Scuffedmp3
---
title: "Scuffed MP3"
author: "shaan"
description: "A Wifi-Enabled MP3 Player capable of streaming, downloading, and playing back music to either wired or bluetooth audio devices."
created_at: "2025-03-28"
---
Time spent: 20 hours(?)
This project was originally created with the intention of the creation of a starter kit for highway, however is now bring retroactively journaled for a highway submission due to unforeseen circumstances.
I have tried to journal with accurate dates as much as possible, however I cannot guarantee they are fully true. That being said, I guarantee that the process described in this journal is accurate and actually what I went through to build this project.
I started this project at more or less zero, with my only other PCB related project being hackpad. There has been a total of 3 iterations since then.
I would like to thank @alexren for introducing me to PCB design and running the wonderful community event which inspired this project, @qwel for working with me on the original design and trying to support me however possible, and @cyao as well as @rowyn and @acon for being cool.
The Start (Iteration #1)
March 28th, 2025
This project was initially sparked as a part of @alexren's fantastic community event - Speed Hack
. I had a blast, and met some amazing people, including @qwel.
The first (kind of) half iteration of this project was made that night by my team, @qwel and @michaeltheratz. I mainly worked on the firmware however did support the PCB and CAD process as much as I could. After about an hour and a half, our very inexperienced team had this:
Pictured in this version is a simple probably definitely non-functioning iteration of the MP3 player including:
- An ESP32-WROOM
- a 3.3v regulator
- some decoupling capacitors
- some pull down resistors
- a display
- a pushbutton
- a USB-C connector
At the end of the night, me and @qwel developed a plan to finish this project, and we were determined to do it...
Continued Beginnings (Iteration #1.5)
March 29th, 2025
Interesting turn of events.
Me and @qwel decided to just jump in and try to build a dumb version using physical components @qwel already had. Reusing some components from prior #asylum programs, we set off building a prototype. Unfortunately, after the device was half built, we made a realization: the regular ESP32 only supported Bluetooth Low Energy and would not work with Bluetooth Audio. @qwel wanted to disassemble and old phone and de-solder the DAC off of it to attempt to use it for the device, but I stopped him since I had doubts that it would be supported by the ESP32.
April 2nd, 2025
We decided to resolve to build this project using Onboard since @qwel hadn't used his grant yet. We decided to pause it until @qwel came back from vacation so we could properly sit down together and design.
April 12th, 2025
Onboard is about to end, we're screwed.
April 13th, 2025
Don't really know what to do..... Let's just wait and see if any new opportunities arise in the Summer. They have to be cooking something....
April 21st, 2025
Time to lock in :3
Side note: @qwel told me he didn't have the time to work on it any further since he was traveling a lot during his summer :( He bid me the best of luck and promised to support me wherever possible. I promised him I would finish this project if it was the last thing I would do.
Lock in season (Iteration 2)
April 22nd, 2025
I'm locking in.
Nvm we are leaving for the Vex Robotics World Championships in under 2 weeks and we do not have anything close to a functioning bot design, program, or cad... (personally blame @rowyn for this one /j)
May 1st, 2025
Okay, the bot seems to be mostly done now, I'll work on this through the weekend and take a quick break to tune autonomous routes, should be fine.
May 2nd, 2025
Okay the bot doesn't work at all.... Come on bro..... Am I ever going to actually even be able to start this???
It's fine, I'll push through anyway and I can work on this project a little when we are there and finish after we get back.
May 4th, 2025
Okay, schematic is done. I probably won't actually work that much on this during the trip to be honest, but I like the progress so far. I can probably get this done by Highway kickoff :3
May 5th, 2025
okay fine.... I'll go back and add labels...
Again!!! (Iteration 3)
May 12th, 2025 (?)
I got my shit together, actually learned (kind of?) how to PCB design (at least a little.....) and finished my schematic!!! It actually looks okay now!!!!
Featuring:
- OLED Display
- ESP32 WROVER (Bluetooth Classic Supported)
- TTP229 Touch Capacitive Chip
- PCM5102A DAC
- USB3 Type C port
- CP2102N USB bridge
- SPST Switch Power Button
- LDO
- Audio Jack
- Micro SD Card Reader
- Capacitive Touch Wheel
- JST PHR 2 Battery Connector
- Battery Charge Management Chip
- Resistors
- Decoupling Capacitors
May 16th, 2025 (?)
Routing done.
This was a complete pain in the ass to route I'm not even gonna lie... Completely terrible routing job....
It should work though!!!! I've decided to not be too harsh on myself because this is my second ever PCB :)
I placed the USB in the bottom left, power switch above that, audio jack in the bottom right, and SD card in the top right. The battery is behind the touch wheel on the back. I think it works out!
Now just to CAD the case :3
May 17th 2025 (?)
Cadded the case today. I had to rotate the power switch so it fits better in the case but aside from that it should fit well.
May 18th 2025
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I can't run this as a YSWS or starter kit for highway :(
I have been told to retroactively journal my process and submit it instead.
June 1st, 2025
I may have procrastinated for a bit, but the journal is now done!! I'm going to prep to submit it now :)
Appendix
This was a really fun project to make!! Unfortunately the submission process for this one was a little wacky because of the unforeseen circumstances but I hope I documented my journey well and showed how this all went. It has been a really long time coming, but I'm happy to have finally finished my project and to now be able to manufacture and assemble it with highway.
Thank you so much @alexren, @acon, and the rest of Hack Club. In the past I have mainly done software since I didn't have the means to work on hardware projects, but now I have been able to work on some hardware stuff, I have found it quite fun! See you all at Undercity :)