This guide shows you how to build your own soundboard. Soundboards are commonly used for sound effects or to select various pieces of dialog on command, though this one features a set of open-source holiday audio clips for bountiful fun and mischief this holiday season.

This project uses the NeoTrellis M4 to create a soundboard capable of playing any of 32 audio clips when the corresponding button is pressed. Sounds are able to seamlessly interrupt one another, so you can press as messily as you like and this soundboard will keep up with you. 

About the NeoTrellis M4

The NeoTrellis M4 is an all-in-one Audio board, ready to become your next synth, soundboard, drum machine, keyboard, or any other invention you'd like to adapt it for. It’s powered by the SAMD51, a Cortex M4 core running at 120 MHz, featuring a roomy 512KB of flash and 192KB of SRAM. A separate flash chip provides a full 8MB of space for files and audio clips.

On the front side is a 4x8 grid of elastomer button pads with a NeoPixel nestled in the center of each one. You can read any/all button presses simultaneously thanks to the fully diode'd matrix, and also set each button color to any of 24-bit colors.

Parts

Hands pressing buttons on lit up NeoTrellis M4
So you've got a cool/witty name for your band, a Soundcloud account, a 3D-printed Daft Punk...
$59.95
In Stock
USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or...
$2.95
In Stock

Pick how you would like your sound output:

Two square-ish USB Powered Speakers
Add some extra boom to your audio project with these powered loudspeakers. We sampled half a dozen different models to find ones with a good frequency response, so you'll get...
$9.95
In Stock
Analog Potentiometer Volume Adjustable TRRS Headset
Most modern headphone sets are purely digital - with three volume control buttons in-line with the cable. These headphones are interesting in that they have an analog volume...
$7.50
In Stock

Or if you have something that takes audio in, you might consider this cable:

3.5mm Male/Male Stereo Cable
Seamlessly transmit high-quality stereo audio with this 3.5mm Male/Male Stereo Cable. Ideal for "passing the AUX cord," or connecting...
$2.50
In Stock

For on the go power with headphones:

1 x USB Battery Pack - 2200 mAh
USB Battery Pack - 2200 mAh Capacity - 5V 1A Output

or for use with speakers:

1 x USB Battery Pack - 10000mAh
USB Battery Pack - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs
Be sure you have adequate power as the NeoTrellis (with all those LEDs) draws a decent amount of current and will need power, especially with the LED brightness on higher settings.

This guide was first published on Nov 26, 2018. It was last updated on Mar 17, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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