Database Users

[Q] Audio Through USB

I'm currently aching to be able to play my own music through my car speakers, weird place for this yes.. if it's the wrong section to post this please let me know.
But, I was wondering if it's at all possible to feed the phone's audio through the USB.
For example, I have a USB port on my stero in my car, and when I plug it in..i'm able to feed off my SD card to play the music thats on it. But.. I'd like to be able to play pandora as well..which I'm currently unable to do.
Was wondering if this is possible. If i've confused you feel free to ask more questions
XtaC318 said:
Since it isn't possible.. what about an app that allows me to control the music played? I can stream music from the sd, but its got to mount to read therefore I don't have access to the stock music app. Only way to control what's played is the buttons on the stero and its pain staking..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I don't believe this is possible. As far as I know, when you use the usb the deck itself is decoding the mp3's (or whatever music files you're using) directly. It doesn't support playing music through the usb, it just uses the usb to get the files. I hope that makes sense...

So is that why I ca never plat music on my xbox whenever I have a phone hookedup to charge? I thought my xbox just didn't play nice with phones
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

XtaC318 said:
I'm currently aching to be able to play my own music through my car speakers, weird place for this yes.. if it's the wrong section to post this please let me know.
But, I was wondering if it's at all possible to feed the phone's audio through the USB.
For example, I have a USB port on my stero in my car, and when I plug it in..i'm able to feed off my SD card to play the music thats on it. But.. I'd like to be able to play pandora as well..which I'm currently unable to do.
Was wondering if this is possible. If i've confused you feel free to ask more questions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your car stereo has a USB input but no auxiliary? If so, your best bet would probably be to get an FM transmitter. Like the poster above said, your car's stereo is merely mounting your phone as a mass storage device and reading the mp3 files off the SD card and decoding and playing them locally.

It sees it as you do on the computer, just a drive. The only way to get what you want is to use a source from the phone that plays audio. Head phone jack or Blue Tooth. Your stereo... if it has USB should also have an AUX input or BT. Havn't come across to many that have USB and not an AUX or BT. Its nice though... having Pandora in the car.
If you tell me the Model of the Stereo I can help you out. I have seen a BT to FM Mod. Those are kinda cool. If your in a pinch with a stock stereo.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

a454nova said:
It sees it as you do on the computer, just a drive. The only way to get what you want is to use a source from the phone that plays audio. Head phone jack or Blue Tooth. Your stereo... if it has USB should also have an AUX input or BT. Havn't come across to many that have USB and not an AUX or BT. Its nice though... having Pandora in the car.
If you tell me the Model of the Stereo I can help you out. I have seen a BT to FM Mod. Those are kinda cool. If your in a pinch with a stock stereo.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes sense. My stero does have an auxiliary port on it, but due to recent events I'm really short on cash lol, was wondering if there was a work around so I'm not limited to my sd for music.
Since it isn't possible.. what about an app that allows me to control the music played? I can stream music from the sd, but its got to mount to read therefore I don't have access to the stock music app. Only way to control what's played is the buttons on the stero and its pain staking..

XtaC318 said:
Makes sense. My stero does have an auxiliary port on it, but due to recent events I'm really short on cash lol, was wondering if there was a work around so I'm not limited to my sd for music.
Since it isn't possible.. what about an app that allows me to control the music played? I can stream music from the sd, but its got to mount to read therefore I don't have access to the stock music app. Only way to control what's played is the buttons on the stero and its pain staking..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope... The phone isn't even connecting to your stereo. When you put it into USB mode so it can read the SD, it unmounted from the phone. Its as if you pulled the SD out and slid it into a card reader. When you pull the plug... It will remount to the phone. You'll notice it scanning for media at the top.
Now when you go BT... You can control it via the stereo or phone, using the Aux you can control it by the phone. "They" could make the phone controllable via USB like an Iphone but they would have to built that into the stereo like they do the Iphones/Ipods. Not likely to happen unless the Galaxy S takes off like IPOD did.

