ESPod32 - ESP32 Wireless Media Controller

ESPod32 is a custom ESP32-based wireless media controller with a live OLED display.
An external music controller that can control media playback on a computer while showing the currently playing track, artist, and progress in real time.

The project combines Bluetooth HID controls, Wi-Fi communication, an OLED interface, and a Windows companion application.

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Features

• Play / Pause control
• Next and previous track buttons
• Volume control (on hold)
• Forward and backward controls
• Song title display
• Artist Name display
• Playback Progress Bar
• Works with media sources supported by Windows Media Session:
  • Apple Music
  • Spotify
  • YouTube
  • Browser players
  • Other supported media applications

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Working

ESPod32 uses 2 communication channels.

Media Control

The ESP32 behaves like a Bluetooth keyboard.

Physical Buttons
       |
       v
     ESP32
       |
       v
 Bluetooth HID
       |
       v
 Windows Media Controls

Live Display

A Python application reads the currently playing media from Windows and sends the information back to ESP32.

Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube
              |
              v
 Windows Media Session API
              |
              v
 Python Companion App
              |
              v
            Wi-Fi
              |
              v
            ESP32
              |
              v
          OLED Display

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Hardware

• ESP32
• SSD1306 128x64 OLED Display (I2C)
• 5 Push Buttons
• Breadboard
• Jumper wires

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Circuit Connections

OLED Display

OLED Pin	ESP32 Pin
GND	GND
VCC	3.3V
SCL	GPIO22
SDA	GPIO21

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Button Connections

All buttons use:

INPUT_PULLUP

My Configuration:

Button	Function	ESP32 GPIO
Left Red	Previous Track	GPIO19
Left Green	Volume Down / Seek Back	GPIO18
Black Center	Play / Pause	GPIO5
Right Green	Volume Up / Seek Forward	GPIO17
Right Red	Next Track	GPIO16

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ESP32 Setup

Required Arduino Libraries

Install following libraries from Arduino IDE Library Manager:

ESP32 BLE Keyboard

Adafruit SSD1306

Adafruit GFX Library

ArduinoJson

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Board Settings

Arduino IDE:

Board:
ESP32 Dev Module

And:

Tools
 |
 Partition Scheme
 |
 Huge APP (3MB No OTA)

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WiFi Configuration

Inside ESPod_V2.ino:

Edit:

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI";
const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";

to your WiFi details.

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Create Python Environment

Open main.py

cd ESPod32-main

Create the virtual environment:

python -m venv .venv

Windows:

.venv\Scripts\activate

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Install Dependencies

pip install winsdk requests

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Testing

Play a song from your media or streaming player and, verify the functioning by using the push buttons and checking the OLED display.

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