Stop playing in noisy environment

[Crend King]

I wonder if someone is interested in this idea: Rockbox automatically stops playing when the player enters a very noisy environment. It is plausible since most of the modern players have microphones. User could adjust the noise threshold (in db).

This idea comes from that I usually take bus to commute between campus and home. Bus is a very noisy environment, and often I cannot hear anything in it (I keep the volume relatively low to protect my hearing). Yes, I can stop the player manually, but remember, bus is also a crowded environment. If Rockbox could detect the noisy environment and stop playing (or shutdown, as an option), it saves power.

I do not know if adding this function will dramatically increase average power consumption. Hope not.

[LinusN]

First of all, it will draw extra power, since you will have to record and playback at the same time. Also, it will require some intelligent signal processing to differ between "real" background noise and the scraping against the cloth in your pocket.

I'd say that it would be quite difficult to accomplish, for a pretty small practical benefit.

[cool_walking_]

Using noise-cancelling headphones might allow you to hear the music properly while in a noisy environment.

[GodEater]

Or just some decent-ish isolating in ear monitors.

[soap]

Or just some decent-ish isolating in ear monitors.

Most of which isolate better than the best active noise-cancelling headphones, need no batteries, and are much more suited for portable listening (such as on a bus).

[MarcGuay]

OT:  I bought a cheapo $15 pair of in-ear buds and ride the metro every day without having to crank the volume at all.  I think this is a much better solution than having your music shut off.  

Edit.
A situation where this feature would be practical:  If you're in a situation, such as falling asleep with your headphones on, and an alarm went off that it would be in your best interest to hear.  Of course most alarms that are intended to save lives are amazingly loud and could probably cut through even the heaviest of blaring metal.... Maybe if you're walking down the street and a someone was honking their horn at you?  Brainstorming aside, LinusN's comments are pretty much the beginning and end of it.

[Crend King]

OK, thanks everyone for reply. So it seems I need to invest on hardware, rather than software. Actually I was just curious about implementing such a function.

I have not bought any noise-canceling ear-plug or headphone. I may try one later.

[zajacattack]

Plus, studies show that noise-canceling headphones help people turn their music down thus saving their ears from potential damage due to loud playback.

[cool_walking_]

Or just some decent-ish isolating in ear monitors.

Any recommendations?

[zajacattack]

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_PORTABLE_HEADPHONES_CA_GB_CONSUMER/

I've been using some Philips in-ear headphones for almost a year now.

[Chronon]

I know that some of the Shure's get good reviews.  I have a pair of ER-6's from Etymotic Research that I quite like.  I can listen to music on the city bus without turning up the volume whatsoever.  I still keep open ear headphones for situations where I need to hear my surroundings, however.

[GodEater]

Any recommendations?

I like the Shure E2Cs that I have, and also the Sennheiser CX300s, although the cable on the latter is a little short.

Both of them provide between 15 and 20dB of isolation, which is more than enough to filter out noise of the bus and mean I don't have to crank the volume to continue enjoying my music.

[Benway]

I second the recommendation for the Sennheiser CX300s. I think they're great. If want to spend less, you could try the Creative EP 630 which are almost the same.

[denny]

I'll add another vote in for the CX300's. I got a pair when my shures went in for replacement and have been really surprised at the quality (and isolation) for the price. I've recommended these to quite a few people now.

[AlexP]

I too like my CX300s