before stating anything else i wish to state that my situation is not very mainstream. i recognize that my problem does not affect many people. with that stated i will gladly pay someone who can help me accomplish what i want.

i have ~1.5tb of mp3 files (legitimately). i would like to build fileservers that would be housed somewhere in my car (1/2U rackmounts in a removable DJ rack array with other equip in the trunk would be ideal) that i could connect to via the empeg/rio-car, either by cabling or by WiFi.

I lack the mechanical skills and arcana of the Empeg/Rio-car's internals to make this real. Would anyone be willing to help or even do the project for me (i'd handle the wiring, all purchases, etc, just need someone to make required modifications)? again, i will gladly pay you for your services.

exactly how many mp3 files are we talking about? i suspect your first limitation is going to be getting the player to be able to manage a database of that size.

interesting project, though.

--dan.

i'm honestly not sure. i've never bothered to check. i'd guess ~250,000 since although have a lot of DJ sets and extended tracks (classical, concerts, etc) i also have all the DDR soundtracks and what-nto which have ~40-70 tracks of 1:30 a piece.

if this is too much for the DB i'm open to alternate solutions. i just like the professionalism and support currently existing in the empeg/Rio-car line. i only have a 10gb empeg mk1 myself (this iwas #232 or so)... but my friends have 18-60gb Rio-cars.

If you're going to have the entire 1.5TB in your car then you're going to have a problem.
The largest laptop drive is 80GB at the moment so you're going to need around 20 of them. If you're willing to risk using a desktop drive then it's 250GB each and you're going to need about 7.
It's preferable to use a laptop drive as they're designed to handle bigger shocks and use less power.
If you're not intending to have it running when you're moving then it's not important if you use a desktop drive.

Interesting project however

- Trevor

[edit]Forgot about 250GB drives[/edit]

The 16mb of internal RAM of the Empeg will most certainly not be able to handle a database of 250.000+ mp3 files, so I'll guess you'll have to look at alternative solutions.

AFAIK, no ICE mp3car product is designed for that big a database, so I guess your only option will be to install a regular PC in your car with 7 or so harddisks in it that runs as an mp3 file server. Because you're using a PC then, the expansion possibilities are endless. E.g. touch-screen control would be possible.
The only downside is that this project will probably require custom-coded software, and this will NOT come cheap.

::nod::

i guess i have to settle with 160gb for the short term then. :-/

long term i guess i'll have to get back into programming (was a CIS major but haven't touched code in years).

i'm using 200s and 250s at home now, slowly but surely. i just picked up another 4 at Fry's a couple weeks ago for <$200 a piece so it's not too bad. still, RAID-5'ing them does make it tricky to get sufficient storage capacity. i'm bringing up ~0.5tb at a time right now with each group (gets expensive).

i'm OK going with standard IDE drives. i understand the risks. i've known a few people who have used standard IDE drives with little to no problems using custom harnesses. the power draw would be the issue for me but i'll be addressing that anyway with the other modifications i'll be making to the car...

Mmm.. if you're going with something the size of a 1U rack, then perhaps a laptop or regular PC with a very high end soundcard would be more appropriate for all of this.

Or perhaps use a Rio Receiver as the audio end, and a big server to supply the tunes. Dunno what the limits of a Rio Receiver are, though.

Cheers

Mmm.. I suppose another way would be to divide the collection into manageable subsets of multiple smaller databases (maybe 20000 tracks per database), and modify the Empeg kernel to boot/access them using NFS -- this kind of stuff is possible inside the Hijack kernel.

Switching between subsets ("databases") would require restarting the player software only, not rebooting, but there'd still be a pause of a few seconds when switching databases.

OK, no idea if this would work or not, but...

Could you not use the Empeg abit like a SLIMP3 i.e. stream the tune into the Empeg via the ethernet and have the database on the fileserver ???

This way the database would only be limited by the power/space available on the PC/Fileserver.

