device that will play audio when it is powered up?

[MikeB]

I'm trying to find a way to automate the playback of some audio. I want to keep it as simple as possible - I'd like the audio to start playing when I power the device up.

I can't seem to think of anything off the top of my head that would do such a thing.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[nightwalker]

Years ago I had music playing in our bathrooms when the door closes, still do. My first go round with it used a door contact, a 12V relay and an auto cassette player i wasn't using in the car.

Door closed, relay tripped, sent 12V to the cassette player and it played. It was pretty simple and did work. These days I notice most thing auto eject or are mp3 based and I'd be willing to bet simply applying power will not start them playing.

 

[MikeB]

Thanks for the post. Yeah, that's my thought as well. Also, to clarify, I'd need the audio to start from the beginning, so I don't think a cassette deck would work for me...

 

[electron]

I had to do something like this for halloween, so I basically bought a really cheap mp3 player (geeks.com, just a few bucks), and hacked the device so that whenever power goes to the prop, a relay would trigger that play button. Power was controlled by a UPB appliance module. Same concept, but digital If you do find a cheap (without hacking) solution, please let us know.

 

[upstatemike]

How long is the audio you want to play? Is it just a wav file or is it a long playlist of songs or what?

 

[aehusted]

How about repurposing a musical greeting card?

 

[MikeB]

Hey Mike -

An entire song, or at least a minute or 2 of a MP3 or WAV.

How about repurposing a musical greeting card?

Great idea, but I'm not sure if it will give me the sound quality I'm looking for.

 

[upstatemike]

What about using an Elk-124 recordable voice/music module?

 

[MikeB]

What about using an Elk-124 recordable voice/music module?

Thanks, I will look into it... I haven't spent nearly enough time with my Elk to know exactly what I can/can't do with it!

 

[nightwalker]

It looks to me like the Elk 124 could be made to work even if you don't use an Elk controller.

 

[upstatemike]

It looks to me like the Elk 124 could be made to work even if you don't use an Elk controller.

Yes it is stand-alone so it can be triggered from any contact ot trigger voltage. I would use an old wall waert plugged into an appliance module.

 

[nightwalker]

It beats the hell out of my old cassette player solution. Where was all this stuff in the 70's when I started out with HA.

 

[MikeB]

Yes it is stand-alone so it can be triggered from any contact ot trigger voltage. I would use an old wall waert plugged into an appliance module.

REALLY? Hmm, I think I might order one of these up. Thanks!!

 

[MikeB]

From what I can tell, the Elk-124 only has a built-in mic for recording audio, so I'd also need an Elk-129 get a decent transfer from my PC to the Elk-124. Gets kind of expensive...

Any opinions on the audio quality coming out of the Elk-124? At least as good as a decent MP3 player I would hope?

Thanks

 

[ver0776]

I had the same issue here and eventually gave up and just ran a audio line from the file server in the laundry room to the bathroom. Now I can not only have it start a song from the beginning, but it can select from a playlist. I know this is a custom solution and not nearly as simple as a hardware solution, but in the end it is much more powerful and flexable.

You can always add a secondary USB soundcard if you have any computer remotely close to the location in question.

Vaughn