MP3 Server connected to a hifi
Discussion
Fancy doing a little project. I want to create a mini PC that can be connected directly to the back on my hifi in a similar way to the NetGear box that is avaliable. (Is this possible? Or will it depend on the soundcard I put in it)
The plan is to have it in my front room connected to my hifi. Will I need to connect it to a screen or could I connect it to the TV. Ideally i'd like it not to have a screen at all but I don't think that is possible.
I was thinking about something like this with an 80gig hard drive. I could then just take it uni when I go back.
I may be totally barking up the wrong tree though.
The plan is to have it in my front room connected to my hifi. Will I need to connect it to a screen or could I connect it to the TV. Ideally i'd like it not to have a screen at all but I don't think that is possible.
I was thinking about something like this with an 80gig hard drive. I could then just take it uni when I go back.
I may be totally barking up the wrong tree though.
Sound card no trouble any will work.
Video, yes you can connect it to a telly but it wont be great. You have to keep mucking about with the resolution and even then you get artifacts on the screen where the telly cant interlace properly.
But what you want to do will work at a basic level.
Video, yes you can connect it to a telly but it wont be great. You have to keep mucking about with the resolution and even then you get artifacts on the screen where the telly cant interlace properly.
But what you want to do will work at a basic level.
The plan (In my head) is to have.......
A little PC with something like an 80gig drive. Connected directly to my hifi but also with a network conncetion so that I grab other MP3's off the network.
Ideally I wouldn't want a screen. maybe a little display directly on the box that scrolls the track name etc. ie. Just a larger version of an iPod.
I just need to think of a way to control it.
www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p2004
The Samsung 16x2 VFD Display Kit is the display I was thinking about. And the remote control on the same page looks like I could get away with out a mouse & keyboard.
A little PC with something like an 80gig drive. Connected directly to my hifi but also with a network conncetion so that I grab other MP3's off the network.
Ideally I wouldn't want a screen. maybe a little display directly on the box that scrolls the track name etc. ie. Just a larger version of an iPod.
I just need to think of a way to control it.
www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p2004
The Samsung 16x2 VFD Display Kit is the display I was thinking about. And the remote control on the same page looks like I could get away with out a mouse & keyboard.
fatsteve said:
Wouldn't be easier to by one of these
www.slimdevices.com
Cheaper and much more discrete.
You can together a mini-itx based PC for about £150 if you want. (Or you could blow up to £500 ish.) They are full-blown PCs so they can play DVDs, browse the internet, play games, whatever. They can be put in a case the size of a paperback so they are very discreet. You have to be computer-literate and enjoy tinkering with things to go down this route, but the results can be very good indeed.
ATG said:
Wouldn't be easier to by one of these
<a href="http://www.slimdevices.com">www.slimdevices.com</a>
Cheaper and much more discrete.
You can together a mini-itx based PC for about £150 if you want. (Or you could blow up to £500 ish.) They are full-blown PCs so they can play DVDs, browse the internet, play games, whatever. They can be put in a case the size of a paperback so they are very discreet. You have to be computer-literate and enjoy tinkering with things to go down this route, but the results can be very good indeed.
I'm fully aware what a Mini-ATX is (I've put one in an old C64 case!!!). I'd have thought the squeezebox would have been a better, since it's an all-in-one box.
That said, the Mini-ATX route would be mroe flexible for future projects (ie video, DIVx, surf'in PH from your telly..)
Steve
Creative do one of these:
www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=243&subcategory=247&product=9192
It has a screen on the handset and is meant to be pretty good.
www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=243&subcategory=247&product=9192
It has a screen on the handset and is meant to be pretty good.
One of the reasons i was looking at the mini pc's rather than the slimdevices was that I could mp3 all my cd collection then just take the PC to uni instead of carrying all my cd's backwards and forwards to uni.
Would be useful to have the output to the tv and access to the net as well but that would be in the future!
Would be useful to have the output to the tv and access to the net as well but that would be in the future!
Yamaha do something very similar with thier Music Cast.
80Gb HD, 802.11b wireless tx and then up to 7 individual zones each cabaple of listening to thier own music.
If your video / sound card does have a video output then it will be at source level and probably yellow. This will connect directly to you TV as an external source, either via a SCART adaptor (make sure its an 'play in' rather than a 'play out') or phono inputs. You will then need to swtich your tv to view that input.
In terms of control, there are some presentation mice things that allow you to move the cursor around with rolling it across a flat surface, that should work.
80Gb HD, 802.11b wireless tx and then up to 7 individual zones each cabaple of listening to thier own music.
If your video / sound card does have a video output then it will be at source level and probably yellow. This will connect directly to you TV as an external source, either via a SCART adaptor (make sure its an 'play in' rather than a 'play out') or phono inputs. You will then need to swtich your tv to view that input.
In terms of control, there are some presentation mice things that allow you to move the cursor around with rolling it across a flat surface, that should work.
www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_mediamvp.html
Available for not much money at all:-
www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=82829
Does what it says on the tin. You can even plug in a wireless gaming adapter, and hook it up remotely, with a server upstairs.
Available for not much money at all:-
www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=82829
Does what it says on the tin. You can even plug in a wireless gaming adapter, and hook it up remotely, with a server upstairs.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff