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MP3-TF-16P SD Card MP3 Module with Serial Port

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Ekostra Electronics

On April 5, 2025

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MP3-TF-16P SD Card MP3 Module with Serial Port

Compact Audio Playback Solution for Arduino and Microcontroller Projects

Introduction

The MP3-TF-16P module is a low-cost, high-quality audio playback solution that supports MP3 and WAV files from micro SD cards. Featuring a built-in DAC and amplifier, this module provides simple serial control and requires minimal external components.

Key Features

🎵 Audio Formats

Supports MP3 and WAV files (8-320kbps)

💾 Storage

Micro SD card slot (up to 32GB supported)

🔌 Simple Interface

UART serial control (9600 baud default)

🔊 Built-in Amplifier

3W output (requires 5V power)

Technical Specifications

Model	MP3-TF-16P
Control Interface	UART Serial (TTL level)
Audio Output	Mono 3W (8Ω speaker)
Operating Voltage	3.2-5V (5V recommended)
Supported Cards	Micro SD (FAT16/FAT32)
Standby Current	<20mA

Pin Configuration

Pin	Label	Description	Connection
1	VCC	Power (5V recommended)	5V
2	RX	Serial Receive	Arduino TX
3	TX	Serial Transmit	Arduino RX
4	DAC_R	Right Audio (not used)	–
5	DAC_L	Left Audio Output	Speaker+
6	GND	Ground	GND
7	SPK1	Amplifier Output+	Speaker+
8	SPK2	Amplifier Output-	Speaker-
9	IO1	GPIO (optional)	–
10	IO2	GPIO (optional)	–
11	ADKEY1	Analog Key 1	–
12	ADKEY2	Analog Key 2	–
13	BUSY	Playback Status	Digital Input
14	RESET	Active Low Reset	–
15	GND	Ground	GND
16	GND	Ground	GND

Note: For basic playback, you only need to connect VCC, GND, RX, and speaker pins

Basic Wiring with Arduino

// Basic Connections:
// MP3 Module VCC → Arduino 5V
// MP3 Module GND → Arduino GND
// MP3 Module RX → Arduino TX (Pin 11)
// MP3 Module TX → Arduino RX (Pin 10)
// Speaker+ → SPK1 or DAC_L
// Speaker- → SPK2 or GND

// Basic Connections:

// MP3 Module VCC → Arduino 5V

// MP3 Module GND → Arduino GND

// MP3 Module RX → Arduino TX (Pin 11)

// MP3 Module TX → Arduino RX (Pin 10)

// Speaker+ → SPK1 or DAC_L

// Speaker- → SPK2 or GND

Library Setup

DFRobot / DFRobotDFPlayerMini Library Arduino

1 file(s) 0.00 KB

Download

Install the DFRobotDFPlayerMini library via Arduino Library Manager
Include the library and SoftwareSerial in your sketch:

Arduino

#include "SoftwareSerial.h" #include "DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h"

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#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
#include "DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h"
Set up the serial connection:

Arduino

SoftwareSerial mySoftwareSerial(10, 11); // RX, TX DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;

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SoftwareSerial mySoftwareSerial(10, 11); // RX, TX
DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;

Basic Playback Example

#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
#include "DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h"

//Inicia a serial por software nos pinos 10 e 11
SoftwareSerial mySoftwareSerial(10, 11); // RX, TX
DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;
char command;
int pausa = 0;

void setup()
{
  delay (2000);
//Comunicacao serial com o modulo
mySoftwareSerial.begin(9600);
//Inicializa a serial do Arduino
Serial.begin(115200);
//Verifica se o modulo esta respondendo e se o
//cartao SD foi encontrado
Serial.println();
Serial.println(F("DFRobot DFPlayer Mini"));
Serial.println(F("Initializing DFPlayer module ... Wait!"));

if (!myDFPlayer.begin(mySoftwareSerial))
{
Serial.println(F("Not initialized:"));
Serial.println(F("1. Check the DFPlayer Mini connections"));
Serial.println(F("2. Insert an SD card"));
while (true);
}

