The new guy has some questions.

[joe average]

I've been looking through here for a while and have become interested in this whole build your own jukebox thing.  I've been reading for a good bit but there are a few things I just don't seem to understand. 

These may seem like pretty simple questions and If I've missed the answers can someone please point me in the right direction.

Okay so using a computer as the system for your jukebox, one tends to enclose in inside the cabinet.  The question here is how are you turning it on and off with out having to go into the cabinet?  Do you just wire up a new power button to the outside of the cabinet?  Also if you are using other components like an amp or such do you have to rewire it into the same switch to get everything to come on together? Do most of you only have one cord to plug into the wall?

Next I am curious if one is using a computer, is it better to have an amp and preamp?  Also in order to keep them out of sight do you need to break them down and rewire all your pots so that you can have your adjustments on one control panel.  I'm not that good at that sort of thing but I've done some work on my arcade cabs over the years so I think I may understand how to do that.

I also don't see a computer powersupply being up to the job so does that mean one needs a seperate one for the audio components and once again how does it wire in to start up with the rest of the system?

The attraction here is one cabinet that gives a sleek look and hides a computer and components, rather than having a pc hooked into a reciever or such to a normal sound system.  The idea of being able to access all of ones digital music on a nice sound system is very nice.

[johnpurs]

Okay so using a computer as the system for your jukebox, one tends to enclose in inside the cabinet.  The question here is how are you turning it on and off with out having to go into the cabinet?  Do you just wire up a new power button to the outside of the cabinet?  Also if you are using other components like an amp or such do you have to rewire it into the same switch to get everything to come on together? Do most of you only have one cord to plug into the wall?

The power switch on all ATX (current standard) based computers is just a Normally Open Momentary pushbutton switch that plugs into two pins on the mobo. I have my computer de-cased so I just cut a harness out of and old case and used the power switch connector and extended it with a pushbotton on the end.

To power my monitor I installed a standard duplex wall outlet in the cabinet. This powers the computer and the touchscreen. I wired it to a toggle switch and a single line cord is all that comes out of the cabinet. So I totally kill the power to the cabinet with the toggle switch to power the monitor on and off.

I don't know much about amps and preamps. I use an old Stereo reciever as my amp and that is outside the cabinet in another area of the room and I send the audio from the computer to the reciever via blue tooth (Sony HWSBTA2W.)

[Space Fractal]

Yep, it just 2 pin on the mobo, that can been wired to a arcade button to use as a on/off button.

You can also use a usb smart power strip, so all connected hardware simple turn off too, when you power off your machine.

Some applications do also have a shutdown option, but not all.

[soup]

A USB activated power board as per Space Fractal suggestion would be the ideal solution, however I haven't seen any where I live so I made my own. Cheaper possibly, but a bit of work.
I use a power board with the PC plugged into the first socket, with all the other sockets isolated. Powering on the unit is via the PC switch (obviously relocated) which via a free HD lead powers on a relay which then connects all the other sockets on the power board to mains. Pretty inexpensive solution, cheap 4 port power board (Sub, amplifier, PC, touch screen) + relay = $17. Press the button and the PC and everything powers up, to shutdown press the button again and everything turns off once the PC has completely shutdown.

[psychotech]

..however I haven't seen any where I live so I made my own.

Well, I'm using similar "smart strips" on 2 of my three builds .. 9.95 € (euros) apiece ..so, just about $15.50 each. They come with surge protection circuits etc.

I have a power ON button on the machine and software shutdown on all my builds - works like a charm

Good luck and have fun 

[joe average]

Well thank you all for the helpful info. 

Though I am still curious as to how you make your adjustments such as volume for example.  Do you have something wired up for that.  I seen some info on using computer speakers but I would rather go with something a bit larger as I only plan on using the unit for music.

I used to have an mp3 player hooked up to a stereo and that was kind of nice but not to my taste.  I've been looking into picking up an old console stereo and setting it up as a giant mp3 juke box.

I had seen another post on here where someone had done that and it was very awsome.

[soup]

...  I seen some info on using computer speakers but I would rather go with something a bit larger as I only plan on using the unit for music.

From what I have read on this forum there are some *computer* speakers that pump out some awesome sound (Logitech 5.1???) and are great for JukeBoxes.

I am using a standard amplifier integrated into my Jukebox in combination with some standard stereo speakers - great sound + remote volume control = nice