# Music on the picocalc **URL:** \ **Category:** PicoCalc\ **Created:** [March 31, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426 "2025-03-31T19:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![adcockm](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/adcockm/32/1664_2.png) [@adcockm](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/adcockm)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/21 "2025-04-17T23:51:26Z")
Did you build your own version of 6.00.02RC15 for the PicoCalc? If there’s a repo somewhere, then it might make sense for others to use it too, especially if you’ve managed to fix the keyboard disconnect issue and still keep all the PicoCalc support (for display, keyboard, etc.) in. I’m not sure what has changed from RC9 to RC15, but I guess the built in limits for overclocking was something that changed. They have separate values for different configurations too, like the HDMI and USB stuff, and I’m not sure what any of that is based on since it’s all running on the same Pico processors. Maybe there are weird timing issues depending on what other hardware is connected? Or maybe it’s all just arbitrary. The values in the code don’t really explain why they are different or changing in different releases. (Also, they should probably update the manual to match those new values at some point, and maybe explain what they are based on. No real reason to bother with it for the RCs since I doubt many people are using them since it’s bleeding edge, but for a new proper release hopfully that stuff will be in sync.) ---
**Author:** ![Raul\_Herrera](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/raul_herrera/32/11778_2.png) [@Raul\_Herrera](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Raul_Herrera)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 6:39am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/22 "2025-04-19T06:39:40Z")
The simplest solution for playing mp3 is something like this Option cpuspeed 200000 Play mp3 “b:mp3dir” And that’s it And no, nothing happens to your pico to run at 360000, mine is running for weeks that way and not even gets warm. And yes, if you only give the directory, mp3s plays in order one after other and you can control it with: Play next Play previous Play pause Play resume The name of the track is mm.info(track) And yes, I am running MMBasic V6.00.02RC7 ![1000033307](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/8/8625fe80eef394dc6a2797f9c569d6ee7e8b23a0.jpeg) Read the page 137 of the manual, (at the bottom) Best regards. P.S. in my SD only plays 20 songs, but I am not sure why, could be memory or the SD or something, please post your results. ---
**Author:** ![Toml\_12953](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/toml_12953/32/11925_2.png) [@Toml\_12953](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Toml_12953)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/23 "2025-04-19T17:43:46Z")
How do you set the CPUSPEED higher than 252000? When I try with WebMite MMBasic, I get an error saying the maximum is 252000. Also, why do you set the CPUSPEED to 200000 before playing an MP3? The Raspberry Pi website says speeds higher than 260000 will damage the WiFi/Bluetooth interface chip. ---
**Author:** ![Raul\_Herrera](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/raul_herrera/32/11778_2.png) [@Raul\_Herrera](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Raul_Herrera)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 4:18am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/24 "2025-04-20T04:18:56Z")
Ooh, I think it is because they are talking about the 2040, I have the 2350, and for playing mp3, you must set to minimum 200000, It is all on the manual, ![1000033308](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/3/3b42cd956e98fdd5011b5502fb6ba1bb81bd45ce.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/25 "2025-05-01T17:14:55Z")
With varous builds and cpu speeds, both pico and Pico2 I’ve had zero luck playing the supplied mp3 !. Yes even the magic 200000 cpu speed yet I always get “Error : mp3 init” Any ideas ?, unable to transfer other mp3’s to the sd card for a day or two… ---
**Author:** ![Flavio\_Villanustre](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/flavio_villanustre/32/11199_2.png) [@Flavio\_Villanustre](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Flavio_Villanustre)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/26 "2025-05-04T01:10:32Z")
Are you running on a pico or a pico 2? I have a pico 2 and it works fine there. ---
**Author:** ![adcockm](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/adcockm/32/1664_2.png) [@adcockm](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/adcockm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/27 "2025-05-04T01:28:07Z")
Looks like this might be a problem with the newer builds based on this: > **[TheBackShed.com - Forum](https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?TID=17777&P=36#238354)** > > The Back Shed's Homegrown Power home page. If that’s the case it makes sense that people running older builds wouldn’t have the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Flavio\_Villanustre](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/flavio_villanustre/32/11199_2.png) [@Flavio\_Villanustre](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Flavio_Villanustre)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/28 "2025-05-04T01:43:51Z")
I’m running the RC19, which was published yesterday, set speed to 250000 and don’t have that problem either. Again, on a pico 2. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/29 "2025-05-04T11:16:06Z")
