Hardware & Software Requirements

We've written software in CircuitPython for the Feather M4 Express. This tutorial will get you started. We need to use an M4 (ATSAMD51 32-bit Cortex M4 core) because it's fast enough to play back MP3s. We also need to use CircuitPython version 5.3.0+. Follow this tutorial to install a newer version of CircuitPython.

CircuitPython Libraries

The code requires a few libraries, which we need to use with the Adalogger FeatherWing. Download The latest bundle and install the libraries listed below into the lib folder on your Feather M4 Express:

  • adafruit_bus_device folder
  • adafruit_register folder
  • adafruit_pcf8523.mpy

CircuitPython Code

Download the code from github by clicking Download ZIP. Uncompress the file and copy code.py from the CircuitPython folder to your Feather M4 Express CIRCUITPY drive.

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2020 Andy Doro for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

# AUTOCHEER DEVICE
# code by Andy Doro
#
# plays an MP3 at a specific time.
#
# uses native CircuitPython mp3 playback
#
# REQUIREMENTS:
# should use M4 (or higher)
# use CircuitPython 6.0.0+
#
#
# HARDWARE:
# Feather M4 Express https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857
# Adalogger https://www.adafruit.com/product/2922
#
#
# TO DO
# ---
# - daylight saving time
# - use built-in NeoPixel as indicator
#

import os
import time
import board
import audiomp3
import audioio
import digitalio


# For hardware I2C (M0 boards) use this line:
import busio as io

# Or for software I2C (ESP8266) use this line instead:
# import bitbangio as io

# import adafruit_ds3231
import adafruit_pcf8523

# SD card
import sdcardio
import storage

# NeoPixel
# import neopixel


# Use any pin that is not taken by SPI
# For Adalogger FeatherWing: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-adalogger-featherwing/pinouts
# The SDCS pin is the chip select line:
#    On ESP8266, the SD CS pin is on GPIO 15
#    On ESP32 it's GPIO 33
#    On WICED it's GPIO PB5
#    On the nRF52832 it's GPIO 11
#    On Atmel M0, M4, 328p or 32u4 it's on GPIO 10
#    On Teensy 3.x it's on GPIO 10

SD_CS = board.D10  # for M4

# Connect to the card and mount the filesystem.
spi = io.SPI(board.SCK, board.MOSI, board.MISO)
sdcard = sdcardio.SDCard(spi, SD_CS)
vfs = storage.VfsFat(sdcard)
storage.mount(vfs, "/sd")


# Use the filesystem as normal! Our files are under /sd
# This helper function will print the contents of the SD


def print_directory(path, tabs=0):
    for file in os.listdir(path):
        stats = os.stat(path + "/" + file)
        filesize = stats[6]
        isdir = stats[0] & 0x4000

        if filesize < 1000:
            sizestr = str(filesize) + " by"
        elif filesize < 1000000:
            sizestr = "%0.1f KB" % (filesize / 1000)
        else:
            sizestr = "%0.1f MB" % (filesize / 1000000)

        prettyprintname = ""
        for _ in range(tabs):
            prettyprintname += "   "
        prettyprintname += file
        if isdir:
            prettyprintname += "/"
        print("{0:<40} Size: {1:>10}".format(prettyprintname, sizestr))

        # recursively print directory contents
        if isdir:
            print_directory(path + "/" + file, tabs + 1)


print("Files on filesystem:")
print("====================")
print_directory("/sd")


data = open("/sd/cheer.mp3", "rb")
mp3 = audiomp3.MP3Decoder(data)
# a = audioio.AudioOut(board.A0) # mono
a = audioio.AudioOut(board.A0, right_channel=board.A1)  # stereo sound through A0 & A1


i2c = io.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)  # Change to the appropriate I2C clock & data
# pins here!

