Thread: Cheapo MP3 Lag Time

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I have a handful of the 'cheapo' MP3 players (Houston folks - they have them at EPO for $5.95).

But while I am comfortable with hacking it and adding the needed long-on signal, etc - I find the startup lag WAY too long for a good startle effect. I tried three different units, they all have about 1/3 second or so after I release the PLAY button to actually start the MP3.

Just to be clear, I don't mean the time that is needed to 'press and hold' the play button. I am talking about the amount of time from 'releasing' the play button until the music actually plays.

Find for ambient stuff, but not for what I want them for in startle pop-up effects.

I want to push the button on my remote, and have the motor or cylinder activate 'right away' and not have to try and 'time it'. I want the sound (growl, howl, etc) to be right at that same moment.

Besides triggering it earlier, has anyone hacked a way for a more responsive setup? I tried some tricks like pausing it, then trying to replay to the beginning, etc. Nothing really helps.

I feel your pain. Seriously, though, try opening your MP3 file in Goldwave or Audacity and see if there's any deadband in the file before the actual sound. If so, trim the file to remove the delay. I've put the player on a 'scope and monitored the playback - the delay seems to be part of the firmware in the decoder chip. I have several of the players, and not all of them have a lag time. I had to build a delay-before-on into some of my props to compensate for this. What are you using to trigger your prop(s)?