Well, things are finally getting underway with my x86 chip based mp3 machine for my car. Here's what I've bought:

Opus 150w DC-DC power supply. Works from 8-18v, so it won't shut down the computer when it is cranking over. Also has built in shut down controller. Price: $160

Epia 800 mainboard, 800 Mhz. Only 170mm x 170mm. Onboard s-video and composite tv-out. 3 channel audio: Line in (for recording the radio/cd player), mic in (for voice commands) and line out (to aux in of cd player). Price: $99

I already had 256mb of pc133 SDRAM and a 40gig HDD laying around.

I'm not sure what to do for the screen yet. I think I'm just going to have a digital LCD display for showing song titles/length/time etc. to start out with, and maybe someday get a real monitor.

For software I'm going to be running Windows 98. Yah yah, it's probably not the best for this application, but I don't know s**t about Linux, and this will work with virtually no problems.

Winamp will be my media player, since plugins are already out there for the lcd display.

For input, here's the "neato" part. Nitro Voice Flux. I've been playing around with this program and I'm pretty confident it will be perfect for this job. Running NVF with the SneakyAmp plugin for Winamp, all I have to do is say "next" or "next song" and it will goto the next song. It's very customizable, and seems to work well even from a few feet from the microphone. You can actually say "what time is it?" and the computer will dictate back to you what the clock is at. Pretty neat. Also, you can make a "start" command. Very star trekish to say "computer" and then hear the familiar "beep beep" confirmation sound.

This setup will be going into the passenger side airbag compartment of my 95 Camaro dash in the process of being installed in my 91 Firebird.

More updates to come!

 

man thats gonna be a really sweet setup., how are you mounting the motehrboard? using a case? and where is it all going to bee hidden?

 

The compartment where the passenger side airbag is supposed to be.

 

oh i dont have that

 

if you don't have that compartment then is your dash just more shallow, or is there empty space inside? I don't have one either, but the only thing I think I've seen behind there is some supports and the ECM...

 

It's a fourth gen dash. Without the airbag there is a big empty space above the glove box, more than big enough for the mainboard.

 

Also, I decided to get a 4x40 LCD display. Here's my layout:

 

ah, wouldn't you lose a lot of knee room by adding that dash then?

 

I don't think so...

 

the lil screen is more helpful then youd think.

plus you dont have a big "please steal me" screen up all the time.


my first mp3 player i made (and only car one) used a small LCD screen like that..



but i didnt have any kickass voice stuff.. i soldered a keyboard chip to some switches to make a "control"... it was DOS based so it booted fast too.

i havent done a search yet (will after i post this) but where can i get Nitro Voice Flux from?

 

ahh.. its Nitrous Voice Flux .... found it here:

http://www.voiceflux.net/info.vx

 

I'm probably going to be doing something like that as well. It's kind of annoying to constantly say "next song" to scroll through the playlist, but it's still very nice for creating playlists.

Saying "search for" creates a new playlist, followed by spelling out the search string, ie "Tee, Oh, Oh El" for Tool, and then "end search". The way NVF and sneakyamp work together, I'd have to pre-program a script for every word I'd want to be able to search for.

 

well when i did mine, i wrote down every key on the keyboard that i was going to use

then i opened the keyboard and traced down what connected where when a key was pressed...

then i scratched off the coating and soldered small wires to the chip/board and then tested it..

hitting my button was like pushing p... and thats like pushing play.

i still need to dig out my mic, but this voice thing does seem kinda neat.. i have a few ideas.... :lala:

 

My DOS based MP3 player just used a numeric keypad. Worked great for controling it. Though that voice control sounds sweet!

 

Mp3car.com

Thats a usefull site

 

i did the same thing as mr dude for input. i took apart a keyboard after i found which keys did the usual cd player type stuff (play, fast forward, rewind, next, back, stop, etc). there's usually 2 or so chips in there that when 2 wires are combined, make the keys. its a pain tracing down each key, but so is having a full size keyboard in a car.

 

Hows the hard drive going to hold up going over things like railroad tracks? I can't imagine they are designed for that kind of shock loads.

Wouldn't just buying a Kenwood Music Keg be easier? Or is it just the fun of trying to build something?

 

Hard drives, if you mount them sideways and with "shock absorbers" like rubber mounts, can last for years. Mine has survived over 20,000 miles without any problems, bad sectors, or anything.

It may be easier, but #1, it is not any fun, #2, the possibilities are very limited, as MP3 players can turn into a media center. #3, the cool factor isn't there.

 

Yea thats true also i would have just gone with a laptop.

P.S. AmorgetRS whats that Icon in below you name

 

That's for me to know, and for you to find out when I tell everyone else

 

Harddrive should hold up just fine. It's an IBM hdd, I swear I could drop it on pavement and it would still work just fine.

Reasons to build an mp3 player over buying a prefabricated one:
Upgradeablity: You can't really update the hardware or software on a retail product.
Customizable: I can tweak the software to fit my needs.
Coolness: Yup, it's just cooler to say "I made that.", than "I bought that."

 

on the keyboard issue... I bought a ps2 keyboard from the computer store... its only like 9 inches long... and 4 inches wide... they even make smaller ones... you could just stuff this under the seat for when you actually need a real keyboard, just in case.

 

comon, lol mp3 why make one when the best is already here! the......iPod......



i have it set up in my car 6k songs, plug in plug out, transfers 500 songs a minute if need be, plugs into back of cd player, comon cant beat that!! although ur idea is pretty cool props man props :hail:

 

Sorry Alpine Just beat you out. They now make a headunit that interfaces with the iPod and allows you to control it from the headunit. I want one so bad!

 

got the same idea only im gonna mount in a laptop monitor and run some ODB software with the mp3 player

 

Have you seen this MP3 hard drive unit? In connects with RCA plugs to the AUX inputs on most aftermarket Stereos. I had one in my 4Runner but I sold it.

].http://ssiamerica.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=CMP [/URL]

It's to long for most cars but should fit fine in a Camaro.
I'm going to get one as soon as my budget permits[URL

 

damn dude that is hella expensive for what it is... I still say that you could buy/mod an Xbox plus a 200+gb hdd, and a small power inverter for less than 400 bucks... plus it could play dvds and games on lcds instead of Only mp3s...