Freesound Forums
<strong>Playback devices</strong>
Started July 10th, 2010 · 8 replies · Latest reply by Timbre 14 years, 3 months ago
I am looking for inexpensive playback devices to place behind scenes on a model railroad layout. These will supply ambient sounds of machinery, street noises, country sounds, etc. Something simple as several are needed, and something that will play when power is applied as I would like to connect them to a motion sensor. Any suggestions? :?:
Recordable greetings card / talking label e.g. ... http://www.talkingproducts.co.uk/voice_pad.htm
Thanks for the suggestion Timbre. These are going to be used in a non-profit, 3,500 sq. ft. model railroad display that typically hosts 1500+ during our November Open House. I would like to connect the device to a motion detector mounted on the front fascia of several different scenes. When a visitor moves in front of the scene, then the detector will start the player and run for a specified time. I think it would need to be a simple record and play device that would play when power is applied (via the motion detector or IR device) without any buttons to push or knobs to turn. Not sure how to connect a greeting card to do this for hours on end, and would probably need a larger speaker to be heard over the sounds of the trains running. Thanks for the idea, I will pick up one of the recordable cards and take a look at it anyway.
I wonder if you could pick up endless loop cassette players cheaply nowadays. Museums and tourist venues used to use them, it would be quite straightforward to configure a motion sensor to trigger them.
at $5-$10 each they're not going to be loud, and they're not hi-fi (low bit depth).
darrellc
probably need a larger speaker to be heard over the sounds of the trains running
You'd need a small amplifier circuit (a couple of watts output) to power a speaker with the signal from the card if you want it loud.
e.g. ... http://www.mutr.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1179
[will also need a DC power supply, and of course a loudspeaker capable of handling the power of the amplifier]
NB: the talking labels can only store a 20 second memory.
That is an excellent idea, and it would be easy enough to jumper across the "Play" button so that when power was applied/removed it would start/stop. I have also been looking at Motion Activated Recordable door bells and announcers; some of those look like they might work also and already have the motion detector built in. Thanks again
As an update, I have ordered a motion-activated recordable doorbell mechanism that is battery powered. It also has a USB port for downloading sound effects or voice from your PC. I'll post the results once it arrives and I have tested it.
