What I wanted to learn, and why it interested me: We wanted to learn how to use the DFplayer mini and experiment with sound! We haven't explored this topic before, so we wanted to venture out:)

Process and reflection: 

When we initially began our exploration with sound, we struggled a bit to get the speaker to work. Part of this struggle came from the fact that we kept using broken speakers (and we didn't export the mp3 files properly). But the main problem we had was simply using the wrong resistor, causing the whole sound system to fail. 

After we realized our issues, we switched to a better functioning speaker component and were able to quickly come up with our creative output. While experimenting, we also realized that the speaker sound quality improved when we used a 1k ohm resistor between the DFplayer mini's rx to arduino connection. Although the static sound still prevailed, the sound was a lot more crisp. 

Overall, both of us found this exploration a bit challenging but very rewarding in the end, especially since we now have a pocket Daniel Caesar mp3 player we can listen to at any given time! Now, we are also more careful to pick out the right resistor and save hours of debugging and rewiring...

//code base came from copilot! songs are all Daniel Caesar :)

//track 1: get you

//track 2: best part

//track 3: superpowers

    Arduino pin | role  | details

    ------------------------------

    A0             input   potentiometer

    2              input   tactile button switch

    3              input   tactile button switch

    4              input   tactile button switch

    10             output  DF Player Mini

    11   ourpur  DF Player Mini

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#include <DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h>

SoftwareSerial mySerial(10, 11); // TX, RX for serial communication

DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;

const int buttonPins[] = {2, 3, 4}; // Button pins

const int trackNumbers[] = {1, 2, 3}; // Corresponding tracks

bool lastStates[] = {HIGH, HIGH, HIGH};

const int potPin = A0; // Potentiometer connected to A0

int lastVolume = -1;   // To track volume changes

void setup() {

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {

    pinMode(buttonPins[i], INPUT_PULLUP);

  }

  Serial.begin(9600);

  mySerial.begin(9600);

  if (!myDFPlayer.begin(mySerial)) {

    Serial.println("Unable to begin DFPlayer Mini");

    while (true);

  }

  myDFPlayer.volume(20); // Initial volume from range of 0-30

}

void loop() {

  // Check buttons

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {

    bool currentState = digitalRead(buttonPins[i]);

    if (lastStates[i] == HIGH && currentState == LOW) {

      myDFPlayer.play(trackNumbers[i]);

      delay(200); // Debounce

    }

    lastStates[i] = currentState;

  }

  // Read potentiometer and update volume

  int potValue = analogRead(potPin); // 0–1023

  int volume = map(potValue, 0, 1023, 0, 30); // DFPlayer volume range

  if (volume != lastVolume) {

    myDFPlayer.volume(volume);

    lastVolume = volume;

  }

  delay(50); 

}