PianoDisc Ipod hook up question

[Gerald Cousins]

Dean,
We hooked up an IPod to run PD systems way before they came up with the "IQ" system. The IPod works well running th ePD but you should dedicate an IPod exclusively for this purpose. It avoids other issues.
If you want to run the IPod wireless then Logitec makes a fairly reliable wireless system. One down side is you are limited to both the wireless battery life as well as the IPod battery.
Direct (hard wire) is the simplest way but Apple changed their docking specs recently and there may be an issue getting everything to work.
Remember to make sure that all volumes from any IPod stuff is running at full volume and you use the PD system for the playback volume controls.  Easiest way to think of this is the IPod is sending the signal as a input (data) device to the PD and thus the PD system has to receive the maximum strength signal possible. Then the PD system can control (alter) the volumes accordingly.
Other things to remember: 1 Be sure that you create a separate library of PD software for th eIPod and use the Lossless syncronization when syncing the IPod with the CPU (mothership) files.  2: If you play the IPod with other music and access one of the PD files you will hear the data (kind of like a fax machine noise) out of one channel and music out of the other (assuming it is a combo type song) 3. Wireless IPod systems do have signal range limits as well as other noise (frequency interference) issues which ofter cause loss or fall off of playback. WHenever I encountered  an issue with an IPod based PD system 98% of the time it was the IPod side of the system causing the problems rather than the PD hardware. 4: Michael Zarate from PD is an excellent resource as well for trouble shooting as long as the PD system is legit.
Hope this helps
Gerry Cousins, RPT


I
am attempting to hook my first Ipod up to an existing PianoDisc
installation and am getting a lot of signal drop outs. I do have the
Ipod volume all the way up.  Does anyone have any experience with this? 

I
tried a Kensington docking station which went pretty badly. It works
best without the docking station and the cable plugged directly into
the Ipod, but I still get a lot of signal loss. I am ordering a Monster
brand cable with gold plated terminals hoping that will help.  Does
anyone have a cable they recommend? 

The docking station would have made a really cool install as it comes with a remote control. Too bad it won't work. 

-- 
Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 
Terre Haute IN  47802
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