# Create the RTC instance:
# rtc = adafruit_ds3231.DS3231(i2c)
rtc = adafruit_pcf8523.PCF8523(i2c)

# Lookup table for names of days (nicer printing).
days = ("Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday")


# selected time
# 24 hour time
playhour = 19
playmin = 0

# pylint: disable-msg=bad-whitespace
# pylint: disable-msg=using-constant-test
# no DST adjustment yet!
if False:  # change to True if you want to set the time!
    #                     year, mon, date, hour, min, sec, wday, yday, isdst
    t = time.struct_time((2020, 5, 13, 15, 15, 15, 0, -1, -1))
    # you must set year, mon, date, hour, min, sec and weekday
    # yearday is not supported, isdst can be set but we don't do anything with it at this time
    print("Setting time to:", t)  # uncomment for debugging
    rtc.datetime = t
    print()
# pylint: enable-msg=using-constant-test
# pylint: enable-msg=bad-whitespace

# setup NeoPixel
# pixel = neopixel.NeoPixel(board.NEOPIXEL, 1)


# Main loop:
while True:
    t = rtc.datetime

    # print(t)     # uncomment for debugging
    print(
        "The date is {} {}/{}/{}".format(
            days[int(t.tm_wday)], t.tm_mday, t.tm_mon, t.tm_year
        )
    )
    print("The time is {}:{:02}:{:02}".format(t.tm_hour, t.tm_min, t.tm_sec))

    if t.tm_hour == playhour and t.tm_min == playmin:
        print("it is time!")
        # turn NeoPixel green
        # pixel[0] = (0, 255, 0)
        # play the file
        print("playing")
        a.play(mp3)
        while a.playing:
            pass
        print("stopped")
        # turn NeoPixel off
        # pixel[0] = (0, 0, 0)

    time.sleep(1)  # wait a second

Audio File & SD Card

You'll also need an audio file for the Feather M4 to play! We like this sample of a crowd cheering for front-line medical staff.

The Feather M4 doesn't have enough storage space for this audio file, so we'll need to use an SD card. Rename the audio file "cheer.mp3" and make sure your SD card is FAT32 formatted. Copy the file onto the SD card and insert it into the Adalogger FeatherWing.

Coin Cell

The Adalogger RTC FeatherWing needs a CR1220 coin cell installed in order to work properly and keep time when the device is unpowered.

Understanding the Code

Conceptually, the daily cheering device is simple: the Feather M4 Express is attached to a clock. Every second, the Feather M4 Express checks the time. If the hour and minute match the appointed time, the Feather M4 Express will play an MP3 off the SD card.

The selected time is defined in the code here:

# selected time
# 24 hour time
playhour = 19 
playmin = 0

The RTC uses 24 hour time, so 7 PM is 19:00.

Serial Monitor

You can use Mu Editor or another program to examine the serial output from the Feather M4.

SD Card & Audio File

On startup, the program will mount the SD card and print its contents. This is a good way to troubleshoot the SD card.

It will find the specified audio file and set the file to play stereo audio on the A0 and A1 pins.

data = open("/sd/cheer.mp3", "rb")
mp3 = audiomp3.MP3Decoder(data)
#a = audioio.AudioOut(board.A0) # mono
a = audioio.AudioOut(board.A0, right_channel=board.A1) # stereo sound through A0 & A1

RTC (Real Time Clock) & Setting The Time

Afterwards, you should see the date and time being printed every second.

# Main loop:
while True:
    t = rtc.datetime

    # print(t)     # uncomment for debugging
    print(
        "The date is {} {}/{}/{}".format(
            days[int(t.tm_wday)], t.tm_mday, t.tm_mon, t.tm_year
        )
    )
    print("The time is {}:{:02}:{:02}".format(t.tm_hour, t.tm_min, t.tm_sec))

If the time is incorrect, you can set it in the following section of code by changing False to True:

if False:  # change to True if you want to set the time!
    #                     year, mon, date, hour, min, sec, wday, yday, isdst
    t = time.struct_time((2020, 5, 13, 15, 15, 15, 0, -1, -1))
    # you must set year, mon, date, hour, min, sec and weekday
    # yearday is not supported, isdst can be set but we don't do anything with it at this time
    print("Setting time to:", t)  # uncomment for debugging
    rtc.datetime = t
    print()

This will change the time on the Adalogger FeatherWing's RTC. The RTC runs off the CR1220 coin cell battery when it isn't attached to power, which is how it continues to keep track of the time when the Feather is unpowered. Set True back to False once the time is set correctly. You can read more about the RTC and setting the time in the Adalogger FeatherWing Learn Guide.

This guide was first published on May 20, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 28, 2024.

This page (Software) was last updated on Mar 27, 2024.

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