Spectrum Shield Hookup Guide (v2)

Contributors: Toni_K, santaimpersonator

Hardware Assembly

Solder Headers

As with any shield, the first step is to choose a header type. We recommend the stackable headers if you need to stack on other shields; otherwise, the (straight) male headers are the simplest to work with. Feel free to choose any connection method you prefer, but remember that his shield uses the Arduino Uno R3 form factor or footprint when selecting your headers.

You will need to solder the headers to the shield, so make sure you have all the appropriate supplies before you begin. If you aren't sure how to solder on the headers to the shield, please check out our How to Solder and Arduino Shield tutorials (also linked above).

Once completed, connect the shield to your microcontroller; if you are using Arduino Uno or SparkFun RedBoard, stack the shield on top.

Connect Audio System

In the following example, we will be using your computer as the audio source. Plug one end of the audio cable into the audio jack on your computer and the other end into the Input jack on the Spectrum Shield. Feel free to use the Output jack on the Spectrum shield to pass the audio out to a speaker or set of headphones.

Connecting to the Computer

The last thing you will need to do is attach the microcontroller to the computer (with a USB cable). If you have done everything correctly, it should resemble the image below.