vmusic and propeller

stef · 2010-04-19 10:53

Hi

I recieved today a module vmusic2 but before I start off with this I have some question.

- Can I interface de rs232 of the vmusic2 directly to the Propeller? The propeller is 3.3v and the vmusic is 5V. I normaly use as max233 for interfacing rs233 signales.

- I found an artical of Mike Green on the Vmusic2 but that is to complex. Is thier an easy example on how to play 1 mp3 file when an input is getting high. I'm still learning to get the spin language under my knollage. (I'm a beginner)

Any help is welcome.

Stefan Vanhoof.
·

kwinn · 2010-04-19 12:16

Connection between a 3.3V propeller I/O pin and a 5V logic pin requires a 2K or higher series resistor.

stef · 2010-04-19 18:34

Hi

Do you mean between tx,rx,rts and cts?

Stefan

electrosys · 2010-04-19 20:36

The signals from Vmusic2 to Propeller requires series resistor, it would be the TX and RTS.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
At the end, everything will became Electrons...!

stef · 2010-04-19 21:04

Hi

Thanks. I connected it.

Is someone having a very easy example of playing 1 file of the vmusic? I try to start easy but I can't find much example on the vmusic2.

Stefan

Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) · 2010-04-20 03:29

Try this: go down to "AlGorithm" Spin files attached.

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=639412

stef · 2010-04-20 15:38

Thanks for the info Bob

I'll test it this evening.

Stefan

Shawn Lowe · 2010-04-20 16:37

Just a word of warning: Vmusic players are notoriously finicky about playing. In many peoples opinion - they are junk! (Never got mine to work)

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Shawn Lowe

When all else fails.....procrastinate!

hover1 · 2010-04-20 17:18

@Shawn

Where did you hear that? Not in these forums. I have three working out in the field for the past year, 7 days a week. Mike Green seemed pleased with them.
The only difference is that all 3 of mine are running off of BS2's.
There was a firmware upgrade that you might not have implemented.

Jim

stef · 2010-04-20 20:22

Hi Everyone.

I tested the vmusic2 and got it to work. So now I can start and stop the MP3. Nice little thing.

One thing I 'm not quit sure of. It is also not working.

The VSV command is supost to controle the volume. The module is not reakting if I send that. All the rest is working.

Has someone any idea in how this needs to be done. (Controle volume)

Stefan

hover1 · 2010-04-20 20:35

Could you post the code that you are trying to use?

The same command that you use to start or stop playing could be replaced with:

"VSV vol CR" 'Sets playback volume. "vol" ranges from 0 (loudest) to 256 (off).

stef · 2010-04-20 20:42

Hi

Yes I Know. But it is not working.

I attached spin files

Stefan

hover1 · 2010-04-20 21:03

@stef

The attached files are just snippets of what you are using. We would like to see the entire code you are using to see how it all interacts.

Jim

stef · 2010-04-20 21:03

Perhaps the vol settings are only for the line out on the back. I'm now using the jack connection in the front.

Does sombody know about that?

Stefan

T Chap · 2010-04-20 21:04

I suggest you boot the device and leave it in the default mode ECS and Hex. It did take a while to get this device figured out but it works great. See some pub examples below that work:

Vol affects volume everywhere.


PUB VolOFF
    ser.str(2, string("VSV"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, 100)
    ser.tx(2, $0D)    


PUB VolON
    ser.str(2, string("VSV"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, 00)
    ser.tx(2, $0D)
                        

PUB VStop
    ser.str(2, string("VST", CR))
                                        
PUB Silence  'used to stop a file before starting another to prevent pops
    Mute      
    Vstop
    Reset      

PUB Mute
    ser.str(2, string("VWR"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, $0B)
    ser.tx(2, $FE) 'left
    ser.tx(2, $FE) 'right  
    ser.tx(2, $0D)  

PUB Reset   'stop playing audio
    ser.str(2, string("VWR"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, $00)
    ser.tx(2, ResetMode)
    ser.tx(2, ResetMode >> 8)   'jump out of wave decode
    ser.tx(2, $0D)   

PUB Set1033Rate
    ser.str(2, string("VWR"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, $05) 'sample rate
    ser.tx(2, 44101)
    ser.tx(2, 44101 >> 7)
    ser.tx(2, $0D)     

PUB Set1033Mode        
    ser.str(2, string("VRD"))     '''v read
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, Mode)  '''MODE=$00, VOL=$0B, STATUS=$01, audata/RATE=$05, BASS=$02
    ser.tx(2, Mode >> 8)
    ser.tx(2, CR)      

