The software
The firmware and the app are the same whichever path you take. You install them once the hardware is together.
DIY path
DIY / hand-wired
Assemble the parts on a breadboard with Dupont wires. No electronic board fabrication required.
DIY path
BOM, DIY version
Everything needed for the DIY path. Indicative 2026 prices, shipping excluded.
| Component | Suggested reference | Qty | Ind. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-S3 N8R8 | Suggested referenceESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 N8R8 | Qty1 | Ind. price~€12 |
| NFC reader | Suggested referencePN532 module (SPI mode) | Qty1 | Ind. price~€6 |
| I2S audio amplifier | Suggested referenceMAX98357A | Qty1 | Ind. price~€5 |
| Speaker | Suggested reference4 Ω 3 W (40-50 mm) | Qty1 | Ind. price~€3 |
| microSD reader | Suggested referenceSPI breakout module 3.3 V | Qty1 | Ind. price~€2 |
| microSD card | Suggested referenceClass 10 / U1, 8-32 GB, FAT32 | Qty1 | Ind. price~€6 |
| RGB LED strip | Suggested referenceWS2812B, 8 LEDs | Qty1 | Ind. price~€3 |
| Rotary encoder | Suggested referenceEC11 type with push button | Qty1 | Ind. price~€1 |
| Push buttons | Suggested referenceMomentary buttons | Qty4 | Ind. price~€1 |
| NFC tags | Suggested referenceNTAG213/215/216 (Type 2) | Qty≥5 | Ind. price~€5 |
| Breadboard + wires | Suggested referenceBreadboard + Dupont wires | Qty1 set | Ind. price~€6 |
| LED capacitor | Suggested referenceElectrolytic 100-1000 µF | Qty1 | Ind. price~€0.20 |
| USB power supply | Suggested referenceUSB 5 V brick (1 A min.) + cable | Qty1 | Ind. price~€5 |
The firmware uses no screen. For a portable build, a LiPo Rider module (planned for the 3D-printed enclosure, still being designed) powers the MusicBox from a LiPo battery. In-firmware battery management is still to come.
On this path the enclosure is yours to build: there is no STL file for a breadboard assembly.
Wiring
Connecting the components
GPIO pinout per peripheral, verified against the firmware code. Logic levels at 3.3 V.
| Peripheral | Bus | Pins (GPIO) |
|---|---|---|
| PN532 NFC | BusSPI | Pins (GPIO)SCK 14 · MOSI 13 · MISO 12 · SS 15 · RST 3 |
| microSD card | BusSPI | Pins (GPIO)SCK 18 · MOSI 17 · MISO 8 · CS 5 |
| MAX98357A audio | BusI2S | Pins (GPIO)DIN 40 · BCLK 41 · LRC 42 |
| WS2812B LED strip (×8) | BusRMT | Pins (GPIO)DATA 16 |
| EC11 encoder | BusPCNT | Pins (GPIO)CLK 9 · DT 11 · SW 10 |
| Action buttons ×4 | BusGPIO | Pins (GPIO)45 · 46 · 47 · 48 (active LOW) |
What's next?
Prototype V4
An all-in-one dedicated board by HermitX. Ships with the NFC antenna, a 3 W speaker and an NTAG215 card.