CD-Rom to RCA audio project

From Classicamiga

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(Project details)
(Hardware Spec/Parts Needed)
Line 15: Line 15:
* RCA audio cable with left and right phono connectors
* RCA audio cable with left and right phono connectors
* CD-Rom audio cable
* CD-Rom audio cable
-
* PCI style metal backplate
+
* PCI style metal backplate (you can adapt any old PCI slot backplate for this)
* Hot Glue Gun
* Hot Glue Gun

Revision as of 15:19, 28 November 2008

CD-Rom audio to RCA (Phono) output

CD-Rom to RCA Audio
Created 2008
Creator Tiago
Based On Custom hardware
Kickstart n/a
Operating System n/a
CPU n/a
Memory n/a

Contents

Hardware Spec/Parts Needed

  • RCA audio cable with left and right phono connectors
  • CD-Rom audio cable
  • PCI style metal backplate (you can adapt any old PCI slot backplate for this)
  • Hot Glue Gun

Project details

This hardware project forms part of the larger Micronik Infinitiv A1200 Tower Case Project.

This small project is designed to create a connector to route the audio from an internal CD-Rom drive out of the computer's case to a pair of RCA Phono audio connectors mounted on a PCI style backplate; making it easy to then connect the audio to an external set of speakers or an amplifier.

While working on my A1200 Tower Project, after getting the CD-ROM working, I noticed that something was missing. In other systems there is a cable connecting the CD-ROM drive to the audio card, allowing you to listen to music without any software running (directly from the CD drive). The Amiga has its own sound system on board (well it is possible to upgrade it…), so I then had to think of a way to connect the CD-ROM drive to the Amiga's sound output without using the processor? I didn't want to modify the Amiga's original RCA Phono connectors that are on the A1200's board, so the best option was to instead create a new pair of RCA Phono connectors for the CD-Rom audio.

Usually CD-ROM drives come with an audio cable to connect to a sound card (PC), and this cable usually has 4 pins:

  • pin 1 - Left signal output
  • pin 2 - Ground
  • pin 3 - Ground
  • pin 4 - Right signal output
(there may be some cables with only 1 ground wire)

So, what i did was:

  • The CD-Rom drive cable connector, is connected to the CD-Rom drive as normal.
  • The other end of the connector that normally goes into the sound card was cut off ready for some soldering work as follows:
  • The right signal output (pin 4) goes to the centre pole of the right RCA
  • The adjacent wire of the right signal output (pin 3) goes to the outer pole of right RCA
(the next step depends on the type of cable, some sound blasters use one ground in pin 1 or 4, but the majority of card use both ground in pins 2 and 2 (in center)}.
  • the left signal output (pin 1) goes to the outer pole of left RCA
  • the adjacent wire of the right signal output (pin 2 ) goes to the center pole of left RCA

(diagram to follow)

If sound doesn't work correctly, or one of the channels is missing, try to swap pins (3 and 4) or (1 and 2). Test this before soldering to make sure it is correct.

Now that I had the RCAs created, I needed a place to put them, my A1200 Tower has some slots available (not using any so far) so I though it was the only logical place to put them, but I need a metal slot cover. I found an old parallel slot in the basement, so I use it to mount and hold down the RCAs. I first removed the parallel connector, and cut the plate to host the RCAs. To fill the empty spaces and to give a solid fixing i used hot glue, to join everything together. The excess glue was then cut off and the whole plate was painted white to match the tower case.

This project is not yet finished but you can get an idea of what it will be like from this information.

Project Gallery

Additional Reading

See also:

Reference

Personal tools
Classicamiga Directories