In theory, a rooted Epic with proper kernel support and hacked cable (since they don't exist commercially) can repurpose the data pins on its USB port for left and right analog audio thanks to the Fairchild FSA9480 USB switching chip inside the phone (the same chip enables the USB pins to be repurposed as a serial port with nonstandard voltage levels, enables the normally-unused fifth pin to be used as mic input, enables it to be used with a special "JIG" interface for JTAG reflashing without having to hand-solder anything to the microscopic internal pads, and apparently can also work its magic in conjunction with a chip by Silicon Imaging to use 5 pins to output a signal that can be transformed by a companion chip (embedded in the cable's connector shell) into valid HDCP-compliant HDMI. I'm pretty sure the 9480 can also repurpose the two data pins for external I2C, but don't quote me on it.
Check out the I9000 boards... they're about 2 months ahead of us. If you google for FSA9480, you can find a brief (but revealing) dialogue between a Samsung engineer and the Kernel.org folks regarding a kernel addition to support the chip. He had a few issues, because on one hand he's apparently not allowed to say much about how the chip works or what it does, but the kernel folks managed to wring much of it out of him one juicy detail at a time. If you check Fairchild's site, they don't even acknowledge that the chip EXISTS, but it's been photographed inside all the Galaxy S phones in various teardowns.
In English -- yes, the hardware exists today to connect your phone to a stereo's analog inputs via a cable that repurposes the USB port... but the official software to make it work from Samsung and Sprint doesn't exist, and the information needed to make it work ourselves on a rooted Epic with AOSP isn't quite available yet.
I'm personally quite happy about the uart, because that means we DO have an easy, low-ceremony way to do i/o between something like a gamepad built into a hardcase a-la-iphone-GameBone that doesn't require Bluetooth (note that if something IS using the USB port for UART purposes, the USB port is still active, but the phone sees it as having nothing connected because the signals from the D+ and D- pins are physically re-routed by the 9480 to the CPU's UART pins. Think of the 9480 as being like an old-fashioned telephone panel with cables that can be moved around to connect the USB port's 5 physical pins to different pins inside the phone.
I'm now pretty sure that this is why there are exactly 7 contacts on the microUSB connector inside the phone -- 5 are used to get the pre-HDMI signals out of the phone, and the other 2 (3, if you count the ground/anchor tabs and assume they carry a signal as well in addition to mechanically anchoring it in place) are used to supply +5v and ground, and possibly one wire for half-duplex signaling purposes.

Wow that was a lot of info... lol. I didn't know that about the usb tho. That's good to know. I was thinking of taking it apart to see.
But... I think he's wanting a UI via the USB like the way some players will do for the IPODs, not analog. To go throught all that when the Head Phone jack will do the same... I could only see that if it was broken or if you really really want only one cord to the phone.
; )
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

I've got an Alpine unit, I hook my USB up - turn on the TUNER. Mount the Drive and once the phone is done - swap back over to USB and i can get all my MP3S. sadly I get all of my ringtones too - odd when the radio is full blast and a track changes - none the less works well for me. Try it.

I purchased this Kensington LiquidAUX Bluetooth Car Kit for my phone a few days ago. It works perfectly on my sister's iPod touch (no AVRCP [silly apple]) and an old WinMo 6.1 phone.
I just got my Epic in the mail today so I'll be testing it out soon.

WTF. AVRCP (bluetooth remote control) is really buggy with this phone. I used the LiquidAUX with an old Omnia for a week with no problems. The Epic connects and plays audio just fine. I can also pause and play music but the forward and back buttons don't work. When I first pair the phone with the device everything is fine, but after disconnecting and reconnecting the remote control stops working. I got it to work after un-paring and re-pairing but it only worked once.
The Moment I had before this had really choppy audio.
EDIT: I had the phone opened up in DDMS and the phone is receiving signals from the remote. But it only reacts to them when the media player is on the screen. Weird.