Serial.println();
Serial.println(F("DFPlayer Mini module initialized!"));

//Definicoes iniciais
myDFPlayer.setTimeOut(500); //Timeout serial 500ms
myDFPlayer.volume(5); //Volume 5
myDFPlayer.EQ(0); //Equalizacao normal
menu_opcoes();
}

void loop()
{

//Waits for data entry via serial
while (Serial.available() > 0)
{
command = Serial.read();

if ((command >= '1') && (command <= '9'))
{
Serial.print("Music reproduction");
Serial.println(command);
command = command - 48;
myDFPlayer.play(command);
menu_opcoes();
}

//Reproduction
//Stop

if (command == 's')
{
myDFPlayer.stop();
Serial.println("Music Stopped!");
menu_opcoes();
}

//Pausa/Continua a music
if (command == 'p')
{
pausa = !pausa;
if (pausa == 0)
{
Serial.println("Continue...");
myDFPlayer.start();
}

if (pausa == 1)
{
Serial.println("Music Paused!");
myDFPlayer.pause();
}

menu_opcoes();
}


//Increases volume
if (command == '+')
{
myDFPlayer.volumeUp();
Serial.print("Current volume:");
Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readVolume());
menu_opcoes();
}

if (command == '<')
{
myDFPlayer.previous();
Serial.println("Previous:");
Serial.print("Current track:");
Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber()-1);
menu_opcoes();
}

if (command == '>')
{
myDFPlayer.next();
Serial.println("next:");
Serial.print("Current track:");
Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber()+1);
menu_opcoes();
}

//Decreases volume
if (command == '-')
{
myDFPlayer.volumeDown();
Serial.print("Current Volume:");
Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readVolume());
menu_opcoes();
}

}
}

void menu_opcoes()
{
Serial.println();
Serial.println(F("=================================================================================================================================="));
Serial.println(F("Commands:"));
Serial.println(F(" [1-3] To select the MP3 file"));
Serial.println(F(" [s] stopping reproduction"));
Serial.println(F(" [p] pause/continue music"));
Serial.println(F(" [+ or -] increases or decreases the volume"));
Serial.println(F(" [< or >] forwards or backwards the track"));
Serial.println();
Serial.println(F("================================================================================================================================="));
}

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#include "SoftwareSerial.h"

#include "DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h"

//Inicia a serial por software nos pinos 10 e 11

SoftwareSerial mySoftwareSerial(10, 11); // RX, TX

DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;

char command;

int pausa = 0;

void setup()

{

delay (2000);

//Comunicacao serial com o modulo

mySoftwareSerial.begin(9600);

//Inicializa a serial do Arduino

Serial.begin(115200);

//Verifica se o modulo esta respondendo e se o

//cartao SD foi encontrado

Serial.println();

Serial.println(F("DFRobot DFPlayer Mini"));

Serial.println(F("Initializing DFPlayer module ... Wait!"));

if (!myDFPlayer.begin(mySoftwareSerial))

{

Serial.println(F("Not initialized:"));

Serial.println(F("1. Check the DFPlayer Mini connections"));

Serial.println(F("2. Insert an SD card"));

while (true);

}

Serial.println();

Serial.println(F("DFPlayer Mini module initialized!"));

//Definicoes iniciais

myDFPlayer.setTimeOut(500); //Timeout serial 500ms

myDFPlayer.volume(5); //Volume 5

myDFPlayer.EQ(0); //Equalizacao normal

menu_opcoes();

}

void loop()

{

//Waits for data entry via serial

while (Serial.available() > 0)

{

command = Serial.read();

if ((command >= '1') && (command <= '9'))

{

Serial.print("Music reproduction");

Serial.println(command);

command = command - 48;

myDFPlayer.play(command);

menu_opcoes();

}

//Reproduction

//Stop

if (command == 's')

{

myDFPlayer.stop();

Serial.println("Music Stopped!");

menu_opcoes();

}

//Pausa/Continua a music

if (command == 'p')

{

pausa = !pausa;

if (pausa == 0)

{

Serial.println("Continue...");

myDFPlayer.start();

}

if (pausa == 1)

