I would like to build an Android car infotainment device to replace all my gadgets inside the car. One option would be a micro PC with USB touchscreen and a lot of devices connected via USB. The other one would be an Android gadget, either small tablet or TV box.
The biggest question I have is: what Android devices support 5.1 audio? This is a must, though I actually can use only 4 channels. What audio formats are supported for this?
The other question would be TMC - the FM kind, not online.
Are there any embedded platforms out there (except PC and Android) which support multi-channel audio?
Has anyone done this before? I might be reinventing the wheel.
No updates? Either nobody knows about Android 5.1 sound output or they are working under NDAs.
Are you planning on keeping a headunit to control volume, do you want am/fm radio, etc....
without a headunit you will need an amp where you can use the headphone to rca adapter and usually its the amp that would add front and rear to the left/right output of your android device so you would still get the 4 chan output effect. to go for the 5.1 chan you will need another device that actually controls the 5 speakers plus the subwoofer which might be tricky but I'm sure its not impossible.
the setup I was going to go with was a amp that I can mount its power controls (left right front back and volume) (or amp/eq combo) to where I can reach it and build a mount for a 7in (possibly diff size not sure depends on how it will look) and use the heaphone to rca adapter to power the audio and put the usb inside the dash possibly with a little hub if they make it (that way not only is it getting power from it, if it allows, the addition of say a thumb drive with added music/movies. some tablets/phones have fm radios built in as long as something is plugged into the headphone jack (my new phone doesn't seem to have it but thats a feature I will be looking for in a tablet)
4chan amp
eq that would allow 2 chan in and 4 chan out plus sub out (if you have a separate sub amp)
I just want to know if there are any android devices that are able to stream 5.1, I can take it from there. Same question about TMC support.
Some details:
My car is already fitted from the factory with 4 channel preamp and 12 speakers including subwoofer low-pass. It has low-level input for those channels, worst case I would buy a preamp.
FM is pretty much given on most Android devices, probably excluding some tablets, but I won't actually miss it if it's not there.
TMC would be nice since all Androids usually have a GPS sensor and sometimes compass.
Anyway, it was mostly a request for suggestions or even a rant - I'm surprised that something like this doesn't exist yet. With the exception of dedicated units going >$$$-$$$$, an alternative set-up would be a medium-range blueray player coupled with an Android tablet. Music control could be set up with DLNA, bluetooth streaming or mixing player and android audio would be a bit harder but not impossible.
hey friends
this is a nice thought and you are absolutely great.
this is wonderful thread
........................
Great Idea
Hi,
Currently I'm also thinking about installing an android tablet in my car to have music, navigation, movie player, speed camera warning, etc. But the biggest problem is the sound. I want to connect tablet with car audio using jack-jack cable. Everything is fine till the AUX source is selected in car audio device, but when I switch it to Tuner or CD - the sound from tablet is cutted off, so e.g. navigation announcement are not heard.
Any suggestions for this issue?
audio rom
its a shame that there are many many roms but none fur special purposes like this.
we need a car rom
[email protected] said:
Hi,
Currently I'm also thinking about installing an android tablet in my car to have music, navigation, movie player, speed camera warning, etc. But the biggest problem is the sound. I want to connect tablet with car audio using jack-jack cable. Everything is fine till the AUX source is selected in car audio device, but when I switch it to Tuner or CD - the sound from tablet is cutted off, so e.g. navigation announcement are not heard.
Any suggestions for this issue?
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Only solution can see is to run the audio from the tablet alone. I.e. use the tablet to provide both radio tuner AND navigation. You will end up using the car system purely as an amplifier.
Cris123 said:
Only solution can see is to run the audio from the tablet alone. I.e. use the tablet to provide both radio tuner AND navigation. You will end up using the car system purely as an amplifier.
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This would be what I would do in this situation. Or just unplug the audio cable from the tablet when using other radio options so the navigation will come through the tablet's speakers.
I want to do something similar but rather than purchase a new device I want to use my Note2. No head unit at all. The Note2 would likely be dedicated to this use and I'd get a different phone to use as, well, a phone.
For sound I was hoping I could use USB OTG to connect a USB sound card with 5.1 output but I'm not sure if this would work. I want to use the sound card instead of audio direct out of the headphone jack because that reduces my connected cables to just one (easier) and should provide at least 4 channel output which eliminates the need for another device to control volume, fader, and balance.
For radio I was going to use SDR for AM/FM (and more) via a cheap USB TV tuner.
http://sdrtouch.com/
Where I'm stuck now is that I'd like to be able to connect an iProduct (iPhone/iPod) like you can to most car radios and control/stream music from the iProduct, via the Android Note2 using USB OTG again. I cannot find how to do this but the Parrot Asteroid Smart runs Android and it seems to be able to do it so it must be possible.
http://www.parrot.com/usa/products/asteroid-range/parrot-asteroid-smart/
Any info anyone can provide regarding the sound card and iPod integration would be highly appreciated.
You can go wireless and use some AirPlay receiver for Android.