Car installation headache

Ok, so I've been trawling the threads for hours and the time has come to make my first post on this..
Here's what I really want to do, and whether or not, as I understand, I can do it:
Nexus 7 in dash, 3G model - fine, been done loads of times
250GB USB HDD, connected via USB OTG, containing my music library - possibly, depends on my hard drive? Will it work if I can provide a secondary source of power to the HDD (my caddy allows this)
Charge the N7 at the same time - again possibly, with CM10 and kernel mod? Also new to Android so shooting in the dark a bit here.
OPTIONAL/BACKUP IDEAS:
Wi-Fi drive of some sort - If it works then maybe, seems like an extreme option though for a car install.
Google Music and stream my entire collection (I have 15GB monthly data sim that I can use in the N7) - will work but not ideal for me. I have a lot of lossless music which I won't be able to take advantage of this way. Which brings me on to...
USB DAC through OTG cable - possible I know, but to do this on top of the other stuff is gonna be difficult and unreliable? Can live with just the headphone jack output for the time being, unless:
Utilise the pogo pins for a line out and charging - would be a nice solution in the car but again, possible?
It would be fantastic if someone could tie this all together simply for me somehow, or if anyone has any far better ideas for what I'm trying to do :good:
Also feel free to ridicule my noob-ness
Cheers

I think I went insane

After seeing a video where you can control a parrot AR.Drone 2.0 with the shield I started thinking up ways to control a real car with it.
Probably wont attempt this but I like the idea.

chevyowner said:
After seeing a video where you can control a parrot AR.Drone 2.0 with the shield I started thinking up ways to control a real car with it.
Probably wont attempt this but I like the idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
main problem i see is when shield's battery runs out.
and i wouldn't want to try it until its out beta, otherwise it might lose wifi connection lol

glitchhawk said:
main problem i see is when shield's battery runs out.
and i wouldn't want to try it until its out beta, otherwise it might lose wifi connection lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most cars have a 12V socket in the cabin somewhere.....
Otherwise, this is doable.
Dependant on the age of the car and its level of security (engine electronics wise) you could either tap into the engine management units, braking and power steering (power steering alone can actually steer the car with no user input, IF the system allows it or can be modified to be controlled externally in that way, same goes for many other areas of the car) or take a direct hardware approach. Some actuators bolted to the pedals and steering wheel could easily be controlled with an arduino which can then pair via bluetooth, wifi or USB to the shield (USB would be cheapest but would prevent charging from the car lighter socket and of course mean you would have to sit in the car and might aswell drive anyway).
Cars controlled via other means have been done frequently anyway. Your only changing where the input comes from. Your idea isn't really that insane, but I wouldnt want to try it.
As for loss of power/signal. You would require some sort of "computer" aboard the car anyway. Even if its just a simple 8 bit arduino, in fact let us assume that it is an arduino UNO R3 for some reason, even that measly little 8bit CPU can be setup easily enough to detect the loss of communications with the Shield and cut the engine, engage brake etc etc.

I have a either a pandaboard es or a rasperry pi model b I can use. I am not planning on being in the car I am planning on mounting a camera about where the drivers head would be and streaming the video form that to the shield.
As for the car I am think about using a gutted 97 camaro for that, and adding a carburated 350 and some automatic trans. the most advanced computer on the car will the one to radio control it.
As far as usb power is needed there are 5 volt dc-dc regulators for cars that supply 1+ amps.
edit
Yes I know I would need to avoid running myself over.

Either one would be adequate.
I'm not a car wizard so couldnt say whether or not that camaro could have its systems directly tapped into by the pi/panda but either one could control actuators mechanically connected to the steering wheel and pedals.
As for the auto transmission, I despise the very idea of an automatic transmission and have never set in the drivers seat of an automatic vehicle let alone driven one (unless you count a 50cc scooter with a CVT). But in the case of a small computer controlling the car, probably a good idea to reduce the amount of things it has to do.
I have a twin USB adaptor in my car, max 2A shared between both sockets although that does appear to mean (with my non scientific tests as I dont own a multimeter, really need to get one actually) that with only 1 port active it can supply 2A to that port. I think it may just be a straight 12v>5v @2A converter with 2 USB's in parallel.
There are plenty of linear actuators available, for the steering a windscreen wiper motor from a truck, a pulley and some sort of feedback mechanism would be possible.
Would be a cool project, if somewhat dangerous if you don't know what your doing But get online, its been done.