{

Serial.println("Music Paused!");

myDFPlayer.pause();

}

menu_opcoes();

}

//Increases volume

if (command == '+')

{

myDFPlayer.volumeUp();

Serial.print("Current volume:");

Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readVolume());

menu_opcoes();

}

if (command == '<')

{

myDFPlayer.previous();

Serial.println("Previous:");

Serial.print("Current track:");

Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber()-1);

menu_opcoes();

}

if (command == '>')

{

myDFPlayer.next();

Serial.println("next:");

Serial.print("Current track:");

Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber()+1);

menu_opcoes();

}

//Decreases volume

if (command == '-')

{

myDFPlayer.volumeDown();

Serial.print("Current Volume:");

Serial.println(myDFPlayer.readVolume());

menu_opcoes();

}

void menu_opcoes()

{

Serial.println();

Serial.println(F("=================================================================================================================================="));

Serial.println(F("Commands:"));

Serial.println(F(" [1-3] To select the MP3 file"));

Serial.println(F(" [s] stopping reproduction"));

Serial.println(F(" [p] pause/continue music"));

Serial.println(F(" [+ or -] increases or decreases the volume"));

Serial.println(F(" [< or >] forwards or backwards the track"));

Serial.println();

Serial.println(F("================================================================================================================================="));

}

File Preparation

Format micro SD card as FAT32
Create a folder named mp3 in the root directory
Name your audio files as 0001.mp3, 0002.mp3, etc.
Insert card into module before powering on

Tip: Files are played in numerical order (0001.mp3, 0002.mp3, etc.)

Advanced Features

Volume Control

myDFPlayer.volume(10);  // 0-30
myDFPlayer.volumeUp();  // Increase
myDFPlayer.volumeDown();// Decrease

myDFPlayer.volume(10); // 0-30

myDFPlayer.volumeUp(); // Increase

myDFPlayer.volumeDown();// Decrease

Playback Modes

myDFPlayer.play(1);    // Play specific track
myDFPlayer.next();     // Next track
myDFPlayer.previous(); // Previous track
myDFPlayer.pause();    // Pause playback
myDFPlayer.start();    // Resume playback

myDFPlayer.play(1); // Play specific track

myDFPlayer.next(); // Next track

myDFPlayer.previous(); // Previous track

myDFPlayer.pause(); // Pause playback

myDFPlayer.start(); // Resume playback

Equalizer Settings

// Available presets:
// Normal, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classic, Bass
myDFPlayer.EQ(DFPLAYER_EQ_BASS);

// Available presets:

// Normal, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classic, Bass

myDFPlayer.EQ(DFPLAYER_EQ_BASS);

Playback Status

uint16_t track = myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber();
uint16_t volume = myDFPlayer.readVolume();
uint16_t state = myDFPlayer.readState();

uint16_t track = myDFPlayer.readCurrentFileNumber();

uint16_t volume = myDFPlayer.readVolume();

uint16_t state = myDFPlayer.readState();

Troubleshooting

No Sound Output

Check speaker connections
Verify SD card is properly inserted
Confirm files are named correctly (0001.mp3, etc.)
Check volume setting (myDFPlayer.volume(20))

Module Not Responding

Verify power supply (5V recommended)
Check serial connections (RX/TX swapped?)
Ensure proper baud rate (9600 default)
Try resetting the module

File Playback Issues

Reformat SD card as FAT32
Check file format (MP3 or WAV)
Ensure files are in /mp3 folder
Try different bitrates (128kbps works well)

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Blogs

MP3-TF-16P SD Card MP3 Module with Serial Port

Introduction

Key Features

🎵 Audio Formats

💾 Storage

🔌 Simple Interface

🔊 Built-in Amplifier

Technical Specifications

Pin Configuration

Basic Wiring with Arduino

Library Setup

Basic Playback Example

File Preparation

Advanced Features

Volume Control

Playback Modes

Equalizer Settings

Playback Status

Troubleshooting

No Sound Output

Module Not Responding

File Playback Issues

Project Ideas

Audio Guide

Smart Alarm

Voice Prompts

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