Pocket Piano Arduino Shield

This project is a portable standalone music synthesizer which can be plugged directly into the Arduino board.

There are 25 multiplexed keys or 2 full octaves provided by this device along with 4 potentiometers, reset switch, D/A converter IC, RCA audio jack, and status LED. With the powerful AVR processor of the Arduino board, it is more adequate for a wide range of sound synthesis techniques. The board is designed to mount easily to panel material and round keys can be made out of wood or plastic. The USB port of Arduino can be used to power the device.

The switches will be snapped in during the installation and the resistors will be mounted standing vertically while placing each resistor into its appropriate location as well as each capacitor. A little preparation is needed before being settled. Each side of the chip should be carefully pressed against a flat object until they stand perpendicular to the IC’s body. The chips are oriented on the board so that their notches match the silkscreened labels and settle them into the solder padded holes. The potentiometers go into shaft facing up along the edge of non-labeled side.

Rest of the project