053_avr_renesas_uno </code>library and add it to your Arduino IDE. </li><li>Open the Examples section and select <code class="code">portable_mp3_player_UNO_R4.ino </code></li><li>Upload the sketch to your <strong>Arduino UNO R4 WiFi </strong>or <strong>Minima </strong>board. </li><li>Connect the <strong>SparkFun MP3 shield </strong>, OLED display, and buttons as shown in the diagram below. </li></ol><p> </p><ol><figure><img src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/98274fa7-df9b-45a1-ae5a-e7ff7f02bd7c.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h3>⚠️ Preparing Your SD Card</h3></ol><p>The SdFat library uses the classic 8.3 filename format: up to 8 characters, a dot, and a 3-character extension (e.g., <code class="code">track001.mp3 </code>). Avoid long names like <code class="code">MyMusicPlaylist.mp3 </code>— they won’t work. </p><ol><li>Place your MP3 files directly in the root of the SD card (no folders). </li></ol><ol><li>Format the card as FAT16 or FAT32 to ensure compatibility with the library and hardware. </li></ol><p> </p><figure><img src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/f0209619-2248-414c-a57b-33c708753f18.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h3>⚠️ Compatibility Notes</h3><p>This project is exclusive to the Arduino UNO R4, which features a powerful ARM architecture. It easily handles: </p><ol><li>Audio decoding and playback using the VS1053 chip, controlled via SPI</li><li>SD card access through high-speed SPI communication</li><li>OLED display control via the I2C interface</li></ol><p>This enables smooth UI animations and responsive playback. </p><p>Other examples in the library support both the UNO R4 and classic AVR boards (UNO R3, MEGA R3, Leonardo). For instance, the <code class="code">portable_mp3_player.ino </code>sketch uses the same wiring but features a simplified UI without animation — ideal for resource-constrained boards. </p><h3>📺 Watch on YouTube</h3><figure><iframe src="https://youtu.be/5qlL_dXkuaY"></iframe></figure><p>Leave a comment, subscribe, and share it with fellow makers! And if you'd like to support future builds, consider buying me a <strong>Ko-fi ☕ </strong>— it helps me keep creating. </p><h3><a href="https://ko-fi.com/kaledsouky">https://ko-fi.com/kaledsouky</a></h3><p> </p></body></html>

Library repository (vs1053_avr_renesas_uno)

MP3 player wiring diagram and schematics

Installing Libraries

Testing audio files

Build Your Own Retro-Style MP3 Player

Create a portable MP3 player with a UI that evokes retro nostalgia and excellent audio quality, perfect for music lovers and makers.