Workshop music.

Hi,

For many years I've tried to get a system of playing my downloaded favourite 60's songs in the workshop; when it was a radio shack I used a walkman to play CD's through a restored vintage radio; this worked fine but CD's only hold about twenty songs.

I then converted our garage into a full time workshop and bought a Sony mini hifi stereo this also accepting CD's but still the same problem of changing CD's.

A couple of years ago I bought an ipod this now holding around 200 songs but now I was into constantly charging the ipod battery; I still hadn't obtained what I wanted; I looked for mains radios on Ebay that would accept a memory stick but all I could find were battery radios;

Very recently I posted a thread on a DIY forum asking for suggestions; just one member kindly posted details of "Smart Speakers" which were new to me but when I looked into these they were much too complicated for my basic needs.

Then I remembered our Skoda Yeti had a USB socket for playing such as an ipod; could I do something with this idea.

I've now bought a new car radio through eBay only costing around £12 delivered; it arrived at dinnertime today. I always have small power supplies so pulled out one at 2A this plugs into a 13A 240AC socket and converts to 12VDC. I already have the speakers from the Sony so time to play around a bit; I'd also copied the songs from the ipod onto a memory stick; this tiny 4GB memory stick will hold up to 1,000 MP3 songs.

I connected the radio to the power supply in this case it was Yellow to the positive (+) and black to the negative (-). Just to test I connected one speaker and inserting the memory stick I switched the power on but it remained dead?

Because it's meant to be installed in a car there's a wire for the ignition switch; this is the red wire; I connected this with the Yellow (+) and was delighted when it fired up; the clock still needs setting because to adjust it the remote control is used and this needs a coin battery (CR2025). Just wonderful now to have 200 favourite songs without hassle and a bonus is random play. I can leave the adapter switched on at the socket this will keep the time correct once it's set and I can switch the radio off so after no end of hassle and head scratching I finally solved the problem myself and in the end it was so easy and cheap to do.

I hope this story helps someone else.

Kind regards, Colin.



My ipod that's done a good job apart from demanding constant battery charging; at one point I modifield a USB cable identifying the power and signal wires snipping the signal wires in the hope it would charge whilst working from a new double 13A socket fitted with a pair of USB sockets; all I got was massive intereference.

Here's the Sony hifi with a speaker the other speaker across the workshop to give stereo.

The connections on the new radio.
Under power and working playing from the memory stick. I'll now make an enclosure to protect it from debris and permanently wire it in. Sorted at last so I'm pleased.

 

I'm grateful to live in the time we do Colin, as a massive music fan who likes artists from most genres it's lovely to have all my favourite albums on such a small device, now my entire collection is on a 4 1/2 x 3 inch external hard drive, used to take up about half the spare room! I find it odd that people still occupy so much space in their homes with a huge CD or LP collection. Some people ask me if I miss having the artwork or lyrics but both are available online anyway!

Nick

 

I've got both @Nikolaos and the reason I've kept my vinyl is because they are gaining value, although I can't play them. I've not had a record deck for years but there is something nostalgic about listening to vinyl and it's imperfections. I updated the collection to cd's (but not remasters) and I will continue to play them as long as hi-fi systems are supplied with a cd player.

That's a clever idea Colin and serves a good purpose. I hope you won't mind me side tracking slightly.

Having recently bought a new car there is no longer a cd player attached to the radio. The problem I have is what to attach to a USB point in the car to be able to play my music? I haven't got a clue.

 

Hi,

Thanks Nikolaos. I converted all my favourite movies from CD/DVD to memory sticks then shredded the discs; I also have an SSD for back up. I found over the years many of my old CD's no longer played so they aren't at all reliable now I back up everything I want to keep.