PUB Set1033Bass
    ser.str(2, string("VWR"))
    ser.tx(2, $20)
    ser.tx(2, $02) 'bass
    ser.tx(2, 1111_1111)   ' bass15 14 13 12         booost   1-15   ..   freq
    ser.tx(2, 0001_0001)   'trebel  7654  boost/cut  -8..7  0 = off  ...   freq
    ser.tx(2, $0D)
                      
PUB VoiceIntro
     Silence   'cut off any currently playing file, removes pops
     Volup    
     ser.str(2, string("VPF 1005.mp3", CR))

stef · 2010-04-20 21:08

Hi Hover1

No the files are complete. I'm fast testing the vmusic with two buttons.

Stefan

Shawn Lowe · 2010-04-20 21:21

hover1 said...
@Shawn

Where did you hear that? Not in these forums. I have three working out in the field for the past year, 7 days a week. Mike Green seemed pleased with them.
The only difference is that all 3 of mine are running off of BS2's.

There was a firmware upgrade that you might not have implemented.

Jim

Jim-
I spend some time over at EFX-TEK forums, and·few users in that forum can get them to work.

http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=1034.0
http://www.scary-terry.com/vm2/vm2_trouble.htm

I can't say I'm the guru on these. Jon Williams (JonnyMac) has spent far more time with these babies trying to get reliable results. All I can definatly say is I have one, and using the info on these threads and on EFX-TEK forums, I can't get mine to work.

If you know of a trick that I and others are missing, please share. The great part of these music players is they are fairly inexpensive!

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Shawn Lowe

When all else fails.....procrastinate!

stef · 2010-04-20 21:35

Thanks Todd

Changed everything and vol is now also working.

Stefan

hover1 · 2010-04-20 21:47

@stef

That's great. Todd came through before I could.

Jim

stef said...

Thanks Todd

Changed everything and vol is now also working.

Stefan

hover1 · 2010-04-20 21:50

Shawn,

Every thing I learned about the VMusic2 was from Jon, EFX-TEK, and Scary. Did you try the firmare update, worked for me.

Jim

Shawn Lowe said...

hover1 said...
@Shawn

Where did you hear that? Not in these forums. I have three working out in the field for the past year, 7 days a week. Mike Green seemed pleased with them.
The only difference is that all 3 of mine are running off of BS2's.

There was a firmware upgrade that you might not have implemented.

Jim

Jim-
I spend some time over at EFX-TEK forums, and·few users in that forum can get them to work.

http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=1034.0
http://www.scary-terry.com/vm2/vm2_trouble.htm

I can't say I'm the guru on these. Jon Williams (JonnyMac) has spent far more time with these babies trying to get reliable results. All I can definatly say is I have one, and using the info on these threads and on EFX-TEK forums, I can't get mine to work.

If you know of a trick that I and others are missing, please share. The great part of these music players is they are fairly inexpensive!

Mike Green · 2010-04-20 23:03

I didn't have any problems getting a pair of VMusic2 to work. I did use the latest firmware (at that time). Most of the trouble I had was related to the control files on the SD card, parsing them, and displaying the status of the whole thing. The sequencer and the VMusic2s worked for about a month continuously, much better than the other MP3 player I had used previously.

JonnyMac · 2010-04-20 23:08

hover1 said...
@Shawn

Where did you hear that? Not in these forums. I have three working out in the field for the past year, 7 days a week. Mike Green seemed pleased with them.
The only difference is that all 3 of mine are running off of BS2's.

There was a firmware upgrade that you might not have implemented.

Jim

He heard it from me -- my opinion is that the VMUSIC is Smile. I do everything I can to dissuade EFX-TEK customers from using it after the nightmares we've all gone through with the thing. Their tech support stinks on ice (I've sent several e-mails to their engineering group) but that doesn't stop cold calls from salesmen asking how many thousands EFX-TEK wants to purchase. While I have ultimately been able to get it to work, it has at times come down to cracking it open and re-flashing it the hard way. I could do that because I had the correct cable, my customers don't.

Mind you this is just my opinion, many of us have made the thing work. That said, it's frequently painful getting to that point.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jon McPhalen
Hollywood, CA

hover1 · 2010-04-21 00:52

WOW!

Jon, Not what I wanted to hear.

