So I have a PC-2 (and PC-4) and, unlike my Tandy 102, the only input/output available is the cassette port. (Yes, I know about the RS-232 interface for the PC-2, but the PC-4 has no such thing.)
So I located this on Tindie.com. The SoundDuino claims to be able to record/playback sound. Coupled with an Arduino, I should be able to make a nice digital recorder. The keyword is "should".
After thinking it through, I also decided to pick up a 16x2 LCD display with buttons from Adafruit.
I also picked up a PowerBoost 500 Shield and battery to power everything.
Everything looked good. I didn't see any problems. Until I tried to actually make things work.
The main problem is that the SoundDuino doesn't work.
To be fair to the developer, he responded very quickly to my questions and even offered to replace my SoundDuino as though it was defective (he says that he tests all of them before he ships them out). So I got my new SoundDuino and just set out to make his examples work.
After a few hours of work, I gave up. Playback works fine. The only problems that I had were with some sound files that were recorded with a really low bit rate. I didn't expect the SoundDuino to play those.
The SoundDuino was very flaky. I got it to record a short sound using the built in microphone - but only twice. I never was able to get it to work with a known good microphone. Communications was spotty at best. Most of the time, the board wouldn't communicate back with the Arduino. I could send commands, but responses never showed up.
Even playback wasn't reliable. 25% of the time I booted the device, the board wouldn't respond at all.
I fully believe that the maker tests all his boards. But I don't think he really tests them thoroughly.
There was a minor problem with the LCD display buttons. They didn't really de-bounce them very well. I had to add some extra de-bounce code to prevent double clicks when the button was pressed only once.
Overall, a failed project. But lots of learning in it.
As far as my PC-2 and PC-4 are concerned, using my PC's sound card is much more useful.
