xd500u projector - control volume without remote? Code so I can use Universal Remote?

4920 Views 12 Replies 4 Participants Last post by mikeerdas, Apr 1, 2015

mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · Feb 24, 2015

Since I loved the price / performance ratio on the xd500u projector a lot of us got, I ended up buying 4 of them. And also lots of AtmosFearFX DVDs from Spirit for 50% off after Halloween--lots of people commented on the the Ghost Maid and Ghostly Apparitions videos, so I vowed to do more.

Anyway... set-up one of the xd500u projectors in a spare room I've converted into a library--and now, I cleared wall space to have a small home theatre. The xd500u has a 1/8" output jack, which is great. I've connected it to some powered computer speakers. Only problem is that, while DVD player volume is cranked, volume is low coming from the projector. The speakers work fine, but barely hear anything.

Anyone know of a way to control the volume without having the xd500u remote control? None of my 4 projectors came with a remote. And replacements can go for as much as $50. All I really need is volume control, and I've found no way to control that using the buttons / menus on the projector itself.

It would help to know the IR code for the volume; then I might be able to set that on a Universal remote control--although I've never used one of those. Don't you need to have a working remote to transmit the code to the Universal remote?

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victor-eyd

· #2 · Feb 25, 2015

The reailty is that projectors do only one thing very well- which is project video. Audio is almost always an afterthought and it shouldn't be a surprise that the audio output you're getting is crummy.

Instead of connecting the audio to the projector (red/white), connect the speakers directly to the DVD player. Most dvd players have audio control or at the very least you can use the speakers' volume control more efficiently as you're getting more gain from the the dvd than if you did as you wrote.

Victor

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 26, 2015

Thanks Victor! I'm having a "why didn't I think of that!" moment. Such a simple solution. Yep, my DVD player definitely has volume control. I currently have it cranked as high up as it can go (+20), routing it through the Projector. No need for that now. Thanks again! You saved me a whole lot of $$$ and bother, trying to find an XD500U replacement remote--some of which don't even seem to support all functions--dicey info out there from eBay vendors, etc.

Anyway, love your simple, direct solution. Thanks.

victor-eyd said:
The reailty is that projectors do only one thing very well- which is project video. Audio is almost always an afterthought and it shouldn't be a surprise that the audio output you're getting is crummy.

Instead of connecting the audio to the projector (red/white), connect the speakers directly to the DVD player. Most dvd players have audio control or at the very least you can use the speakers' volume control more efficiently as you're getting more gain from the the dvd than if you did as you wrote.

Victor

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 28, 2015

Victor, discovered I'll just need to buy a 1/8" female to 1/8" female coupler to get things running. The DVD player only has RCA L/R audio outs. I had a L/R RCA to 1/8" stereo cable. But the powered speakers I want to use only have a 1/8" male jack to receive audio. Stopped by a local Radio Shack for a "quick fix" only to find it shuttered and completely empty. I'd heard about the bankruptcy, but didn't know if was going to affect all stores / was fatal. While Radio Shack has become something of a dinosaur and irrelevant, it was nice to have a local, instant source for those types of items.

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victor-eyd

· #5 · Feb 28, 2015

If you don't have a local fry's in the are, I guess amazon or ebay's your best bet. Btw, this is probably what you need:

http://www.amazon.com/YCS-Basics-co...=1425165745&sr=8-1&keywords=1+8+female+to+rca

Victor

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Icepick

· #6 · Mar 1, 2015

Both, best buy and Walmart, carry the pictured cable adapters too.

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 1, 2015

Icepick said:
Both, best buy and Walmart, carry the pictured cable adapters too.

Nice. Thanks Victor and Icepick. Didn't realize it was something common enough that I'd be able to find it locally--except for aforementioned dead Radio Shack.

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Icepick

· #8 · Mar 1, 2015

Not the greatest photo, but this was my audio solution. I gutted the audio parts from a gaming chair. Has rca inputs and outputs and a headphone output for connecting to my pc 5.1 audio. Full audio control right from the projector box I built. I also run the audio to one of those cigarette lighter fm transmitters. Gets a decent enough range to view my set ups.

