Thread: Audio equipment/trigger help

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I haven't ever done this before but want to see if I can do it!-----I'd like to run different audio to certain parts of a maze that "goes off" at different times, and fog machines that go off at certain times. What exactly do I need to do this so it does it automatically???

To have these items go off at certain times, there's two ways: triggers or timers. If you want them to go off when someone walks into the area, then you need a trigger. Triggers can be push buttons that you press, floor mats that they step on, IR beams and motion sensors... etc. Timers would be more random and usually needs a software program to get the timing for you.

Now, the other thing you need to think about is where are the sounds going to be stored and then transmitted to speakers. A central area would be a computer using 7.1 sounds and a software program that fires off the sounds when triggered (what I use). It's a bit complicated and up there in price. Another way would be a MP3 players hacked to play a sound when triggered. There are other ways as well (units made specifically for this) but I'm not as familiar with them and I think are fairly expensive. Hope others chime in here.

Guess what I'm generally saying is that what you are asking for isn't that easy or cheap to achieve.

Check this unit out.

http://monsterguts.com/index.php?act...&productId=193

You will have to do a bit if hacking on your fogger. Not major, just bringing out the demand switch wiring. This would go to one of the two relays on the nervecenter. You could hack into the remote as well. Then you have the second relay you could use for some lighting effect. You can trigger with a floor mat or a pir etc. You will need one at each area you wish to control. At $50 this is a pretty good deal seeing the unit records up to 2 minutes and you have multiple recording multiple routine options.

Terra thank you as always you are wonderful
Spinman1949---yes! Thank you for that electronic software info!!!!

& if you just want to trigger an ambient background sound effect when someone comes into that area or room, loop a cd or mp3 player, hack a motion detector to a power strip & plug in PC power speakers.
When someone walks in & triggers the power speakers turn on as it loops to ambient sound.....if you need a specific sound to kick in at a specific time, then this would not work, you'd need one of the more costing methods.

At one of our build meetings, we built a small board that works with one of those greeting card recording circuits. I think it would be a great solution. It fires off a PIR. I will make a video. Plus there are now much longer recording units available.

This circuit will work to fire one of those 50 or 300 sec. USB recording devices:



I've since changed the Darlington transistor to an IRF510 MOSFET. It can also be used to trigger a timing device, as long as the timer locks out additional triggers while it's running.

The recorders are available here:

http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2841/.f