I don't know about wired solutions, the classic iPod connector has ~30 pins and some of them are used for audio and some of them are used for serial-like playlist control plus current track information.
brainwash123 said:
You can go wireless and use some AirPlay receiver for Android.
I don't know about wired solutions, the classic iPod connector has ~30 pins and some of them are used for audio and some of them are used for serial-like playlist control plus current track information.
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It's just a USB to iPod cable that they use for everything else... Parrot Asteroid Smart that I linked to has it as do most modern stock head units.
Did a little more googling and it seems several companies sell android head units that support iPod.
Why don't you use a USB DAC? There are a few out there that are surround sound capable.
Out from the DAC into an eq preamp and out to your existing amplifier. The eq preamp has main volume controls as well as sub control with dedicated output.
Also there are head units out there that are just "receivers" capable of accepting a digital inputs and outputting 5.1 signal via RCA.
I installed a nexus 7 2013 in my VW, currently using Bluetooth to connect to a receiver where it the outputs to an rca input on my deck that was relocated to my glovebox. I am planning on replacing the Bluetooth adaptor with a USB DAC in order to achieve a higher quality sound.
I am currently doing a similar install in a 2010 charger, a deck will not be used however as I will be using the DAC method with an eq and output to the factory amp. I considered going the android TV box route as I have a MINIX box, but there is some work involved in getting the touchscreen to function properly as it is not set up for this out of the box.
You can purchase a double din deck from eBay (I stumbled across it a few days ago but didn't write the link down) it has a dual os system. It uses android for the car audio function and windows for the car PC function. Not sure how well it works but it got reasonable reviews.
Edit: ...and once again I answer without reading the whole thread...:silly:
Is it somehow easier to get all the various apps on the phone to output audio to a DAC than a USB sound card?
unL33T said:
Is it somehow easier to get all the various apps on the phone to output audio to a DAC than a USB sound card?
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I believe when the device detects a DAC (must use an otg cable BTW) it automatically re routes all audio out the USB. You can disable automatic USB audio routing in developer settings.
k.s.deviate said:
I believe when the device detects a DAC (must use an otg cable BTW) it automatically re routes all audio out the USB. You can disable automatic USB audio routing in developer settings.
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That sounds easier. Thanks for the tip.
Well I can't find any information regarding the iPod integration and I've found next to nothing for DVD video and audio CD playback and radio and backup camera functionality would also take some mucking about so it looks like I'd probably be better off buying something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Android-4...621?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a31320af5
Which has it all sorted out already. So much for that fun idea. No idea what apps they use for all that stuff.
Which has it all sorted out already. So much for that fun idea. No idea what apps they use for all that stuff.[/QUOTE]
That unit looks slow at only dual-core. It will probably be sluggish when multi-tasking.
The main chip probably supports several I2S devices (aux in/adc, tuner/adc, DVD) and routing plus demuxing is done via linux hardware control.
The DVD player and tuner probably support the i2c or spi protocol to control seeking and other functions. This is again controllable via the linux devices.
Usually the consumer devices don't have these easily exposed and it's probably a non-trivial task to piggyback on existing hardware, assuming the needed connections are broken out on the board. As far as I can see the only Android devices with CD or DVD are the car players like above.
Another option would be to take the sound from the HDMI signal. A DVD player/tuner can be wired in parallel with an HDMI switcher. However controlling the tracks would not be easy, it would require emulating the remote with an IR transmitter.
Like alot of people who bought the dongle, i was getting crappy audio. I was messing around with different video players and found that the AllShare play app gave me good sound for about 1 minute, then popped up a message saying something about not being able to play enhanced audio without headphones plugged in. Then audio would go back to ****. So I plugged in headphones, which killed the connection with the dongle, but when I took them back out and reconnected to the dongle, the audio was back to sounding good. So if you have crappy audio playing through the AllShare dongle, plug in earphones, then take them out, and the audio should sound better. If you're playing video through AllShare play, it will break the connection with the dongle, but other video players will just cut out the audio for the duration of the headphones being plugged in.
FYI: I'm not running any roms on my SG3. Everything is completely stock.
Just got my HDMI connector and I want to play the video through it, but the audio through my Bluetooth speakers. It does not seem to allow me to do this. Even though I connect the Bluetooth speakers, all audio comes through the tinny speakers on my monitor. Even if I just play music it comes out of the HDMI monitor.
Has anyone managed to get Bluetooth audio working when connected with the HDMI adaptor?
Edit: Solved. It's not possible out of the box, but I bought an app SoundAbout Pro and now it works perfectly. Shame Samsung didn't build such basis functionality in this phone. My Sony Arc from two years ago could do this.
Hi,
My receiver has no hdmi, so I have audio put to it from tv. Sometimes I would like to listen to internet radio without having tv on, so direct connection to receiver would be great, even analog one. Do I need USB audio card or there are some other options? If yes, anyone uses something worth mentioning? Anyone tried USB cards on Shield?
