Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: koolmoecraig on August 14, 2007, 08:12:48 pm

Title: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: koolmoecraig on August 14, 2007, 08:12:48 pm

I have one of those little electronic boxes that says pre-recorded stuff when you press a button.  Kind of like those talking greeting cards.

Anyway, I was wondering if it would be possible to increase the volume by simply installing a bigger speaker or would I have to increase the voltage as well?  It currently runs on two AA batteries.

I'm pretty much an idiot with stuff like this.

What's the easiest way to so this?  Basically, I want to add some sort of amp to it.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: koolmoecraig on August 14, 2007, 08:15:08 pm

This is for an arcade machine.  I'm going to wire it to trigger when you insert a quarter.

Title: Re: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: Ken Layton on August 15, 2007, 10:27:07 am

In general, a bigger speaker may or may not help. If the speaker was more efficient (a.k.a. "sensitive") you'd have more volume.

Title: Re: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: RandyT on August 15, 2007, 10:36:14 am

Quote from: koolmoecraig on August 14, 2007, 08:12:48 pm

Basically, I want to add some sort of amp to it.

Basically, you'll want to add some sort of amp to it :)


Ok, the long answer.....you should be able to actually connect a mini-phono plug in place of the speaker and plug it into your PC's aux audio in.  The levels might not be correct though, and may need an extra resistor somewhere to bleed off some of the output if it is too "hot."  From there, use the mixer app to get the volume where you want it.

But don't be surprised if it doesn't sound all that good once it's amplified :)


RandyT

Title: Re: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: vidmouse on August 15, 2007, 01:34:30 pm

I'm wondering if you'd have better luck
1) making a recording of the sounds,
2) cleaning them up/amplifying them with some sound editor program, and then
3) using software on your PC to trigger the sound when it recognizes a coin input.

I think Goldwave shareware can do (2) at least, if not (1) and (2).
I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to write a program to do (3) and have it map to key inputs that you'd hook up.  I bet I could write (3) if you get really stuck...

Title: Re: Electronic Help Needed ***
Post by: SavannahLion on August 15, 2007, 02:03:28 pm

Quote from: vidmouse on August 15, 2007, 01:34:30 pm

I think Goldwave shareware can do (2) at least, if not (1) and (2).

What about Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)? I taught my GF some of the basics. She uses it, along with another tool, to resample and crop MP3's for her cell phone. If I have to hear Fergalicious one more time, I think I'll crack.  :banghead: