Absurdly simple DIY K-x remote timer using MP3 player

lavascript · 02-02-2011, 07:02 PM

I should probably add...

Audacity FTW!

aurele · 02-03-2011, 04:31 AM

does someone know how to do blackberry app ?

piesforyou · 02-03-2011, 02:32 PM - **2 Likes**

I've finished the first version of my Android app, you can get it here. Obviously it's beta but it seems to be working on my HTC Magic. In case you're wondering, it's not on the marketplace because currently apps developed using the AppInventor are not supported by the marketplace, but that may change.

Let me know about any bugs you find.

Billium28 · 02-04-2011, 12:49 AM

WOW, man you are, well the MAN. I was searching just now for this and I found you made it not a few hours ago. I love the internet. My droid incredible just had this installed. I cant wait. Thanks again.

piesforyou · 02-04-2011, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Billium28

WOW, man you are, well the MAN. I was searching just now for this and I found you made it not a few hours ago. I love the internet. My droid incredible just had this installed. I cant wait. Thanks again.

Awesome, let me know how if it works!!

hoanpham · 02-04-2011, 04:42 AM

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

aurele · 02-04-2011, 05:54 AM

damn it, i don't have any resseller for IR led near my house...

Last edited by aurele; 02-04-2011 at 06:04 AM.

piesforyou · 02-04-2011, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by aurele

damn it, i don't have any resseller for IR led near my house...

Annoying. Do you have the equivalent of Poundland in France? Because Poundland sell a universal TV remote, you could buy two of those and harvest the IR LEDs from them. That would actually work out cheaper than what I paid for them...

piesforyou · 02-04-2011, 07:14 AM

Originally posted by hoanpham

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

No problem.

I got my USB to audio adapter in the post today (£1.50 off ebay) and so I've been able to test the Android app. It works! yesss. However I think the voltage could do with being boosted, a lot, currently range is only ~2 to 3 inches and that's with the LEDs pointed directly at the sensor, and Media Volume in Android turned right up. So I'll see about amplifying the .wav and maybe inverting he signal on the opposite channel, which should effectively give double the voltage :-)

piesforyou · 02-04-2011, 07:43 AM

Wow, well that made a difference! Putting the inverted signal on the other channel improved the range vastly. My HTC magic will now trigger the release up to about 4 feet away, and at closer ranges from virtually any angle. This means it should be very easy to mount the LEDs on your camera in a reliable position.

New version of the Android app with the improved range

And the new raw .wav file and audacity project

EDIT: By the way, if you think the new app isn't working at first because you can no longer hear the sound of the code, I presume this is a consequence of having the signal inverted on the second channel. I assume mono speakers will blend the signals together and so, of course, the two channels cancel each other out. However if you play the timer through a pair of headphones or stereo speakers you should still hear the code! Weird hey. A bit annoying for debug purposes.

Edit 2:
Proof of concept :-)

Voytech · 02-04-2011, 01:52 PM

Thanks so much for this! I'll be visiting my local electronics store after work

Since I'm on an iPhone, I think for now I'll just use the playlist method. Will report after the weekend.

piesforyou · 02-04-2011, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by Voytech

Thanks so much for ths! I'll be visiting my local electronics store after work Since I'm on an iPhone, I think for now I'll just use the playlist method.

No problem Voytech. Actually there may well be apps already out there for the iPhone which are designed to do exactly this sort of thing! However I have no idea if they support Pentax or not...

lectrolink · 02-05-2011, 05:40 AM

I'm not sure I get this.... For this to work, you need the Android app installed on your phone, as well as some kind of home brew LED device to plug into your audio/headphone jack??
p.s. I have read that there is at least one remote camera trigger app for the iphone

piesforyou · 02-05-2011, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by lectrolink

I'm not sure I get this.... For this to work, you need the Android app installed on your phone, as well as some kind of home brew LED device to plug into your audio/headphone jack??
p.s. I have read that there is at least one remote camera trigger app for the iphone

You don't need the Android app, you can use this method on any MP3 player whatsoever, including the built in MP3 player on Android or iPhone or whatever. However I've built an Android app which uses the same idea, but which allows flexibility. i.e. you can set a different interval on the fly, instead of designing 'tracks' with built in interval periods.

lectrolink · 02-05-2011, 04:27 PM

still not clear.... I have an Android phone; I download the app and then what? Is there anything else I need?

