ESP32 Sequencer Gets a Clear Y2K Case and a 666 mAh Battery Disguised as AAA

Remember when electronics came in clear cases? Around the turn of the millennium, translucency was all the rage, and [3DSage] clearly remembers. That's why he went to great lengths to build a transparent enclosure for his Clear Retro Music Sequencer, a project that nails the Y2K aesthetic down to the smallest detail.

The sequencer is built around an ESP32-S3 module with an integrated display. A rotary encoder handles most of the input — most, because there's also a second button and a stylophone-like array of brass rods along one edge of the custom PCB, which he cut with his fiber laser. These rods let you tap in notes directly. Other thoughtful touches include a phono jack with built-in switching, so audio automatically routes to headphones or the internal speaker depending on what's plugged in.

One of the cleverest details is the power source: a 3.7 V lithium cell rated at 666 mAh, disguised as a AAA battery. It's a small thing, but it gives the device the convenience of modern power without breaking the retro illusion — after all, you can see right through the case.

Speaking of the case, it's 3D printed from PETG using settings similar to those we've covered before: print hot, print slow, and never cross the streams. That means every layer has to align perfectly with the one above it. If you live somewhere humid like [3DSage], you'll want filament fresh out of the drier. The result isn't perfectly see-through, but a coat of clear enamel fills in the surface enough to read through it, delivering the vintage look he was after.

To complete the Y2K vibe, the whole thing snaps onto your wrist as a slap bracelet. Because why not? It's a fun, nostalgic build that brings back the translucent-tech era in a genuinely usable form.