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 14, 2015

Nice job icepick. I already had a 1/8" female to 1/8" female coupler on order. It arrived and works perfectly with the powered computer speakers I have. Both the DVD player has volume control as well as the powered computer speakers. Thanks again to you and victor for great solution.

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Rob_Raz

· #10 · Mar 20, 2015

Slightly off topic, but I just had to comment on the xd500u projector. I picked one up just before Halloween last year and ran the AtmosfearFX Ghostly Apparitions with it. One of the best Halloween purchases I have made. Planning on picking up another xd from ebay for this year to do the singing pumpkins projection.

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 20, 2015

Rob_Raz said:
Slightly off topic, but I just had to comment on the xd500u projector. I picked one up just before Halloween last year and ran the AtmosfearFX Ghostly Apparitions with it. One of the best Halloween purchases I have made. Planning on picking up another xd from ebay for this year to do the singing pumpkins projection.

Not at all off-topic. Rob, I've gotta say, for the price, these projectors are addicting! As I ended up with 4 of them. Really enjoying my new Home Theatre off-season. About the AtmosfearFX Singing Pumpkins--I've done that effect two seasons now and all I've needed was an el-cheapo "toy" Discovery Wonderwall projector; the ones that take the MR16 lamp bulbs. You really don't need much resolution or lumens for the Pumpkins. And I wouldn't be too terribly saddened if moisture ruined the Wonderwall. I'd be very upset if I lost one of my XD500Us. Who knows, may purchase a 5th! As the response was so positive. Both parents and kids alike seemed to want more projected ghosts. I'm eager to please, and take-down is easy.

Over the summer, I'm hoping to experiment with a variety of fabrics I've purchased for "invisible" rear projection. Also with some gauze-type fabrics that should operate like the Scrims you see at Walt Disney World's Carousel of Progress--where a scene remains hidden when front lit, and transparent with backlit. Also how the effect of the hanging man is done in the Haunted Mansion's stretching room--with painted scrim.

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Rob_Raz

· #12 · Mar 21, 2015

mikeerdas said:
Not at all off-topic. Rob, I've gotta say, for the price, these projectors are addicting! As I ended up with 4 of them. Really enjoying my new Home Theatre off-season. About the AtmosfearFX Singing Pumpkins--I've done that effect two seasons now and all I've needed was an el-cheapo "toy" Discovery Wonderwall projector; the ones that take the MR16 lamp bulbs. You really don't need much resolution or lumens for the Pumpkins. And I wouldn't be too terribly saddened if moisture ruined the Wonderwall. I'd be very upset if I lost one of my XD500Us. Who knows, may purchase a 5th! As the response was so positive. Both parents and kids alike seemed to want more projected ghosts. I'm eager to please, and take-down is easy.

Over the summer, I'm hoping to experiment with a variety of fabrics I've purchased for "invisible" rear projection. Also with some gauze-type fabrics that should operate like the Scrims you see at Walt Disney World's Carousel of Progress--where a scene remains hidden when front lit, and transparent with backlit. Also how the effect of the hanging man is done in the Haunted Mansion's stretching room--with painted scrim.

I completely forgot that AtmosFearFX had singing pumpkins.....I was thinking of going with the ones from the gentlemen that posts here that has the actual songs like Monster Mash, Thriller etc. Either way it should be a hit for the TOTs. I had planned to build a box around the projector if I did use it outside just in case of the weather....but u do have a point with a cheaper model. Something to think about.

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mikeerdas

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 1, 2015

Rob_Raz said:
I completely forgot that AtmosFearFX had singing pumpkins.....I was thinking of going with the ones from the gentlemen that posts here that has the actual songs like Monster Mash, Thriller etc. Either way it should be a hit for the TOTs. I had planned to build a box around the projector if I did use it outside just in case of the weather....but u do have a point with a cheaper model. Something to think about.

Hey, whichever loops work for you. See what you like best. Or try swapping loops one season to the next. I've got a box around my projector, but it's not for weatherproofing. It's just a cardboard box spray-painted black with a small opening for the lens to hide the effect source. But yep, Singing Pumpkins is a great starter projection effect for many people since the requirements / cost of entry for a projector is so low.

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