MP3 on VS1000 module? Patents have all expired.

[joe6486]

Now that all of the MP3 patents have expired, there really should be no barrier to including MP3 support on the popular VS1000 module (and chips for that matter). There is no longer any need for licensing or surcharge.

While OGG is arguably a better format, MP3 is undisputedly the "standard" and should be supported.

Any plans for this? It should be a straightforward software change?

[pasi]

There is not enough instruction RAM in vs1000 to decode mp3. Instead of a straightforward software change it would be a non-trivial change of the firmware ROM - gaining mp3 but losing Ogg Vorbis decoding.

The alternatives are:
- vs10xx standalone player (can be implemented as a module similar to the vs1103 module - I think needs one more regulator).
- vs1010, which supports mp3 in ROM and various other formats as loadable decoders.

[joe6486]

Thanks. I see a VS1103 module but it doesn't seem to support MP3, per the datasheet or website. Is there software available for this purpose?

I doubt anyone would have a problem with losing OGG support in favor of MP3. Like it or not, MP3 is the industry standard it seems.

[Panu]

I doubt anyone would have a problem with losing OGG support in favor of MP3. Like it or not, MP3 is the industry standard it seems

That's right - that's why we made the VS1010. Similar price as the VS1000, MP3 decoding and tons of features. Check it out!

-Panu