02-04-2011, 07:43 AM	#25
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Wow, well that made a difference! Putting the inverted signal on the other channel improved the range vastly. My HTC magic will now trigger the release up to about 4 feet away, and at closer ranges from virtually any angle. This means it should be very easy to mount the LEDs on your camera in a reliable position. New version of the Android app with the improved range And the new raw .wav file and audacity project EDIT: By the way, if you think the new app isn't working at first because you can no longer hear the sound of the code, I presume this is a consequence of having the signal inverted on the second channel. I assume mono speakers will blend the signals together and so, of course, the two channels cancel each other out. However if you play the timer through a pair of headphones or stereo speakers you should still hear the code! Weird hey. A bit annoying for debug purposes. Edit 2: Proof of concept :-) Last edited by piesforyou; 02-04-2011 at 08:34 AM.

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02-02-2011, 07:02 PM	#16
lavascript Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 393	I should probably add... Audacity FTW!

02-03-2011, 04:31 AM	#17
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	does someone know how to do blackberry app ?

02-03-2011, 02:32 PM - 2 Likes	#18
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	I've finished the first version of my Android app, you can get it here. Obviously it's beta but it seems to be working on my HTC Magic. In case you're wondering, it's not on the marketplace because currently apps developed using the AppInventor are not supported by the marketplace, but that may change. Let me know about any bugs you find.

02-04-2011, 12:49 AM	#19
Billium28 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Albany, NY, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 58	WOW, man you are, well the MAN. I was searching just now for this and I found you made it not a few hours ago. I love the internet. My droid incredible just had this installed. I cant wait. Thanks again.

02-04-2011, 04:28 AM	#20
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Billium28 WOW, man you are, well the MAN. I was searching just now for this and I found you made it not a few hours ago. I love the internet. My droid incredible just had this installed. I cant wait. Thanks again. Awesome, let me know how if it works!!

02-04-2011, 04:42 AM	#21
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

02-04-2011, 05:54 AM	#22
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	damn it, i don't have any resseller for IR led near my house... Last edited by aurele; 02-04-2011 at 06:04 AM.

02-04-2011, 06:39 AM	#23
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by aurele damn it, i don't have any resseller for IR led near my house... Annoying. Do you have the equivalent of Poundland in France? Because Poundland sell a universal TV remote, you could buy two of those and harvest the IR LEDs from them. That would actually work out cheaper than what I paid for them...

02-04-2011, 07:14 AM	#24
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by hoanpham Awesome. Thanks for sharing. No problem. I got my USB to audio adapter in the post today (£1.50 off ebay) and so I've been able to test the Android app. It works! yesss. However I think the voltage could do with being boosted, a lot, currently range is only ~2 to 3 inches and that's with the LEDs pointed directly at the sensor, and Media Volume in Android turned right up. So I'll see about amplifying the .wav and maybe inverting he signal on the opposite channel, which should effectively give double the voltage :-)

02-04-2011, 01:52 PM	#26
Voytech Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY/NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 952	Thanks so much for this! I'll be visiting my local electronics store after work Since I'm on an iPhone, I think for now I'll just use the playlist method. Will report after the weekend.

02-04-2011, 03:34 PM	#27
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Voytech Thanks so much for ths! I'll be visiting my local electronics store after work Since I'm on an iPhone, I think for now I'll just use the playlist method. No problem Voytech. Actually there may well be apps already out there for the iPhone which are designed to do exactly this sort of thing! However I have no idea if they support Pentax or not...

02-05-2011, 05:40 AM	#28
lectrolink Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery Posts: 189	I'm not sure I get this.... For this to work, you need the Android app installed on your phone, as well as some kind of home brew LED device to plug into your audio/headphone jack?? p.s. I have read that there is at least one remote camera trigger app for the iphone

02-05-2011, 07:20 AM	#29
piesforyou Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by lectrolink I'm not sure I get this.... For this to work, you need the Android app installed on your phone, as well as some kind of home brew LED device to plug into your audio/headphone jack?? p.s. I have read that there is at least one remote camera trigger app for the iphone You don't need the Android app, you can use this method on any MP3 player whatsoever, including the built in MP3 player on Android or iPhone or whatever. However I've built an Android app which uses the same idea, but which allows flexibility. i.e. you can set a different interval on the fly, instead of designing 'tracks' with built in interval periods.

02-05-2011, 04:27 PM	#30
lectrolink Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery Posts: 189	still not clear.... I have an Android phone; I download the app and then what? Is there anything else I need?