Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

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Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby luisleonardo » 15 Apr 2016, 13:04

I don't know if this is the best place to post this, if not please move it to the right category.


Long story short. I bought an old non-working Jukebox Radio on the Dutch Craigslist (marktplats.nl) for 85€.
I’m working on it since a fee weeks and I think it’s time to share a small build log :)

So, what I’ve done so far.
Chassi:
✔ Remove all electronics
✔ Connected all buttons to Arduino (used the old ones connected with resistor arrays to save pins)
✔ Replace the old pots with rotary encoders
✔ Replace the LCD
✘ Remove scratches from the acrylic
✘ Clean it properly
✘ Replace button labeling
✘ Create a clean and tidy hole with a vinil service door on the back to place all the electronics


On the software side:
✔ Install and configure Runeaudio on Pi 3
✔ Install and configure PlainAMP
✔ Install and configure Adafruit Pro Trinket to send keyboard presses on buttons or encoders press/rotate.
✔ Player control buttons (five on the left)
✔ Playlist/Radio buttons (five on the right)
✔ Volume and mute encoder
✘ Bass encoder (there’s no command to change EQ on PlainAmp yet)
✘ Treble encoder (there’s no command to change EQ on PlainAmp yet)
✘ Menu Navigation encoder (it will drive the LCD menu)
✘ One encoder that I don't know what to do with it
✘ Power button (still searching for an easy/cheap way to safe shutdown and cut power)
✘ Lights button (not sure what to do with lights. Maybe an addressable led strip or just connect the old lamps to some sort of VU meter)
✘ LCD. It will work as status and menu system but I’ll have to build a script cause I’m working with keypress not GPIO buttons.
✘ Replace original speakers and tweeters


Before:
Image


Back of the button resistor array and LCD:
Image


The encoders and the resistor array for the middle buttons:
Image


The status led (later I'll erase the "stereo remote sensor") and the LCD:
Image


The LCD had to be trimmed to fit. Only one line of the circuit was interrupted (fixed with the purple wire).
Image
Last edited by luisleonardo on 15 Apr 2016, 19:17, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Repurpose and old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby ACX » 15 Apr 2016, 13:50

Wow, this is a cool and unconventional project :o
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Re: Repurpose and old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby luisleonardo » 15 Apr 2016, 15:21

ACX wrote:Wow, this is a cool and unconventional project :o


Only in size. It won't be the first time that someone fits a Pi inside a radio. Although I never saw someone using all the buttons, pots, lights, LCD, etc.


By the way it wasn't possible to use the original knobs. I've order new ones and they arrived today. Unfortunately they are to low for my encoders and I'll have to cut them tomorrow.

I'll start the box to assemble everything on the final place when the sun comes out and I can paint outside. Then I'll make more picture and update the post. Until then I'll be busy trying to write a script that will drive the LCD.

If someone got any ideas or improvements, please let me know. :)
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby Dohmar » 16 Apr 2016, 12:05

This is quite possibly the coolest thing ever.
I've always loved loved loved old jukeboxes, and have been wanting to build my own modern version of it, hence my love of rune and building my own little hifi, but yours is an absolute work of art. I love your attention to details. Can't wait to see how it turns out

-D
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby PeteB » 16 Apr 2016, 14:32

I second that! Great project!
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby ACX » 16 Apr 2016, 18:48

You should submit it to Instructable or Hackaday when completed, it deserves its visibility.
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby maurob74 » 19 Apr 2016, 10:07

WOW!!!
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby luisleonardo » 21 Apr 2016, 15:37

ACX wrote:You should submit it to Instructable or Hackaday when completed, it deserves its visibility.


In the end I'll do it. Right now I'm just trying to put everything to work.

Thank you all.
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby runaway » 12 Jul 2016, 20:11

I like it! Personally I would love to know how you get the arduino-inputs to change the behaviour of the pi? Or are you using anything else? Reason for aksing: I am running a similyr system on an old tube radio, but haave not yet managed to connect the hardware buttons. Would like tu use an arduino for that job, but I have no idea how to make the software connect to arduino inputs. Could you please give some hints?
Kindest regards, Stefan
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Re: Repurpose an old jukebox as a Runeaudio setup

Postby luisleonardo » 13 Jul 2016, 10:13

Hi Stefan,

Unfortunately I didn't have time to finish the project yet.
However I can share what I have right now and my solution for the buttons.
Beside some minor bugs it works without a problem (every day :D ).

If you only use buttons just grab an old keyboard and use it. There's a lot of information on "how to" over the internet for that. You just need to decode the matrix and connect the button pins to the keys you will use.

If you want to use buttons and encoders... then the easiest way I found for that was my solution.
You can do it with a normal Arduino with a 3rd party bootloader if you have other way than the USB to burn the bootloader.
Since I had a "Adafruit Pro Trinket" laying around I didn't even bother with that and use it.

Connections:
- Switchs and Rotary are connected to Trinket pins.
- The Trinket and the Pi are connected via USB

Who it work:
- The code the Trinket will detect button press or rotary encoder rotation and send the correspondent keypress to Pi.
- The Pi will receive the keypress as a normal Keyboard input and will run the correspondent code from the .xbindkeysrc file.

Note:
- Runeaudio need to have the LCD option active otherwise the keyboard won't work.
- Configure your commands on /root/.xbindkeysrc file.

My arduino and xbindkeysrc files:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3c93rr9ny0kq ... kj9sa?dl=0


Code is not finished but will be more than enough for you to start.

If you need some help don't hesitate to ask.
Good luck with your project ;)
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