SixSixSevenSeven said:
I'm not a car wizard so couldnt say whether or not that camaro could have its systems directly tapped into by the pi/panda but either one could control actuators mechanically connected to the steering wheel and pedals.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the car currently has no interior at all
no engine
no transmission
no hood
no side windows
no steering colum
no pedals
it maybe missing some brake parts.
it is gutted.
SixSixSevenSeven said:
As for the auto transmission, I despise the very idea of an automatic transmission and have never set in the drivers seat of an automatic vehicle let alone driven one (unless you count a 50cc scooter with a CVT). But in the case of a small computer controlling the car, probably a good idea to reduce the amount of things it has to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The car had a manual trans but it is gone now.
SixSixSevenSeven said:
I have a twin USB adaptor in my car, max 2A shared between both sockets although that does appear to mean (with my non scientific tests as I dont own a multimeter, really need to get one actually) that with only 1 port active it can supply 2A to that port. I think it may just be a straight 12v>5v @2A converter with 2 USB's in parallel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5v 10a this is more of what i am thinking.
http://www.miniinthebox.com/dc-24v-...own-regulator-car-led-power-buck_p394573.html

Guys who might be able to help you best are probably over at letsmakerobots.com
I am a regular on there although only with 1 submission, 2nd on its way.
I'm no guru and with a project with a potential for some danger I think its probably best to not take anything I say as gospel, other than that it is possible and that the raspberry pi can probably do it (I have already used the pi for running 2 motors with speed control, a servo and ultrasound module with no issues, python plus RPIO).

should i make this
or this
then?

[Q] Another Car Install: Questions

Hello all,
I'm sort of new to a lot of this stuff. Especially car audio.
With that said, I'm planning on mounting a nexus 7 in my truck soon, preferably this weekend. I've done a lot of research and read a lot of threads all across the internet. This is where I've decided to ask the questions that remain...
So to start off I've got a 05 Silverado 2500 with a double din stock radio.
Theoretically the nexus 7 should fit, as I've seen it in a video; in a GM vehicle with the same dash and what not.
Next, the main problem/question for me is with regards to powering it. The simplest answer I've found is
saying
Yes, ignition->relay-> 12v 3A usb converter-> usb hub -> Nexus 7/DAC/USB Storage/Joycon Steering wheel controller
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I need to know if it truly is that simple.
I've already located what wires I want to use for the power source(a sunroof wire that's live for 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off, even though I don't have a sunroof it is still there) and I've figured out how to deal with the relay... But from there will the usb hub on work right? Initially all I plan on powering is the nexus 7 with a DAC(I've read USB is best?) and a flash drive. I don't have an amp, do I need one for a DAC to work right, it seems like everyone else has one? Again, I don't know car audio and's new ground for me.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks guys,
-Lane

Car Install - Mitsi EVO 9

Hi Guys,
Recently put the finishing touches to my Nexus 7 install so thought i'd share some pics.
Im running 5.0.2 lollipop and Timur Kernel, with the following attached;
OTG Cable - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B5T4A60?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
Powered 4 port usb hub - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ICZL3KG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02
Behringer USB DAC - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KW2YEI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01
256gb External SSD - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JQRB0I4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Generic DVB-T usb stick and SDR Radio - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009VBUYA0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 - used these 2 adapters to enable me to use the car aerial, works a treat - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F347YA2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 & http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00118YG5K?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
Alpine 4 Channel Amplifier - http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-bbx-f1200_p-32324.htm
Audio Volume is controlled with this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RM75NL0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
Power supply is from a 2amp (5v) cigarette usb socket, which is wired up behind the dash and not using the original cigarette socket in centre console.
I installed the amp under the passenger seat and run all the cabling under the carpet and out, where needed, behind the facia panel, the dac is also situated there and i ran the usb hub into the glovebox. You literally cannot see any wiring bar in the glovebox as i wanted to maintain a stock look throughout the car as best i could, everything is also revertable back to stock if the need ever arises, the only thing i had to do was screw the amp into the carpet under the seat, but the small holes left would never be seen anyway.
The facia panel was designed and made by a lad named reece who runs http://www.rtafabrication.com/ - top bloke and did an amazing job and the finish and quality of the panel is top notch. I went for a wired dash panel but he can also do wireless panels too!!! - if your thinking of a car install contact him to see if he can design a facia panel for your vehicle.
android apps i use
poweramp,
sat nav is navfree
video is archos Kodi.
As you can see, also for fun have a megadrive emulator with ps4 pad to play games lol. Also can use either torque pro or OBDlink II for my OBD Link LX bluetooth OBD port reader. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00H9S71LW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00)
Had an alpine before which was a great piece of kit, but nothing compared to this.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCYpLold_jQ&feature=youtu.be
Cookie

Lots of people viewing this thread but no responses. I'll be the first to say AMAZING JOB!! :thumbup: :beer:
I may try this is my wife's Scion xB.. Or my Expedition 4x4.
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using XDA Free mobile app

Got any videos of it all in action?