Smart Speakers appear to be excellent as you say John and so very convenient but for my needs I just wanted to play my own favourite songs hence the set up I'm now creating; I never listen to radio and seldom see much normal TV. I don't trust wifi because I don't fully understand the security implications; I do know anyone using a laptop etc in a cafe on public wifi accessing their online banking details is asking for trouble; I admit I'm a dinosaur and I'm not into all these latest must have gimmicks; I have a mobile phone it's an SOS phone on pay as you go but the only time I ever use it is from Rufforth Auto Jumble once per month for under a minute to let my wife know I'll be home in an hour; I've never been on a plane and never been abroad other than once to Scotland and once to Wales; I live in Yorkshire and am happy with my reclusive lifestyle content to be at home; we've not had an holiday away from home for the last 44 years and it doesn't bother us; there's so much of England we've never seen.

I agree with you John in suggesting Sheal transfer her music to memory sticks then simply play in the car; this is so simple but many like Sheal don't know how to do it so assuming you have the USB socket in your car Sheal do you have a CD player on your computer; if so it's easy (once you know how) to transfer from disc to memory stick; buy a memory stick say 4GB like the one I'm using;



Insert your CD and insert the memory stick into the USB socket on your computer and you can copy directly from CD to memory stick; with practice you can select only the music you wish to copy.



Here's a YouTube link which might help you Sheal but; like most new things it's difficult at first and looks complicated but hopefully the video will point you in the right direction.



In our Skoda Yeti the USB port is just in front of the gearlever as shown; the memory stick will only go in one way. The 4GB works fine for me and no way will I ever store up to 1,000 songs on it at the moment I've around 200 songs on mine.

If you get stuck Sheal just ask and we'll do our best to help. Good luck.

I'd better get back into the workshop; I'm making an enclosure for the new radio.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

An update. I decided to make a simple wooden enclosure for the radio and had an offcut of 3/4" thick English oak already at the correct width so I just cross cut it and mitred it on the bandsaw; next I glued and pinned it leaving it for a couple of hours for the glue to set.

This afternoon I've just completed it having sanded and waxed it; packing was used to give a nice tight fit so everythings ready for connecting which isn't a big or complicated job. Tomorrow morning whilst shopping I'll buy a battery for the remote; I'm not in a hurry for a change because I've no big heavy jobs hanging over me.


Quick and accurate way to cut mitres.
The enclosure with radio fully installed ready to be connected to the power supply and speakers.
This radio although very cheap new has a USB port here seen with a memory stick inserted. Once you transfer the music to memory stick Sheal this is all you need to do to insert it into your car USB then you're ready to switch on and play.

My lovely wife has asked what I'd like for my imminent birthday; I've got virtually everything I need or even want but I'm considering buying a violin; I've never tried to play a musical instrument so what better time to have a go; I like new challenges and it should be interesting.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

Thanks John. Yes my wife and I are happy on our own little patch of Yorkshire; until Covid we used to smile watching neighbours setting off on their annual holiday bags packed with long faces and see them return home still with long faces then trying to outbrag each other as where they'd been abroad. When we moved here 34 years ago we had a one year old Citroen 2CV; our new neighbours had mercs etc but ours was paid for? We've spent our time and money improving our own home and enjoying learning and doing the work ourselves. Nothing's changed our neighbours attend gym or play golf which of course is their choice but they then pay gardener; window cleaner and house cleaner etc never considering learning how to do things for themselves; we're all different our lifestyle suits us but will seem boring to many. My wife and I have many hobbies fully supporting each other; life's good.

Not only would I like a violin I might have a go at making my own violin because I've been looking at buying a violin and brand new ones can be bought for around £50 but I wonder as to quality; I've a fully equipped workshop to play in and making a violin would be a new challenge for me.



Kind regards, Colin.

 

Thank you John and Colin for the information.

I was about to ask how do I transfer from one to the other but you've provided that too Colin. I have a memory stick but it's old so I may have to invest in a new one. I also have a cd/dvd player on my computer so will give it a go. Plugging into the car will be a bit more difficult. There's so many 'bells and whistles' on new cars it's taking me a while to get my head round them all. I'll have to search for the USB point.

 

May be in the centre arm rest storeage combremt(could under the tray if you got one)
I copy some songs from cd to usb but they wouldn't play i had to convert them to mp3 i think which was easy