How to build Car MP3 player?

[ceLLriOT]

I hate car mp3 decks. I burn all my mp3s to cd, then i get new mp3s I want to play, so I burn them to cd, then I go back to listen to some of my old mp3s and the disc is too scratched up to play them... All I get is A) error-30 or B) squeak... music music music... squeak squeak... music... you know what I'm talking about. And in the meantime I have spent 10 cents every time I burn anotehr cd. Ok, call me cheap. I am. But now I want my entire library (over 80 gb) to fit in my car. I haven't kept very up to date on the new technology for car comp systems, but here is what I want it to do:


Mount under my car seat
Display on an 8" or 10" lcd mounted to my dash vent
Use a USB hard drive for mp3 storage (for easy removal and synchronization for my home pc)
Start up when the car starts
Start winamp and play on startup (with winxp and winamp)
Display the id3 tag info and show the album jpg (folder.jpg) full screen when playing a song
Have a remote control which controls winamp (does this exist) or mod some sort of ps2 or usb keyboard with only certain keys (such as R for repeat, S for shuffle, Z, X, C, V and B for next, play, last, stop and pause) or a small keyboard---- I wish there was a button to go to NEXT ALBUM and I also wish there were a function that went to the first album in the letter "X" alphabetically, say you push "<" and it takes you to Alice in Chains, press it again and it takes you to Beastie Boys, anyone have any ideas???
Use a mini mouse in case of the emergency I NEED TO HEAR THIS SONG RIGHT NOW cases
Shut down then the car shuts off



So far I have the Hard Drive and the mouse picked out, anyone else have any recommendations???

Thank you you genious forum kings...
Sean

 

[bunnyfubbles]

This

OR

This

+

DVD-RW

4+GB per disc and you can rewrite, shouldn't have to carry more than a 12disc wallet or car visor.

 

[cryptonomicon]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
This

OR

This

+

DVD-RW

4+GB per disc and you can rewrite, shouldn't have to carry more than a 12disc wallet or car visor.

yuck i hate MP3 CDS.


there ARE car MP3 players with massive storage, i dont know where you can buy them.

and if you build it i hope the HD holds up.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

but the hard drive based stereos are far from affordable, and mp3 DVDs aren't mp3 CDs

Granted, my suggestion would probably be less fun if you'd enjoy building something a little more functional for your needs.

Personally I'd build something to allow me to play something OTHER than mp3s. Discs are fine by mean because they're cheap and pretty much disposable. However you're stuck pretty much with either mp3 or wma, yay :roll:

Give me FLAC or ogg or even musepack. But such formats are far too rare in comparison and thus aren't supported by hardware (at least not widely supported).

 

[xgsound]

I have a 4600 pioneer HU. It does not display ID3 tags, but it does scroll display folder names and file names. I use EAC with VBR and get 150 to 200 songs to a CD. That's equal to 6 to 10 Albums. At $0.10 per disc, I don't see where the expence is a problem for that degree of portability. I use the thin jewel cases (also pretty cheap) to prevent the scratching since mp3 cds (unlike Audio cds) are data and do not tolerate scratches.

I've had about 10 mp3 cds (?1700? songs) in the car for a year now with no problem at a cost of $1.00.


Jim

 

[hemiram]

What are you doing to scratch up your discs?

I have CDs I burned on my old Memorex 2X burner that are still in fine shape today, nearly 8 years later. I've had only one or two discs go bad out of 200 or so I lug around in 4 of those telephone book sized cases, and those were ones I dropped and they got scratched when they hit something on the way down to the floor.

 

[imported_g33k]

What they need is a stereo deck that has an usb port.

 

[ceLLriOT]

Originally posted by: g33k
What they need is a stereo deck that has an usb port.

I agree with you whole-heartedly!!!

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: ceLLriOT

Originally posted by: g33k
What they need is a stereo deck that has an usb port.

I agree with you whole-heartedly!!!

Me too! Be nice if you could connect a USB hard drive and then just scan folders like you would albums!

 

[xsilver]

it wont be in dash but what about an ipod or equivalent + car kit (either corded or FM cast)
because the problem I see is having a dash unit smart enough to display the jpg
I have seen units that have hdd's mounted, although they have been trunk based and not usb interface

another possibility is to hack up an old laptop (toshiba liberetto or portege? due to small screen) and then find some way to fix it half inside your dash (it would look god awful but it will be very functional)
EDIT: actually some 5-7" in car dvd players have multi inputs (one of those screens + laptop + ati wonder type remote = perfect)

I think the ipod idea is the best way to go as it provides a free security feature deterring theives from your car .... take your damn music with you

 

[Sforsyth]

for someone that calls them self cheap, or not wanting to waste 10 cents on a CDR you sure are looking to spend alot to plays some MP3's.

Just use good CDR's Mexells are really good, and take care of them. get a CD wallet.

 

[corkyg]

The easiest way I know is to buy a new car. I play MP3s in my 2005 Buick in-dash CD player.

 

[egeekial]

http://www.mp3car.com

Check out the forums. There's a wealth of information.

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...e=category&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=25&loc=GOO

:sun:

 

[Slugbait]

...but here is what I want it to do:

Mount under my car seat

I have a vent under my seat. So does my wife's 11-year-old car. In winter, those vents push heat...you want heat next to your machine?

Display on an 8" or 10" lcd mounted to my dash vent

Every dash vent I've ever seen is thin, flimsy plastic...I don't think mine would support anything larger than a 4" display. Hit a bump, and they fly off to the floor.

Use a USB hard drive for mp3 storage (for easy removal and synchronization for my home pc)

And where would you place this drive? Do you expect it to draw power directly from the ports on the machine?

Start winamp and play on startup (with winxp and winamp)

It will take time before XP finishes booting, and you can always add WinAmp to the StartUp folder. You need plug-ins for WinAmp to autoplay, but that will take configurations.

Display the id3 tag info and show the album jpg (folder.jpg) full screen when playing a song

Hmm. I think we're talking MCE territory here.

Have a remote control which controls winamp (does this exist)

I don't think so. Now we're back to MCE again.

...anyone else have any recommendations???

I've been thinking about the most simplistic way out for the last few months with my truck: replace my Alpine MP3 deck with a DVD deck. Other than local removable hard drive storage, it solves most issues you've brought up, and Bluetooth solves the music update when I pull into the garage.

And like hemiram asked, what the heck are you doing to your discs???

 

[yinan]

Get an iPad or older iPod classic 80Gb and a new car that supports iPod direct control. All of those other options you specified are going to make the system way too slow. Imagine having to wait for a minute or 2 for the computer to boot up in order to turn on the radio...