Polish open {hardware} specialist Sonocotta has launched a tool designed to improve previous audio techniques to the “innovative” of media streaming — by hooking them in to an Espressif ESP32 microcontroller module: the Esparagus HiFi MediaLink.
“I did few audio tasks up to now, some utilizing [Espressif] ESP32, some utilizing bigger Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi gadgets. Every has its professionals and cons, and every iteration I am making an attempt to give attention to the main points that had been working finest for me, whereas truly utilizing them,” the Sonocotta’s Andriy Malyshenko explains of his creation. “What I like about ESP32 is how light-weight it’s. It barely attracts energy, so you might not care to show it off in any respect. It boots in seconds and is prepared to be used in a snap.”
In case your previous Hello-Fi wants a bit of web connectivity in its life, Sonocotta’s Esparagus HiFi MediaLink is right here for you. (📷: Sonocotta)
It is these options which have put the Espressif ESP32 on the coronary heart of Malyshenko’s creation, the Esparagus HiFi MediaLink. “[It’s] a useful low price media machine,” he explains, “that may improve your legacy audio system with cutting-edge web streaming capabilities and improve your audio expertise.”
The machine is constructed across the Espressif ESP32-WROVER module, giving it two 32-bit Tensilica Xtensa LX6 cores working at as much as 240MHz plus 4MB of usable pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM) — used, within the case of the Esparagus, for audio buffering. That is related to a Texas Devices PCM5100A digital-to-analog converter (DAC), driving a 2.1 VRMS line-level audio output on a 3.5mm stereo jack.
It is this jack which interfaces the Esparagus to powered audio system, a hi-fi, or some other otherwise-disconnected audio playback machine. There is a USB Sort-C port for energy, and a connector for an exterior antenna — a necessity, given the board is designed to be housed in a sturdy metallic mission field.
The board is designed to be used with current firmware, like squeezelite-esp32. (📷: Sonocotta)
“Over previous few years I [saw a] few superb software program merchandise created to ship audio on the ESP32, like squeezelite-esp32 or euphonium,” Malyshenko explains. “Esparagus HiFi MediaLink is designed particularly to run these nice items of software program and produce a brand new life into ageing audio tools that the majority of us have at dwelling however don’t use that a lot nowadays — since it’s not working with Spotify and the household.”
The design recordsdata and firmware for the Esparagus HiFi MediaLink can be found on GitHub beneath the permissive Apache 2.0 license; kits are in the stores for $25 together with the aluminum field and exterior antenna, with a $5 low cost when you do not want the field, on the Sonocotta Tindie retailer.
And as for the machine’s uncommon identify? “ChatGPT made me name it that manner,” Malyshenko explains. “I solely requested if there’s a fruit or vegetable that’s phonetically near ESP32, which is a coronary heart of this machine.”