Kajman said:
Hi,
My receiver has no hdmi, so I have audio put to it from tv. Sometimes I would like to listen to internet radio without having tv on, so direct connection to receiver would be great, even analog one. Do I need USB audio card or there are some other options? If yes, anyone uses something worth mentioning? Anyone tried USB cards on Shield?
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Click to collapse
I use an external USB dac. Works out of the box and mutes the hdmi sound output too so you will not be able to have it connected all the time for when you want the hdmi to output sound.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
That's worse, but maybe I can live with it, maybe I find one with power switch, thanks
I am using a HDMI video / audio splitter. Works well.
Best part it doesn't need to be powered separately.
Does audio go through hdmi and separately? Analog audio or digital? Or maybe can you post name of the splitter?
I have mine setup to do this through bluetooth, where with a combination of apps i simply press and hold 2 on my third party remote, and my shield connects to my bluetooth a2dp reciever which in turn is connected to my stereo speakers, i simply disconnect the bluetooth connection when i want the sound to go through the tv......which i had setup through tasker to disconnect when i long press 2 again, but i think i broke this messing around with this particular task .....that reminds me, i gotta get round to fixing this
I can do this without even having to turn the tv on or even having bluetooth on, as the remote is a RF 2.4gh/IR remote
To take it a step further, i could potentially create a scenario where i press or long press my chosen button and have the shield wake up > unlock display > turn on bluetooth > connect to a2dp > open media app > emulate media play.......and have my music playing without having to turn on the tv.......the remote having media control and volume control as standard........assuming the app supports the media standards i.e. youtube app doesnt
Apps used
Xposed
Xposed additions (can map the remote/mouse/keyboard buttons to something else or have it initiate chosen tasker task i.e. long press 2 initiates "speakers on" task)
Tasker + plugins
Anyway, thats another avenue
I will buy this converter www.goo.gl/VqOvFB
MALOW said:
I will buy this converter www.goo.gl/VqOvFB
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that's what i've been using since my Chromecast to send audio to my speaker bar. I just swapped the hdmi when i got the Shield.
has anyone managed to get 5.1 audio out of the shield via USB soundcard? I bought one but it seems that its sampling down to a stereo sound. I have set in settings 5.1 sound for USB.
I also bought a 7.1 xonar u7 usb dac but no output on surround channel only in left and right. I aready set the USB to 5.1 surround and tried all the video applications. Maybe the shield only supports usb pass through and PSM stereo.
eacudilla said:
I also bought a 7.1 xonar u7 usb dac but no output on surround channel only in left and right. I aready set the USB to 5.1 surround and tried all the video applications. Maybe the shield only supports usb pass through and PSM stereo.
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Click to collapse
USB Auidio Works with class compilant devices only, but not entirely sure what that means in this case.
What apps did you try and what audio/video source files did you used for your tests?
eacudilla said:
I also bought a 7.1 xonar u7 usb dac but no output on surround channel only in left and right. I aready set the USB to 5.1 surround and tried all the video applications. Maybe the shield only supports usb pass through and PSM stereo.
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Click to collapse
Same problem here, any progress since September?
im currently using this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LiNKFOR-Ex...8-1-spons&keywords=hdmi+audio+extractor&psc=1
I connect the toslink to my sound bar so i can chromecast my spotify from my google home and not have to have the tv on. the audio still passes through to the tv, there also is a 3.5mm jack you can switch to.
I use the Audioquest Dragonfly DAC and it sounds amazing. I combine it with the Jitterbug. It's a little pricey (90-100) but I'm running to studio monitors so it's easier to tell the difference in quality.
Hey everyone,
Has anyone here tried to do any kind of USB Audio Streaming with the Razer Phone? By this I mean using a USB-C to USB-A cable to play music (and other audio) from the phone to another device. Specifically, I have a GROM box in my car (2004 Acura TL) that previously allowed my Nexus 6p to play music to my factory stereo while still keeping the steering wheel controls working as well as showing track information on the factory head unit. Using the same GROM with Razer Phone however has not worked. The car and the GROM box do not recognize that the Razer is plugged in. But it will always recognizes the Nexus. So now I'm wondering if the Razer even supports USB Audio Streaming or if the only way to get sound off the phone is to use the dongle to connect to a headphone jack. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
lostnsound said:
Hey everyone,
Has anyone here tried to do any kind of USB Audio Streaming with the Razer Phone? By this I mean using a USB-C to USB-A cable to play music (and other audio) from the phone to another device. Specifically, I have a GROM box in my car (2004 Acura TL) that previously allowed my Nexus 6p to play music to my factory stereo while still keeping the steering wheel controls working as well as showing track information on the factory head unit. Using the same GROM with Razer Phone however has not worked. The car and the GROM box do not recognize that the Razer is plugged in. But it will always recognizes the Nexus. So now I'm wondering if the Razer even supports USB Audio Streaming or if the only way to get sound off the phone is to use the dongle to connect to a headphone jack. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
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Click to collapse
You mean using Android auto?
If yes then it works for me