CD Audio Output

BlueSCSI can play the audio tracks from CD-ROM images (mixed-mode CDs and Red Book audio CDs) out to a real audio output. This needs an external DAC board, a firmware build that supports audio.

There are two paths depending on your board:

• BlueSCSI v2 (Pico based) uses an external S/PDIF adapter board wired to the Pico.
• BlueSCSI Ultra uses the Ultra Audio Board, which only works with Ultra.

BlueSCSI Ultra

BlueSCSI Ultra uses the dedicated Ultra Audio Board for I2S audio output. This board only works with Ultra and is not compatible with the Pico based BlueSCSI v2.

Flash the standard Ultra firmware (BlueSCSI_Ultra*.uf2); audio support is included in the Ultra build.

BlueSCSI v2 (S/PDIF)

NOTE: This will work on any BlueSCSI rev even if it doesn't have a Qwiic connector, see wiring below.

What you need

• A BlueSCSI v2 with a Pico 1/1W or Pico 2/2W module.
• The S/PDIF Qwiic adapter board avalible from most distributors.
  • Or wire up your own S/PDIF DAC.
• The Audio SPDIF firmware build for your Pico (see below).
• A S/PDIF capable amplifier or DAC.

1. Flash the Audio SPDIF firmware

The standard Universal firmware does not output audio. Flash the matching Audio SPDIF build for your hardware:

Your Hardware	Firmware File
Pico 1/1W + DAC for SPDIF audio	BlueSCSI_Pico1_Audio_SPDIF_*.uf2 / .bin
Pico 2/2W + DAC for SPDIF audio	BlueSCSI_Pico2_Audio_SPDIF_*.uf2 / .bin

See Updating Firmware for how to flash.

NOTE: Use the Audio SPDIF firmware only when you have the DAC connected. It disables I2C support, which is used for OLED displays and Qwiic accessories.

2. Wire the S/PDIF adapter board

Make the following three connections between the BlueSCSI and the S/PDIF adapter board:

S/PDIF adapter board	BlueSCSI
S/PDIF In	Pico GPIO 16 (S/PDIF output pin)
GND (one or both)	Any ground pin
+5V	VBUS on the Pico