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Build Your Own MP3 Player

Posted by michael on from the minty-fresh dept.

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."

14 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. Alternatives by RobertTaylor · · Score: 5, Informative

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

    And you can take it back if it breaks.

    1. Re:Alternatives by Mononoke · · Score: 2, Informative
      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.
      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    2. Re:Alternatives by Mononoke · · Score: 2, Informative
      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.

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      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    3. Re:Alternatives by MonMotha · · Score: 2, Informative

      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.

    4. Re:Alternatives by andreyw · · Score: 2, Informative

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

  2. 10 comments by sometwo · · Score: 2, Informative

    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/

  3. Mirror by ikkibr · · Score: 5, Informative

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

  4. Google cache by christopherfinke · · Score: 4, Informative

    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?]

  5. Lots of DIY MP3 players by wrmrxxx · · Score: 5, Informative

    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

  6. Re:What's the point? by tylernt · · Score: 2, Informative

    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.

    --
    DRM 'manages access' in the same way that a prison 'manages freedom'
  7. Re:Been Done by tylernt · · Score: 3, Informative

    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)

    --
    DRM 'manages access' in the same way that a prison 'manages freedom'
  8. mostly full mirror by lart2150 · · Score: 2, Informative

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

  9. mirror by JustinHoMi · · Score: 2, Informative

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

  10. Re:Ideal mp3 player by Archvillain · · Score: 2, Informative

    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.