Remote touchscreen for audio delivery at dance studio?

We are working with a dance studio to make it a bit easier on the
instructors.

Currently they have their various music burned onto cd's and loaded
into a Sony 5 disk changer.

As you can imagine, while the class is there an instructor has to walk
over to the audio setup, cue up the song after locating it on the
desired cd and the desired track, and walk back and work with the
students. If necessary to pause or stop the music, it's another trip
over to the audio gear, pause it, shout over to the students (or walk
back) then start the music again.

My desire is to convert their music over to mp3 and have a reasonably
sized touch panel at the edge of the dance floor.

They have computers in the office with the music on them which I can
wire to any point (the audio stack or the touch panel, or both).

So my question is a call for suggestions for the remote panel, and
what would deliver to it. Is it necessary to have Media Center on a
computer to deliver?

In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
half way between.

Thanks in advance

I did a situation similar to yours and simply used an Ipod with a FM Griffin
transmitter plugged into it and used a FM receiver with speakers to play the
music. Select, play, pause and control the volume at your fingertips right
off the Ipod without any goofing around with a computer or CD changer. Of
course you have to load up the Ipod but a couple of hours of work and your
set plus the music is portable. We did use two Ipods to insure always having
one ready to go.


"D.R." <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e0b194pg344a7kdsfjrogq885ce195f912@4ax.com...
>
> We are working with a dance studio to make it a bit easier on the
> instructors.
>
> Currently they have their various music burned onto cd's and loaded
> into a Sony 5 disk changer.
>
> As you can imagine, while the class is there an instructor has to walk
> over to the audio setup, cue up the song after locating it on the
> desired cd and the desired track, and walk back and work with the
> students. If necessary to pause or stop the music, it's another trip
> over to the audio gear, pause it, shout over to the students (or walk
> back) then start the music again.
>
> My desire is to convert their music over to mp3 and have a reasonably
> sized touch panel at the edge of the dance floor.
>
> They have computers in the office with the music on them which I can
> wire to any point (the audio stack or the touch panel, or both).
>
> So my question is a call for suggestions for the remote panel, and
> what would deliver to it. Is it necessary to have Media Center on a
> computer to deliver?
>
> In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
> floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
> hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
> half way between.
>
> Thanks in advance

In article <4o2dncd4146ERQ3VnZ2dnUVZ_h-dnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Gene" <no_one@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Select, play, pause and control the volume at your fingertips right
> off the Ipod without any goofing around with a computer or CD changer.

How did you control the volume of the FM receiver from the iPod?

--
Tom Stiller

PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3 7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF

D.R. wrote:
> In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
> floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
> hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
> half way between.

I like the Ipod with FM transceiver solution, simple to set up and low
cost. You might have problems with range and signal quality, though.
Usually you can control the volume using the ipod volume control.

One other good solution is the squeezebox from slimdevices.com. It is a
small box with audio output and Ethernet/Wifi input and a remote
control. You connect it to the stereo (RCA outputs) and the PC (Wifi or
Ethernet) and play the music directly from the PC.

Markus

We used an old Griffin transmitter that allowed volume control from the Ipod
but I'm not sure if the newer ones will do that.

Two more idea's are:
1. Investigate an Ipod dock that you could jack into the back of the
receiver. The dock could be extended from the receiver via cables to the
desired control point and most docks come with remotes to control the Ipod.
2. A stand alone unit with it's own speakers that the Ipod could be slipped
into and located where needed and also controlled with a remote. Something
like:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1181832199991

Reasons I'm suggesting an Ipod solution is that they are simple to operate,
have their own built in viewing screen, relatively inexpensive, portable and
not dedicated to this particular application hence more bang for your buck.

Gene



"Tom Stiller" <tomstiller@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:tomstiller-AE2FD8.17543730072008@news.verizon.net...
> In article <4o2dncd4146ERQ3VnZ2dnUVZ_h-dnZ2d@comcast.com>,
> "Gene" <no_one@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Select, play, pause and control the volume at your fingertips right
>> off the Ipod without any goofing around with a computer or CD changer.
>
> How did you control the volume of the FM receiver from the iPod?
>
> --
> Tom Stiller
>
> PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3 7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF

While the Ipod solution is good, I see it as being too small for these
people to manage.

We are looking at the Squeezbox, but again, a bit small.

I was thinking along the lines of a media extender with a 6 plus inch
touch screen mounted remotely.

But please keep the suggestions comming.

Dirk



On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:16:05 -0700, D.R. <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>We are working with a dance studio to make it a bit easier on the
>instructors.
>
>Currently they have their various music burned onto cd's and loaded
>into a Sony 5 disk changer.
>
>As you can imagine, while the class is there an instructor has to walk
>over to the audio setup, cue up the song after locating it on the
>desired cd and the desired track, and walk back and work with the
>students. If necessary to pause or stop the music, it's another trip
>over to the audio gear, pause it, shout over to the students (or walk
>back) then start the music again.
>
>My desire is to convert their music over to mp3 and have a reasonably
>sized touch panel at the edge of the dance floor.
>
>They have computers in the office with the music on them which I can
>wire to any point (the audio stack or the touch panel, or both).
>
>So my question is a call for suggestions for the remote panel, and
>what would deliver to it. Is it necessary to have Media Center on a
>computer to deliver?
>
>In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
>floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
>hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
>half way between.
>
>Thanks in advance

Greetings Dirk,

I don't know that kind of money your going to spend but..................
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...700ZP80&tp=210

I would not use the wireless version of this product even though I have now
experience with it as X-10 is not famous for it's wireless capabilities. You
could use a nice TV for the display so you could go pretty big and still use
a small hand held remote.
http://www.x10.com/entertainment/lola1_s_ps189.html

Good luck..
G.


