Generate Sound And Melody Using PIC Microcontroller Tutorial

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Sound is a function of frequency. This concept has been used to generate sound from the microcontroller. Different types of sounds can be produced by varying the frequency.

This article explains the concept behind generating sound from the PIC microcontroller . This concept can be used to generate sound with any MCU. It can be used to generate specific sounds or alarms. This circuit has wide applications like in cars to produce sound while reversing, in electronic piano to generate different tones, or in electronic toys to generate tones.

Sound Library

The mikroC PRO for PIC provides a Sound Library to supply users with routines necessary for sound signalization in their applications. Sound generation needs additional hardware, such as piezo-speaker (example of piezo-speaker interface is given on the schematic at the bottom of this page).

Library Routines

• Sound_Init
• Sound_Play

Sound_Init

Prototype	void Sound_Init(char *snd_port, char snd_pin);
Returns	Nothing.
Description	Configures the appropriate MCU pin for sound generation. Parameters : snd_port: sound output port address snd_pin: sound output pin
Requires	Nothing.
Example	// Initialize the pin RC3 for playing sound Sound_Init(&PORTC, 3);

Sound_Play

Prototype	void Sound_Play(unsigned freq_in_hz, unsigned duration_ms);
Returns	Nothing.
Description	Generates the square wave signal on the appropriate pin. Parameters : freq_in_hz: signal frequency in Hertz (Hz) duration_ms: signal duration in miliseconds (ms)   Note : Frequency range is limited by Delay_Cyc parameter. Maximum frequency that can be produced by this function is Freq_max = Fosc/(80*3). Minimum frequency is Freq_min = Fosc/(80*255). Generated frequency may differ from the freq_in_hz parameter due to integer arithmetics.
Requires	In order to hear the sound, you need a piezo speaker (or other hardware) on designated port. Also, you must call Sound_Init to prepare hardware for output before using this function.
Example	// Play sound of 1KHz in duration of 100ms Sound_Play(1000, 100);

Example Program

The example is a simple demonstration of how to use the Sound Library for playing tones on a piezo speaker

/************************************************************************/

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 void Tone1() {

  Sound_Play(659, 250);   // Frequency = 659Hz, duration = 250ms

}

void Tone2() {

  Sound_Play(698, 250);   // Frequency = 698Hz, duration = 250ms

}

void Tone3() {

  Sound_Play(784, 250);   // Frequency = 784Hz, duration = 250ms

}

void Melody() {           // Plays the melody "Yellow house"

  Tone1(); Tone2(); Tone3(); Tone3();

  Tone1(); Tone2(); Tone3(); Tone3();

  Tone1(); Tone2(); Tone3();

  Tone1(); Tone2(); Tone3(); Tone3();

  Tone1(); Tone2(); Tone3();

  Tone3(); Tone3(); Tone2(); Tone2(); Tone1();

}

void ToneA() {

  Sound_Play( 880, 50);

}

void ToneC() {

  Sound_Play(1046, 50);

}

void ToneE() {

  Sound_Play(1318, 50);

}

void Melody2() {

  unsigned short i;

  for (i = 9; i > 0; i--) {

    ToneA(); ToneC(); ToneE();

  }

}

void main() {

  TRISB  = 0xF8;                     // Configure RB7..RB3 as input

  Sound_Init(&PORTC, 3);

  Sound_Play(880, 1000);             // Play sound at 880Hz for 1 second

  while (1) {

    if (Button(&PORTB,7,1,1))        // RB7 plays Tone1

      Tone1();

    while (RB7_bit) ;                // Wait for button to be released

    if (Button(&PORTB,6,1,1))        // RB6 plays Tone2

      Tone2();

    while (RB6_bit) ;                // Wait for button to be released

    if (Button(&PORTB,5,1,1))        // RB5 plays Tone3

      Tone3();

    while (RB5_bit) ;                // Wait for button to be released

    if (Button(&PORTB,4,1,1))        // RB4 plays Melody2

      Melody2();

    while (RB4_bit) ;                // Wait for button to be released

    if (Button(&PORTB,3,1,1))        // RB3 plays Melody

      Melody();

    while (RB3_bit) ;                // Wait for button to be released

  }

}

Circuit Diagram 

MikroC Sound Library