PicoMite\_PICORP2350\_V6.00.02RC20.uf2 by adcockm. @300 Mhz Included mp3 file “Error : Mp3 init”. Tried 3 others (all 128Kb/s files as have none lower). Two worked, one gave the error 🤔. Will look at file differences asap. Quality headphones (4 ring with mic) work too and surprised the quality is ok 😳, definitely stereo. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:40am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/30 "2025-05-05T07:40:52Z")
Seems the mp3 playback issue is related to the encoder originally used to create the file. Initial look shows the failing included file (BellLabs\_Fine bitrate 64/24000) is “Lame 3.96” yet two of mine that work fine (bitrate 128/44100Hz) are ‘Fhg’ and ‘Xing’ encoded… (Using Pico2 @300Mhz, PicoMite\_PICORP2350\_V6.00.02RC20.uf2 by adcockm) ---
**Author:** ![hpsaturn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/hpsaturn/32/8358_2.png) [@hpsaturn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/hpsaturn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/31 "2025-07-17T17:11:18Z")
I have the same issue than you. I have working the PicoCalc MP3 Player, but only works the right channel. Anyone has stereo output? I was trying to use PicoMite but I have the “Only available with VS1053 audio” error. But my main concern is the stereo output. ---
**Author:** ![tabemann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tabemann](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/tabemann)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/32 "2025-07-17T17:32:11Z")
The problem with stereo output on the PicoCalc is that the two pins that the PicoCalc ties to the left and right channels are on the same PWM slice, so when using PWM to generate audio you can’t set the frequency independent of one another simply by adjusting the clock. Apparently you can get around this with things like wavetable synthesis, but I haven’t tried this myself. ---
**Author:** ![hpsaturn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/hpsaturn/32/8358_2.png) [@hpsaturn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/hpsaturn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/33 "2025-07-17T17:37:04Z")
Thanks for your quickly response. Well, but that means that in theory using a different board, for instance ESP32 Pico, or LuckFox with Linux, maybe these board can handled it? it isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![tabemann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tabemann](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/tabemann)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/34 "2025-07-17T17:44:52Z")
Yes. Unfortunately, though, there are more serious problems with using a Luckfox Lyra for audio, because to generate audio on both channels with it you need to conduct a bit of surgery, as reported elsewhere on this forum. ---
**Author:** ![picouser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@picouser](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/picouser)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/35 "2025-07-17T17:45:47Z")
The PicoMite RP2350 will play stereo MP3 files. The RP2040 isn’t fast enough to decode at 44.1KHz stereo. The PicoMite REQUIRES the left and right channels to be on the same PWM slice. ---
**Author:** ![tabemann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tabemann](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/tabemann)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/36 "2025-07-17T17:48:21Z")
And don’t even try to do 44.1 kHz MP3 playing on an RP2040 without seriously overclocking it. People have tried and failed to do this. The pretty much unanimous conclusion is that it cannot be done. ---
**Author:** ![hpsaturn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/hpsaturn/32/8358_2.png) [@hpsaturn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/hpsaturn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/37 "2025-07-17T18:08:23Z")
I don’t know, but with the Pico Mp3 Player and my original RP2040 (PicoCalc), that was working, I mean, mp3 files at 2ch 44100Hz was working (but mono of course) ---
**Author:** ![BlairLeduc](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/blairleduc/32/11808_2.png) [@BlairLeduc](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BlairLeduc)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/38 "2025-07-17T22:35:00Z")
> [@hpsaturn](#): > > I have working the PicoCalc MP3 Player, but only works the right channel. Anyone has stereo output? I noticed this when I had the volume knob set at minimum. Increasing the volume knob fixed the problem. ---
**Author:** ![VecTron5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/vectron5/32/13534_2.png) [@VecTron5](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/VecTron5)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 7:37am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/39 "2025-08-22T07:37:36Z")
Are we positive it’s a stereo track? Have either of you played the sample anywhere else to be sure? ---
**Author:** ![alj\_1108](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@alj\_1108](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/alj_1108)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426/40 "2026-02-06T00:44:58Z")
Guys found out that when they compiled the mp3 code they swap the pins around and only one channel works … 26.27.28 thinking the 26 and 28 is swapped in the config.h [Previous page](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/music-on-the-picocalc/16426.md?page=1)