22 replies to this topic

[Big_Valven]

Soundcard - anything that does the number of channels you want, no big deal, some good audio leads with 3.5mm -> RCA pairs and you're set, no real need for a preamp.

Steal a remote wire to trigger the amplifiers from a 12V rail inside your PC, ie hard drive power, which is active only when the computer is on.

As for volume - I would use a hardware knob interfaced to windows / centrafuse. They are around the place, none come immediately to mind though.

This would be the best implementation as you will have a minimal amount of analogue cabling running around.

[birdd]

Big_Valven, thanks for your advice... My concern is that sound cards aren't all equal... also some I believe will have higher voltage outputs which will help (like the 5V preouts on headunits...)

With the hardware knob connected to Windows, are you referring to say a USB connected "dial" something like the Griffin Powermate? (its a bit of overkill through I think, and its a bit large so not as easy to fit in to the car and look factory)

Maybe I should go with your suggestion from a while back and use a pot inline with the RCA output? my concern with that is how to control the volume of all channels simultaneously (ie front, rear and sub)? Also I think I would prefer to have the volume controlled independently of the computer just in case the computer crashes and then i can no longer control the volume...

Maybe I could do some sort of PicAxe based system... (though I've never gotten around to using them, I've got a couple of AX08M's and a AX18 from memory)

[Big_Valven]

That's why I backflipped on the analogue volume control - multiple channel control is an issue.

Going for an analogue-digital-analogue control with a picaxe is definitely possible for multi channel control if you're up for a challenge.

As for sound cards, sure they're not equal, and some are less equal than others, others are more equal than less equal equals... I challenge you to tell the difference in-car, taking into account output voltages too!

[birdd]

Big_Valven, on 30 November 2010 - 12:01 PM, said:

That's why I backflipped on the analogue volume control - multiple channel control is an issue.

Going for an analogue-digital-analogue control with a picaxe is definitely possible for multi channel control if you're up for a challenge.

As for sound cards, sure they're not equal, and some are less equal than others, others are more equal than less equal equals... I challenge you to tell the difference in-car, taking into account output voltages too!

Ok well I've just bought a Creative Sound Blaster 5.1 Channel Sound PCI Card (Here)

As far as volume control goes, I think I'll have to investigate the Picaxe option... I'm thinking a rotary encoder into the picaxe and them maybe have the picaxe control 3 digital pots simultaneously... maybe a picaxe controlled version of this: http://www.electroni...udiockt11.shtml ???

What do you think Big_Valven? you seem to be the electronics expert around here

I'll then have to work out how to integrate the volume control "knob" into the car to look the most factory... any suggestions there as well?

Edited by birdd, 30 November 2010 - 02:38 PM.

[Big_Valven]

There are heaps of volume control ICs and digital pots around so that's no problem, isolating and supplying power to them may be the challenge in a car, the power system in a car is all but clean.

As for the volume knob, a large plastic knob painted to match the trim is a start... as for mounting, it'd have to suit the car I guess!

The digital option would be to buy a USB / hardware knob like the one you mentioned and gut the externals and mount the PCB and encoder somewhere with a new knob, still seems the easiest option to me but it's up to you

[birdd]

I've unfortunately given up on my carputer after spending 3.5years or so slowly building it up and custom molding the 7" screen into a spare dash surround, then to discover on the weekend that Centrafuse (or any other frontend) doesn't support iPhone or iPod touch for music... apparently Apple doesn't allow it over the regular USB cable, and you need a custom cable with Serial for controlling and getting playlists titles etc, RCA for audio, and USB for charging, but even that Centrafuse doesn't support, so I'd have to write my own plugin for Centrafuse to support it...

So disappointingly I've given up on my carputer project...

I am considering possibly getting one of those Double-DIN headunits off eBay that have GPS, DVD, iPod support, MP3, etc all built-in... But I'm not sure about the quality of them... And the other thing I'm not sure about is the consistency of the interface, from the screenshots alot of them seem to change interface between the radio, GPS, and iPod, etc, as in completely different appearance... So not sure if there is a better one to go for... maybe even one that is "hackable" as they mostly based on Windows CE so I could write my own front end for it possibly...

So for the time being I'm just back to my Pioneer 6850 with Pioneer iB100 iPod adaptor that works great (other than that you can't select a Podcast from the headunit... you have to start it on the iPhone and then hit pause and plug it in then your good to go... regular music, playlists, artists, etc are all fine, just doesn't seem to be an option for Podcasts...). And then just using Navigon on my iPhone with a Navigon windscreen mount for my GPS navigation when i need it... not as fancy and seamless as I had hopped I could have with the carputer... but it works for now until i can find a better option

[Big_Valven]

True, but the advantage of a carputer is being able to keep all your music on a whacking great hard drive anyway.

If you wanted GPS and Ipod / Iphone you would have been better off with a double DIN headunit?

[Sicarius123]

birdd, on 08 December 2010 - 01:01 PM, said:

I've unfortunately given up on my carputer after spending 3.5years or so slowly building it up and custom molding the 7" screen into a spare dash surround, then to discover on the weekend that Centrafuse (or any other frontend) doesn't support iPhone or iPod touch for music... apparently Apple doesn't allow it over the regular USB cable, and you need a custom cable with Serial for controlling and getting playlists titles etc, RCA for audio, and USB for charging, but even that Centrafuse doesn't support, so I'd have to write my own plugin for Centrafuse to support it...

So disappointingly I've given up on my carputer project...

I am considering possibly getting one of those Double-DIN headunits off eBay that have GPS, DVD, iPod support, MP3, etc all built-in... But I'm not sure about the quality of them... And the other thing I'm not sure about is the consistency of the interface, from the screenshots alot of them seem to change interface between the radio, GPS, and iPod, etc, as in completely different appearance... So not sure if there is a better one to go for... maybe even one that is "hackable" as they mostly based on Windows CE so I could write my own front end for it possibly...

So for the time being I'm just back to my Pioneer 6850 with Pioneer iB100 iPod adaptor that works great (other than that you can't select a Podcast from the headunit... you have to start it on the iPhone and then hit pause and plug it in then your good to go... regular music, playlists, artists, etc are all fine, just doesn't seem to be an option for Podcasts...). And then just using Navigon on my iPhone with a Navigon windscreen mount for my GPS navigation when i need it... not as fancy and seamless as I had hopped I could have with the carputer... but it works for now until i can find a better option

Windows will play music over bluetooth from an iPhone with OS4.x which is another option , song names work, can't remember if album art does.


Or why not solve your volume control and iPhone problem with an Audison BitOne and a dash dock for the iPhone?

Why bother using the carputer to control the iPhone if you can use the iPhones touchscreen itself?