Build Your Own MP3 Player

rdnk writes "Here's something for the DIY people, a home made mp3 player built into a mint case. Total (minimum) cost for parts: ~50$. At least it's something different."

Comments

Alternatives

[RobertTaylor]

$50? Might as well get one of these for $99 :)

And you can take it back if it breaks.

Re:Alternatives

[Mononoke]

Assuming you put some time in, you're also not tied to particular formats.

Yes, because some days MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store, M4A, M4B, M4P), Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4) and WAV ain't enough.

Re:Alternatives

[Mononoke]

You sure went thru a lot of work to make 4 formats sound like a lot, which it isnt.

Not really, I just copy/pasted from Apple's site.

That's just the list for the Shuffle. The real iPod does more.

Re:Alternatives

[MonMotha]

Part of the problem, especially with very low end MP3 players that use dedicated hardware decoding is that (to my knowledge) there is no integrated solution (I hate that word, but it's appropriate here) for decoding Vorbis in hardware.

There are a few chips for doing MP3 easily (I've actually got a couple of STA013s here that I've been meaning to make into an MP3 player very similar to this one, but using an 8051 or z80 instead of a PIC). I don't know of any like that for doing Vorbis.

Of course, this doesn't apply to systems decoding in software. There is a fixed point decoder for Vorbis available, so the lack of an FPU (common) isn't a problem (it was until about a year ago). Decoding Vorbis does require a little more CPU time than MP3, but it's not too big if you're already decoding in software, the problem is dedicated hardware decoders. There's no STA013V (or whatever) that will do Vorbis in a nice package like there are for MP3.

Re:Alternatives

[andreyw]

Uh, it doesn't shuffle unless explicitely told to do so. RTFW(ebsite).

10 comments

[sometwo]

and already slashdotted- must be a new record.

Here's a link where you can by mp3 player circuit boards: http://www.pjrc.com/tech/mp3/

Mirror

[ikkibr]

Well, first page is mirrored http://www.mirrordot.org/stories/342d79c8dead68d75 bbc15920a7987cc/index.html

Google cache

[christopherfinke]

Here's the Google cache of the main pages of the site:

Overview
Hardware
Firmware
Software
Fabrication
Downloads

[Apparently, this comment has too few characters per line. What can I possible type to add some characters?]

Re:Be careful (anti-troll'd)

[TobyIRC]

I read that thing, the first 4 pages, skimmed the rest. He was arrested because he refused to sign a citation for receiving his speeding ticket. He was arrested, therefore, for speeding. He did have an altoids container (as well as some other candies) in a little bag which he put in the glove compartment, and did not want to open it. The fact that this guy was a total idiot and wouldn't just sign the citation and instead try to injure the officer with his window has absolutely nothing to do with the altoids box, except for the fact that the altoids box was in the bag.

You sir, are a terrible troll.

Lots of DIY MP3 players

[wrmrxxx]

There are quite a few do it yourself MP3 players around. A particularly nice series of players can be found at the YAMPP (Yet Another MP3 Player) site. The site includes both hard drive and flash based players, and even a colour screen version. They have a web shop that sells PC boards, kits, and components.

There is also list of mp3 projects at http://ee.cleversoul.com/mp3_projects.html

Re:What's the point?

[tylernt]

Depending on your employer, you might not be bringing your iPod or other MP3 player to work -- because they're afraid you'll cart off company secrets with it.

I wish I were kidding.

Re:Been Done

[tylernt]

You guys think mp3-players-in-mint-tins are cool? Well, the amateur ("ham") radio guys beat you to the punch when it comes to mint tin innovation:

http://www.byonics.com/pockettracker/ (scroll down)

mostly full mirror

[lart2150]

I allmost have the full page including pictures http://students.depaul.edu/~bengert/minty/index.ht ml

mirror

[JustinHoMi]

Here is a more complete mirror: http://www.justinmitchell.net/minty

Re:Girl Geek Alert!

[Anonymous Coward]

limor is an israeli name, stems from 'li' (posessive) and 'mor' (myrrh) which means that i have the scent of myrrh.

limor
ladyada -at- mit -dot- edu

Re:Ideal mp3 player

[jacobhoupt]

uh...this DIY player has a built-in FM transciever(sp). tune your existing car stereo to it.

Re:Ideal mp3 player

[Archvillain]

Wireless intergration would seem to be better for some people than plugging in, so wireless as-well-as (rather than instead-of) plug-in would be cool...

I have a great old pocket hdd mp3 player that predates the ipod, but among the numerious useful features it has that ipods are still shunning (DRM being all the rage nowadays) is a good old digital input and output, which allows you to plug it into a surround-sound system, and let that system do the final DAC/analgue amp stage, since the analogue sound componentry in any pocket mp3 player is pretty crap compared to most modern entertainment systems simply by the necessity of making the analogue stage fit into the most minimal space possible.

So... wireless+docking port, both using digital sound output where availible, but analogue where not, and recharging on the dock.
Mmmmm, feature-creep... :-)

The real advantage to DIY is that no-one ever makes a device with exactly all of the features you actually want, and none of the "features" that you don't want. Custom hardware rocks.