Figuring it out

[JonnyMac]

I'm the guy who needs everything dumbed down.

No, you don't. It saddens us when our customers run themselves into the ground this way. We build professional products and as you've succeeded before (even if by accident), you can again. It's really more of getting out of your own way (mentally, that is).  Henry Ford once said: Whether you believe you can or you believe you can't... you're right!

8ohm, 0.1w

Is that a typo? With a 20w output we recommend 25 to 50 watt speakers; 8 ohm speakers will work but cannot provide the full power of the amps.

[aquawilly54]

Thanks for the boost.  ;)
This is a mini speaker I picked up at Radio Shack after reading the 4 to 8ohm requirement.
Here's the specs from the package.
Rated input  0.10W
Max input     0.20W
Freq range    300 - 8000Hz
Resonant freq   650Hz +/- 130
Impedance       8 ohms  +/- 20%

If that's wrong, tell me what I need and I'm off to the store.  :)
Steve

I'd like to send you my WAVs but I don't have the zip function.

[aquawilly54]

Ok, I shortened it up quite a bit and found the zip.  Hopefully it goes thru.

[aquawilly54]

Good, it made it.  Here's the the other.  I'm supplying both because I want to be sure I didn't do anything wrong with the exporting.  They are both on the card in longer versions (22 sec) and exported the same way.
Thanks again for looking.
Steve

[bsnut]

Good, it made it.  Here's the the other.  I'm supplying both because I want to be sure I didn't do anything wrong with the exporting.  They are both on the card in longer versions (22 sec) and exported the same way.
Thanks again for looking.
Steve

Does this mean that you were able to put the sound file on your SD card or play the file on the AP-16?

To add to Jon's point on testing the AP-16. You can test your speaker on something that uses 8ohm speakers that you know that works to see if this speaker works that you got from Radio Shack. Sometimes products come from Radio Shack that don't work.

I'm using the prop 1 to control some animation.  No problem there.
I want the audio to come on in the last quarter of the animation.  That's all.  It's just one recording.  I'm trying to start small with the whole audio thing.

If you post  the Prop-1 code and tell us how you are going to connect the Prop-1 to the AP-16, we can help you place it in the code where it needs to be.

Remember the best teacher is yourself. This means you will learn from your mistakes that you make.

[aquawilly54]

Does this mean that you were able to put the sound file on your SD card or play the file on the AP-16?

Nope, not yet.  That's why I sent the files.  To get feedback on whether they work or not.

I really have nothing else to try this little speaker on.  I thought it fit the criteria that I was able to find in the documentation, but that's why I sent the specs. 

If you post  the Prop-1 code and tell us how you are going to connect the Prop-1 to the AP-16, we can help you place it in the code where it needs to be

I still have to write the basic code for the animation.  Up to this point I've only been trying to make a code for the audio, but if I can't get the audio to work as a stand alone, I'm sure not going to get it to work as controlled unit from the prop 1 with the rest of the code.

I'm open to all feedback.  It just has to be easy to understand.  :)

Thanks bsnut.

[aquawilly54]

One other thought here. 
The SD card I bought does video too.  Is it requirement for the AP16 that the card only handles audio? 
Steve

[bsnut]

One other thought here. 
The SD card I bought does video too.  Is it requirement for the AP16 that the card only handles audio? 
Steve

Here's a thread that talks about  http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=1766.0 and can hopefully help you answer your question.

[aquawilly54]

That's interesting.  I know what formatting is, but I know I didn't do it and I don't know how to do it.

What is FAT16 or FAT32, and how do I format the card to it? 
Steve

[aquawilly54]

Woo Hoooo!  A small success.

I retaught myself the formatting skill.  Yeh, let's call it a skill.  :)

As it turns out it was already formatted to FAT32, but I went thru the process anyway.  Tuh duhhhh!  We have sound.  Well, for a moment anyway.  I let the smoke out of that mini speaker.  Guess it WASN'T up to the task. 

Any suggestions on what speaker to use?  An inexpensive one?

After the speaker is replaced I'll be back for more code info.

Thanks a bunch folks!
Steve

[JackMan]

OK, the little speaker you have isn't gonna cut it for use with the AP-16+, you may have blown it already (I was typing this as you were finding out for yourself!). You need a good beefy speaker(s) that can handle at least 20W, preferably 50W. A good car speaker works well. When you did as Jon outlined with the file he sent you did the green status light flash when you pressed the start button? If it did not, and you did EXACTLY as he outlined, there's a problem with your SD card. Try another card if you can, a good Sandisk if possible.

The SD card I bought does video too.  Is it requirement for the AP16 that the card only handles audio?

SD cards will hold any type of file, audio, video, text, etc., it doesn't matter.

Is there an index somewhere in all of the documentation with definitions for all the symbols?

Symbols in any program are user defined just to help you when writing your program, example: SYMBOL PIR = PIN6 under I/O definitions allows you to insert the word PIR into your program code instead PIN6. Program commands are the PBASIC language used to write the code.
If you open your Basic Stamp Editor and click the help tab at the top it will bring up a lot of info. Click on "contents" and then "PBASIC reference" and a list of commands will come up. Click on any command to get detailed info.

[aquawilly54]

Symbols in any program are user defined just to help you when writing your program, example: SYMBOL PIR = PIN6 under I/O definitions allows you to insert the word PIR into your program code instead PIN6. Program commands are the PBASIC language used to write the code.
If you open your Basic Stamp Editor and click the help tab at the top it will bring up a lot of info. Click on "contents" and then "PBASIC reference" and a list of commands will come up. Click on any command to get detailed info.[/quote]
I will do that.  Each time I have tried to use "my" symbols though little boxes popped up that essentially said it didn't recognize them.  I know I was doing something wrong.  I just don't know what.  I'll recheck the help tab.  Thanks

When you did as Jon outlined with the file he sent you did the green status light flash when you pressed the start button? If it did not, and you did EXACTLY as he outlined, there's a problem with your SD card.[/quote]
When I performed Jon's list, the card had not been formatted.  The light stayed steady.  Now the card is formatted, the light blinks and sound works.  The speaker died at the end of the process.  I'll find a car speaker that conforms to your suggestion.  After I know that works, then it's back to the programing.  Deep breath here.  :)

Thanks much.  I'll be back Saturday evening...with a lot of questions, I'm sure.

[JonnyMac]

Other than some clipping and pops at the end that don't seem to be part of the file I find nothing wrong with it.

Format the card FAT16 or FAT32. To do this put the card into your machine, go to My Computer, right click on the card and select Format from the menu. Uncheck Quick Format which just erases the files from the card. Use the default settings.

If you're on a Mac you will have to do some research. I know it's possible to do FAT32 formatting on a Mac, but it's takes some doing (I did it once on a neighbor's Mac).

[aquawilly54]

I guess you missed post #24, JonnyMac.

Formatting was the issue.  I didn't realize that was something that needed to be done, but now it is.  That mini speaker started smokin' after the wav played, so a better speaker is in order.  Once I have that and do some home work, I'll be back.
Thanks much.
Steve

[JonnyMac]

Sorry, I did miss the formatting thing in the melee.

Any suggestions on what speaker to use?  An inexpensive one?

Do so at your own peril!  ;)  Please, use a speaker rated for at least 20W, better to use one rated higher.