I may be getting ahead of myself, but would anyone be interested in a digital input board for the Empeg, assuming it is possible (I'm not really sure that it is without permanently altering the Empeg)? If there's some place to make the connections on the Empeg board, coupled with a digital output board, it would allow the Empeg to serve as a digital EQ for CD players and such.

I've also got other ideas for digital products too, but they are all top secret .

Stu

I would... if it is possible to use it with your other project, the digital output board, in the same player (e.g., so that the player has digital I/O).

All we would need now is 5.1 compatibality.... DVD input to empeg, then digital output to a nice digital amp... Dreams starting to unfold....

In reply to:

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I would... if it is possible to use it with your other project, the digital output board, in the same player (e.g., so that the player has digital I/O)

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My thoughts exactly. As long as the Empeg hardware allows for the dig. input hardware, I'm all for it.

Stu

The tuner interface can take I2S inputs (up to 48kHz) - this was designed for DAB tuners. It's never been tested, and 2 of the lines are shared with FM-MPX/AM-AF and FM/AM-level lines, but it's all there.

You will need some more major kernel hackery to get it working though.

Hugo

Yes. having a digital input would probably make it possible to have a bluetooth connection to a mobile phone to turn the empeg into a universal bluetooth handsfree kit that would automatically patch your calls through your stereo speakers and use the empeg's mic input. (this was discussed in technical a while ago).

The digital board would have to be able to convert the PCM output of the bluetooth module to I2S and then provide a PCM output from the empeg's mic.

Anyone else possibly interested in this?

Oli.

I would be.. but I have no skills to work on it. I just got a new Kyocera phone, which would work great with the empeg in many ways....

I apparently have the hardware skills to make such a beast, but the kernel hack is another matter.

Stu

Yes, definitely interrested. I've got a Bluetooth phone, and at the moment, I only use bluetooth for data ond not for handsfree.
Marius (Escort Cab + Mark II)

Did you ever do anything with this. It occurred to me again after someone again mentioned the need for a CD player for IASCA competition. A CD transport plus a digital input for the empeg would seem like a good solution to that problem.

I would certainly like to try, but Hugo said in an earlier post in this thread that enabling such a board would require major "hackery" of the kernel, something I admittedly haven't the slightest idea how to approach. If someone who knows how to deal with the kernel element of this is willing to step in, I could handle the hardware portion. Suggestions welcome.

Stu

So with a digital input board, would it be possible to just install a CD-ROM drive, and run the digital out to the empeg, and run 12 volts to it? Several cd-rom drives I've seen have cd transport buttons.

Now what would be crazy cool would be to run the digital out above as stated, then use the USB (or Serial?) to control the CD drive from the empeg.

Greg

Don't most CD-ROM drives with digital out output TTL level signals? That could complicate things a bit as it is not electrically the same as coaxial S/PDIF.

Stu

Dood, somebody is definitely begging for my Christmas money ... Now if you can just swing a pcmcia slot to hold a 802.11x card ...

Greg

All the CD transports I've seen have fiberoptic outs -- S/PDIF, I assume. Of course, all of those are home stereo transports. I've never, AFAIK, seen an in-dash transport, but I'm guessing that they exist.

Edit: But he did ask specifically about a CD-ROM. I have no idea what they put out.

Most (all?) CD-ROMs output S/PDIF, not I2S. maczrool could make an *external* board which feeds in through the tuner interface, as this is designed to take an external I2S input (WS, bitclk, data) multiplexed onto the existing analogue lines.

This was intended to be used with a digital radio tuner. I've never tested it though, so there may be component changes required inside the player (possibly too much capacitance on the lines for good clocking). We'd also then have to do tweaks to the player for a digital-AUX mode, which would be non-trivial - though you could (in kernel) change the AUX in mode to send the correct DSP commands to select the secondary I2S input port.

Hugo

In reply to:

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maczrool could make an *external* board which feeds in through the tuner interface, as this is designed to take an external I2S input (WS, bitclk, data) multiplexed onto the existing analogue lines.

This was intended to be used with a digital radio tuner. I've never tested it though, so there may be component changes required inside the player (possibly too much capacitance on the lines for good clocking). We'd also then have to do tweaks to the player for a digital-AUX mode, which would be non-trivial - though you could (in kernel) change the AUX in mode to send the correct DSP commands to select the secondary I2S input port.

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So all that would be required would be for someone to modify Hijack to select the secondary I2S input port for AUX and suitable hardware, and we would have digital input capability? What is the sampling rate and word length on the secondary inputs? 44.1/16?

Where can I find a pinout of the tuner interface showing where the I2S pins are located?

A transceiver chip such as the CS8420 would allow a single board to do double duty as an S/PDIF receiver (digital input) and transmitter (digital output).

Stu

No one is interested? Okay. Maybe I should just finish the sub out board first.

Stu

I'd like to point out to those of you who are IASCAns that a digital input board might make it possible for you to use your empeg as your head unit, if there's an in-dash digital out CD transport out there somewhere.

Actually, I would be interested, though more for at-home-use than in-car-use, but still I would really be interested.

Ciao,
Sven

I need to locate the I2S input lines inside the Empeg or on the tuner line (?).

Stu

I want one - mainly for use in my Mark Lord docking station (no digital input needed in the car) but the price of getting one of these installed + the cost of the unit itself was too much for me (the price of the board seemed fair however).

1 - Pink - level
2 - Grey - signal
3 - Blue - Power Ant (not connected on wiring harness)
4 - Black - 0v
5 - Brown - TX
6 - Red - RX
7 - Purple - unknown (not used in PCATS tuner)
8 - Blue - 12v

If you are unsure of the numbering of the Molex connector,
please check Patrick's tuner manual at http://www.pcats.co.uk/manual.html

The purple wire is probably one of the I2S lines.
The other two I2S lines are actually shared with the AM/FM wires.
No clue which wires are what though and from what I remember
it's not even been tested. Hugo said that it was to support DAB tuners.

I forgot where I got that from.

-ml