Awesome job

I'm planning on doing the same, but not spending as much as you lol. I see so many integrations with android to car, but no discussion.
Great integration btw!

You installed your wheel on the wrong side! A common mistake on these installations

Great Job!
Dis the same on my S2000
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

nice job
nicely done looks clean..i,ve istalled mine but not in dash i am using the holder .planning to get it in dash.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-7-2013/general/nexus-7-2013-car-install-looking-t3035967

zekemo said:
You installed your wheel on the wrong side! A common mistake on these installations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, I see why you did there[emoji23]

I came running once I saw Evo in the title, That's my favorite car of all time, and to do that with a nexus 7 gets me hyped to do the same once I save up for one

Now just get digital car app ....gotta sign up on g+ for it ...
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

Nicely done! I'm running a similiar build in my car, using glitch kernel not Timur's. How are you finding Timur's? Reliable? I find glitch occasionally needs rebooting as it fails to mount my USB DAC.

ratykat said:
Nicely done! I'm running a similiar build in my car, using glitch kernel not Timur's. How are you finding Timur's? Reliable? I find glitch occasionally needs rebooting as it fails to mount my USB DAC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi finally got around the making a video of it running, here is the link and added it to OP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCYpLold_jQ&feature=youtu.be
In terms of Timur ROM reliability, its great and had no issues worth mentioning so far
Cookie

Im thinking of buying his rom when i can afford it. But i have it in my car without a usb otg. So the rom is not fully functional to what it can do once i get around to get a usb otg.

cookie12 said:
Hi finally got around the making a video of it running, here is the link and added it to OP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCYpLold_jQ&feature=youtu.be
In terms of Timur ROM reliability, its great and had no issues worth mentioning so far
Cookie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What the advantages of having Timurs Kernel? I have ElementalX.... Thanks

Deeco7 said:
What the advantages of having Timurs Kernel? I have ElementalX.... Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used Elemental X but my understanding of using Timur over any other Kernel was that it uses his own Powerevent Manager app which can do things like wake up when power is applied and deep sleep when power is removed, something i believe Tasker can do. Also not sure if Elexmental X allows simultanious USB hosting and charging + Fast Charging. Supports certain Rear Camera's. Automount of upto 4 FAT32 drives, custom boot animation and shutdown video's, block wakeup alarms. People using other kernel may tell me otherwise but this is what i came up with when researching which to go for.
Cookie

Just a question to be sure I understood everything.
Without USB Hub, you plug the OTG cable to the tablet and USB DAC to the USB port. Then the USB DAC is connected to the amp using RCA correct?
Currently my setup is not using a DAC (rca to jack directly connected to the amp) and I have interferences because of that so I'm thinking about using a DAC. Is it natively managed by Android?
Thanks,
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Bingoig11 said:
Just a question to be sure I understood everything.
Without USB Hub, you plug the OTG cable to the tablet and USB DAC to the USB port. Then the USB DAC is connected to the amp using RCA correct?
Currently my setup is not using a DAC (rca to jack directly connected to the amp) and I have interferences because of that so I'm thinking about using a DAC. Is it natively managed by Android?
Thanks,
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep that is pretty much it, OTG cable then USB DAC straight into USB port, and connect it to your amp / stereo via Red & White RCA jacks, or as i did - - - - - Nexus 7 - OTG cable - USB Hub (4 port) - USB DAC - AMP
I believe Lollipop handles USB audio natively, anything before needs a kernel to implement it - again if anyone knows different then please let me know

Is audio taken from usb? I didn't think any Android can send audio from the usb? Or is that why I need the OTG-cable?

That looks amazing, stock even, imagine having Andoid auto on there.
Any pics of the evo?