PIR playback solution

[Bennstir]

Hello there.

 

I have been asked by an artist to provide a play back solution for her latest exhibition. She has three sculptures. She would like a short piece of audio to play when some one steps up to the sculpture. There is this wonderful device

 

http://www.interpretationshop.co.uk/product/accessories/message-in-a-speaker-pos/

 

A message in a speaker, which would be perfect for this application. Unfortunately the budget does not run to £200 per unit. Truth be told I've got to make this happen for around £60. If there are any miracle workers out there with an idea of how I might do this I would be most grateful for your advice.

 

Regards

 

Ben.

[pjb304]

Sounds like a good application for a raspberry Pi, and a PIR sensor attached to one of the General Purpose IO pins. With a small bit of code running to check the status of the input and fire off a media player when it changes.

[musht]

Was going to suggest Arduino

 

http://halloweenjared.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/arduino-pir-and-mp3-oh-my.html

 

there is a mp3 shield for arduino

 

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10628

 

triggered playback is common requirement for Halloween props:

 

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11029

 

Several UK stockists of sparkfun gear.

[pjb304]

I didn't know arduinos could do mp3 playback .That produces an even neater solution than a Pi.

[cedd]

http://www.velleman.eu/products/view/?country=fr&lang=en&id=380100

 

Would allow you to do it without an Arduino or Raspberry Pi, just solder your PIR contacts to the play button.

I've also had some success with fader start functions on a cd player.

[matt_h]

http://www.slretail.co.uk/products/clearsound/clearsound.html

 

In a previous job Sound Leisure built the above product for me, without the transducer, which was swapped for either a line output for connection to a 100v line system, or with a small amp and speaker combination, for doing almost exactly what you want. Depending on the configuration we were using them in they cost somewhere between £80 and £130, so a little more than your ideal budget however far less hassle than the DIY route.

 

I have been down the arduino route and found it desperately frustrating to get working reliably, needing constant intervention.

[dbuckley]

Howzabout a PIR and a Maplin Single Message Record/Playback Kit

[timsabre]

Howzabout a PIR and a Maplin Single Message Record/Playback Kit

 

This kit uses one of the ISD chipcorder devices, they have a very low audio bandwidth and sound rubbish. Passable for talking teddies or greetings cards.

The Velleman kit is a better suggestion or Milford Instruments do something similar.

[AHYoung]

If you want a tried and tested professional solution try a digital view viestream m300 player but the oem version... http://www.digiverse.co.uk/prods/digital-view-m3-100-oem-digital-media-player-470.htm under 100.00 and it works. Its a video player, but obviously will play stereo audio. its overspecced, slightly over your notional budget but wont let you down,

[musht]

Arduino itself about as reliable as any other microcontroller, depends on what it`s controlling...

 

Ebay is full of WTOV20 based boards, just search `mp3 module` , apparently picky on what type of SD card they will read

 

http://www.elechouse.com/elechouse/images/product/MP3%20Sound%20Mini%20SD%20Card%20Module/MP3%20Mini%20SD%20Card%20Module.pdf

 

also have to watch coupling the audio output, but at under a fiver delivered.

 

Bit more upmarket and made by known manufacturer VLSI VS1000:

 

http://katotechnology.com/product_details.php?category_id=61&item_id=4

 

Bit of programming to trigger via SPI rather than switch closure though.

[bigclive]

Whatever system you use, make sure the SD card with the audio files on it is accessible so that I can swap it for my own version entitled "Tourettes statue." :** laughs out loud **: