Unleash the power of audio playback on your Raspberry Pi Zero using a USB sound card.

Learn how to add sound capabilities to your Raspberry Pi Zero by connecting a simple and affordable USB sound card, allowing you to enjoy music, videos, and other multimedia content. …


Updated September 23, 2023

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Learn how to add sound capabilities to your Raspberry Pi Zero by connecting a simple and affordable USB sound card, allowing you to enjoy music, videos, and other multimedia content.

Raspberry Pi Zero is an exciting and cost-effective way to build all kinds of projects, from IoT devices to fully functional computers. One feature that many users would like to have but often overlook is sound playback capability. With a few simple steps, you can easily add audio output to your Raspberry Pi Zero using a USB sound card.

  1. Prepare the hardware:

    • A Raspberry Pi Zero with a power supply and a Micro SD card installed.
    • A USB sound card or speaker that supports audio playback over 3.5mm jack. Examples include USB headphones, speakers, or external amplifiers like those found in car stereos.
    • An HDMI monitor and keyboard for the initial setup of your Raspberry Pi Zero.

  2. Boot up your Raspberry Pi:

    • Insert the Micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi and connect the power supply, Ethernet cable (optional), USB sound card, and HDMI cables to start the system.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial setup of your Raspberry Pi Zero if it’s your first time using it.

  3. Connect the USB sound card:

    • Plug in the USB sound card into one of the available USB ports on your Raspberry Pi Zero. The system should automatically recognize the device and load the necessary drivers.
    • Check that the sound card is properly connected by running the following command in the terminal:
    aplay -l

    This will list all available audio devices. If you see your USB sound card, it means the connection was successful.

  4. Test the sound output:

    • Play a test tone to ensure that the sound card is working properly by running the following command in the terminal:
    speaker-test -c 2 -t sine -f 10000

    This will produce a 1 kHz sine wave for 5 seconds on both channels. If you hear a high-pitched sound through your speakers, the setup is successful. You can adjust the frequency and duration as needed.

  5. Play audio files:

    • To play an audio file, use the aplay command followed by the file path. For example:
    aplay /home/pi/Music/example.wav
    • You can also use other programs like VLC or omxplayer to play music and videos. For instance:
    vlc /home/pi/Movies/example.mp4

    or

    omxplayer /home/pi/Music/example.ogg
    • Note that VLC may require additional packages to be installed, which can be done using the following command:
    sudo apt-get install vlc

And there you have it! With a few simple steps, you’ve unlocked the power of audio playback on your Raspberry Pi Zero. You can now enjoy music, videos, and other multimedia content on this tiny yet versatile device. Happy listening!