This would have much wider applications too, myself for example. I would love to listen to all my mp3's through my empeg but I only have 20Gb. I have no need to take more than that with me in the car, but it would be a one stop shop at home.

Like I said I'm just an ideas man, no idea if the Empeg itself could handle this, I know the USB is not a full USB port but is the ethernet ???

Cheers

Cris.

i could go with that. it would be easy enough to split things into "logical" chunks, i'd just have to concede true random play, heh (breaking things into approximations of genre/style). 160gb chunks should be alright. i'm sure if not now then soon i'd have multiple chunks for the same area but that's still a good solution.

i'm open to pursuing this.

the ethernet port is viable. i'm not sure how to access it while the vehicle is in use however. i'm sure somene on here can shed light on viability of that, as well as Wi-Fi. there may or may nto be issues of interference on the Wi-Fi element but i can always mount the empeg at a location other then in-dash if that's an issue.

speaking of which, since i haven't stated it already the car this will be going in is a Mazda RX-8.

as for streaming... that may solve multiple isseus at the same time. if i could have a secondary display and touchpad for managing playlists and have the empeg/rio solely displaying info and visuals that would be wonderful.

well, so long as i'm within 3U i'm fine. i need at least 1U, ideally 3U for non-computer equipment in the rack. i'd be going for an ultra-dense fileserver here. i know i can get .5tb (RAID-5) in 1U easily enough. i should be able to get 1.5tb (RAID-5) in 2U without too much effort (dual power supplies, 3-ware RAID controller on a riser, all 250gb drives...).

i stated briefly in another post, not sure if you saw it... i'm pretty much intending to use the empeg/rio-car as a front-end. i won't be using it to load/store content, just as a playback tool.

To use the Ethernet in the car you would have to modify the sled, you can get a little hint of how this could be done at http://427.org/album.asp?AlbumID=3

Plenty of people have done this for their own home docking stations, if you plan to mount it else where in the car I can recommend mlord's docks (I'm going to have to start charging for these adverts Mark ) That has Ethernet access built into the dock.

Mazda RX8 WOW !!! I've got an old 323F (1997) Not much room in these Mazdas for mods how are you going to fit it all in ???

Cheers

Cris.

i am sacrificing my trunk. i was intending to do so anyway for other reasons (amps, filters, yada yada). now i just need to figure out how/where to keep everything.FYI - the RX-8 does sport a reasonable size trunk but i hear where you're coming from.

i'll have to get some of my fab friends to take care of the sled mod for me then. i just wasn't sure if it was possible to get ethernet while in "car" mode.

i'm expecting to spend a bit to get everything right in this but it will be very, very worth it to me.

checking a bit more (haven't bought the car yet, expecting to buy in early July) i realized something. bastards don't have DIN slots in the RX-8, lol. that pisses me off. :-/
http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/news/aw/maz0301151dmg.jpg

anyone got thoughts on this? if it's possible to get it without the BOSE system and proprietary get-up ? anyone know any professional houses that could do it anyway ?

so now hte immortal question arises, wtf should i do?
this may actually be reason enough for me to consider the other cars i was looking at.
::checks for DIN slots on the WRX::
yeah, it appears to use a standard DIN.

not sure if i really wanna compare the RSX and the like gaain since i need 4 full-size seats. ~sigh~

How about a mod to the ash tray infront of the gear stick, maybe the empeg could slot in there, then find a hack for the BOSE CD Changer interface to feed the Empeg in the inputs.

No offense to the Empeg team but the Empeg is going to look really cheap in that dash, unless you got a custom face to match it.

Cheers

Cris.

there's a few custom faceplate kits i've seen for the empeg so i don't imagine that to be too much of an issue. having the empeg that low though would virtually defeat it's purpose for me. i'd be better off removng it from the solution completely.

i'll call Mazda tomorrow and see if they have any alternatives to the BOSE system for buyers who want to install their own audio systems.

Sounds like all you need are 10 empegs!