Re: Apple II Control of CD Jukeboxes

[mhackett@alpha.vaxxine.com (Michael Hackett)]

Chet Gerhardt (transit@wco.com) wrote:
> Regarding Apple II control of Home Audio Systems:
>  
> Is anyone working on anything like this for the Apple II Family of
> computers?
[...] 
> PC/MAC Control of Pioneer. CD Audio Jukeboxes
>  
>    [...] More specifically, the units
>    provide control of all models of the Pioneer. 18-, 25-, 50+1, and
>    100-discs Compact Disc players from your personal computer, using a
>    computers' RS-232 serial port and a simple ascii text protocol. The
>    units interface with the CD players sending and receiving signals
>    providing total control of the players. The players' end-of- music
>    signal is monitored and sent immediately to the software to start the
>    next song. [...] The hardware works with MAC computers
>    or PC compatibles.
>  
>    Technically, you just open your serial communications port and send a
>    simple command like [1CDPL]. The "1" tells the controller that you are
>    talking to player one, the "CD" designator tells the controller to use
>    the "CD player" lingo, and the "PL" designator tells the player to
>    play! It's that simple.

Sounds like it would be quite simple to use with any II. If it works
simply through serial commands, it would work with any computer that has a
RS-232 port, and if it is designed to work with Macs, odds are there is a
version with an 8-pin mini-DIN jack that would plug right into a IIgs.

Of course, there's still the software aspect, to give you a nice
interface, but I bet someone could whip something up in Spectrum's
scripting language (or ProTerm's for IIe's) that could work pretty well.

Although I don't own any of the Pioneer players mentioned, the idea still
intrigues me. I have plans for a music library program and I would quite
interested in incoporating support for devices like this within that
program, or even separately, if there was interest. Please keep me posted
on any developments, Chet. Thanks!

--
Michael Hackett
Some Assembly Required