"D.R." <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l28494p74o41kh8k0nt5blv3re6ps6j762@4ax.com...
>
> While the Ipod solution is good, I see it as being too small for these
> people to manage.
>
> We are looking at the Squeezbox, but again, a bit small.
>
> I was thinking along the lines of a media extender with a 6 plus inch
> touch screen mounted remotely.
>
> But please keep the suggestions comming.
>
> Dirk
>
>
>
> On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:16:05 -0700, D.R. <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>We are working with a dance studio to make it a bit easier on the
>>instructors.
>>
>>Currently they have their various music burned onto cd's and loaded
>>into a Sony 5 disk changer.
>>
>>As you can imagine, while the class is there an instructor has to walk
>>over to the audio setup, cue up the song after locating it on the
>>desired cd and the desired track, and walk back and work with the
>>students. If necessary to pause or stop the music, it's another trip
>>over to the audio gear, pause it, shout over to the students (or walk
>>back) then start the music again.
>>
>>My desire is to convert their music over to mp3 and have a reasonably
>>sized touch panel at the edge of the dance floor.
>>
>>They have computers in the office with the music on them which I can
>>wire to any point (the audio stack or the touch panel, or both).
>>
>>So my question is a call for suggestions for the remote panel, and
>>what would deliver to it. Is it necessary to have Media Center on a
>>computer to deliver?
>>
>>In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
>>floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
>>hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
>>half way between.
>>
>>Thanks in advance
>

D.R. wrote:
> While the Ipod solution is good, I see it as being too small for these
> people to manage.
>
> We are looking at the Squeezbox, but again, a bit small.
>
> I was thinking along the lines of a media extender with a 6 plus inch
> touch screen mounted remotely.
>
> But please keep the suggestions comming.
>
> Dirk

One more thing about the Squeezebox: You can remote.control it with a
web-browser. Using a small portable (EE-PC) as remote control could be a
solution. The problem will be to find a touchscreen.

I often use my living-room PC connected to the Wii with the Opera
browser to control the Squeezebox. The big advantage is that you get a
big display to see upcoming songs, browse albums, etc. Works perfect !

Markus

Have you considered the Sonos gear?


"D.R." <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l28494p74o41kh8k0nt5blv3re6ps6j762@4ax.com...
>
> While the Ipod solution is good, I see it as being too small for these
> people to manage.
>
> We are looking at the Squeezbox, but again, a bit small.
>
> I was thinking along the lines of a media extender with a 6 plus inch
> touch screen mounted remotely.
>
> But please keep the suggestions comming.

Wow. That sucker does the same thing as the Squeezbox for twice the
price ;-)

I found this, but no price yet.

http://www.rticorp.com/products/K4.html

Dirk


On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:15:23 -0500, "Gene" <no_one@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Greetings Dirk,
>
>I don't know that kind of money your going to spend but..................
>http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...700ZP80&tp=210
>
>I would not use the wireless version of this product even though I have now
>experience with it as X-10 is not famous for it's wireless capabilities. You
>could use a nice TV for the display so you could go pretty big and still use
>a small hand held remote.
>http://www.x10.com/entertainment/lola1_s_ps189.html
>
>Good luck..
>G.
>
>
>"D.R." <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:l28494p74o41kh8k0nt5blv3re6ps6j762@4ax.com.. .
>>
>> While the Ipod solution is good, I see it as being too small for these
>> people to manage.
>>
>> We are looking at the Squeezbox, but again, a bit small.
>>
>> I was thinking along the lines of a media extender with a 6 plus inch
>> touch screen mounted remotely.
>>
>> But please keep the suggestions comming.
>>
>> Dirk
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:16:05 -0700, D.R. <gisdsuaho1@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>We are working with a dance studio to make it a bit easier on the
>>>instructors.
>>>
>>>Currently they have their various music burned onto cd's and loaded
>>>into a Sony 5 disk changer.
>>>
>>>As you can imagine, while the class is there an instructor has to walk
>>>over to the audio setup, cue up the song after locating it on the
>>>desired cd and the desired track, and walk back and work with the
>>>students. If necessary to pause or stop the music, it's another trip
>>>over to the audio gear, pause it, shout over to the students (or walk
>>>back) then start the music again.
>>>
>>>My desire is to convert their music over to mp3 and have a reasonably
>>>sized touch panel at the edge of the dance floor.
>>>
>>>They have computers in the office with the music on them which I can
>>>wire to any point (the audio stack or the touch panel, or both).
>>>
>>>So my question is a call for suggestions for the remote panel, and
>>>what would deliver to it. Is it necessary to have Media Center on a
>>>computer to deliver?
>>>
>>>In a nut shell, here is what we have around the rectangular dance
>>>floor. Audio gear in one corner, office with computers with music on
>>>hard drive in diagonal corner, desired control point for instructor
>>>half way between.
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance
>>
>