I knew there where problems in the beginning, but I thought they all got sorted out. Terry did a good job of tracking the firmware down and passing it along to eveyone, along with his personal tweakings and your help.

My three VMusic2's have been a great joy to work with on the BS2 platform.

I guess I got the only three good working ones?

Is there anyone else out there that has used the VMusic2 with success on the Propeller platform, (except Mike, he can make anything work).

Jim

T Chap · 2010-04-21 03:14

I use the Vmusic2 schematic in a product with the music firmware and everything works great. I use UART, and since I build the boards I have to flash the Vinculum each time which is a breeze. The issues I had were just pops when stopping and immediately starting a new file, but that was easily solved by resetting the Vinculum between files with the reset pin. The boards were gone over by both Vinculum and VLSI tech support before building them, I found both companies to be superb to work with. Their docs were not easy at first, but a few emails solved everything. The files posted earlier in the thread are the essence of how the system works for audio. I highly recommend the Vinculum>VLSI10XX format. Just use ECS and hex as shown. Other modes did not work well.

Post Edited (Todd Chapman) : 4/21/2010 3:31:23 AM GMT

stef · 2010-04-21 11:06

Hi

After testing a while with the vmusic I came to a question.

I can start/restart/pause and stop a mp3. I can controle vol on the vmusic.

Is thier a way the prop can know when a mp3 is at his end. The Mp3's used kan be of different length. Is it possible to know in the propeller when a mp3 is at the end and stoped.

I can't find anything in the manual of the vmusic on that.

Thanks for any answer

Stefan

JonnyMac · 2010-04-21 13:10

@Stefan,

We have a whole section of our forum devoted to the VMUSIC: www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?board=24.0

The examples there are for the Prop-1 (BASIC Stamp 1) and Prop-2 (BASIC Stamp 2), but there are several code examples that you should be able to translate. Keep in mind that when the VMUSIC is playing is constantly transmits the position in the file, so you will need to empty this from your RX buffer. When the file is done playing the VMUSIC will emit the ">" character.

To pause and resume a file you send "VP"<CR> -- this toggles the pause state. For example (assuming vmusic is a "fullduplexserial" object):

vmusic.str(string("VP", CR))

Will pause or unpause the VMUSIC.

The information you're looking for is in the Vinculum firmware guide.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jon McPhalen
Hollywood, CA

Shawn Lowe · 2010-04-21 15:03

I don't think so. I'll have to play. I know one thing missing from jon's and scarry terry's code is the init sections. Not sure if it's necessary.

hover1 said...

Shawn,

Every thing I learned about the VMusic2 was from Jon, EFX-TEK, and Scary. Did you try the firmare update, worked for me.

Jim

Shawn Lowe said...

hover1 said...
@Shawn

Where did you hear that? Not in these forums. I have three working out in the field for the past year, 7 days a week. Mike Green seemed pleased with them.
The only difference is that all 3 of mine are running off of BS2's.

There was a firmware upgrade that you might not have implemented.

Jim

Jim-
I spend some time over at EFX-TEK forums, and·few users in that forum can get them to work.

http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=1034.0
http://www.scary-terry.com/vm2/vm2_trouble.htm

I can't say I'm the guru on these. Jon Williams (JonnyMac) has spent far more time with these babies trying to get reliable results. All I can definatly say is I have one, and using the info on these threads and on EFX-TEK forums, I can't get mine to work.

If you know of a trick that I and others are missing, please share. The great part of these music players is they are fairly inexpensive!

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Shawn Lowe

When all else fails.....procrastinate!

Post Edited (Shawn Lowe) : 4/21/2010 3:18:58 PM GMT

hover1 · 2010-04-21 23:54

Jon,

Thanks for making look at the complete firware guide. I never needed all the info before, but looking at what the module sends out while it is playing a file is great reading.

Jim

BTW I heard EFX-TEK is adding the Propeller with PropBasic support. This is an awsome addition for you guys. Best of luck!

JonnyMac · 2010-04-22 16:47

Keep in mind, too, that any transmission to the VMUSIC while it's playing can disrupt the audio -- best to use the highest possible baud rate to prevent the MP3 chip's buffer from emptying.

Yes, EFX-TEK is beginning to integrate the Propeller in to our (and clients') products. We will tend to use Spin and PASM for our products, but if we ever create a generic controller around the Propeller then PropBASIC will also be supported, too.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jon McPhalen
Hollywood, CA

vmusic and propeller

Comments