Is there an RF remote that would be able to control tempo on Rockbox device?

[swinster]

Hi All,

Have have been looking for a long time to find a good, simple and cheap solution for my mothers dance classes. She would like to use digital music instead of CD, but need to be able to control the tempo of the playback without altering pitch. She also needs to be able to control the device remotely. so needs a simply easy to use RF remote that can be used from the other side of the hall.

I know there are cheap RF remotes for the iPod, but I don't knwo if they would work with the Rockbox, or if they would be able to control pitch.

Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers

[karashata]

Time stretching (or compressing) is available in Rockbox, though I believe it's turned off by default. If you go into Settings -> Sound Settings -> Timestretch and turn it on, you can control the speed and pitch separately from the pitch screen (though you'll need to switch the pitch screen a couple times since the first two will still only adjust the pitch and speed together).

[swinster]

This unfortunately already looks like a non starter. It seem far to complex to simply assign a couple of buttons to be able to speed up/slow down tracks all from a simple remote for a device.

[karashata]

Ah, yes, you would have a very hard time using the built-in time stretch with a remote of any kind...

[swinster]

Thanks anyhow. If anyone as any ideas on how to be able to solve such a problem, then please let me know.

The application is for a dance class (my mothers). There is a powered amp and speakers at one end of the room, with a device capable to digital music playback attached. She needs a real simple way of not only controlling basic playback, but also to be able to control speed of playback - the idea being that she can slow down songs so that the steps can be taught more easily. Of course, by slowing down the tempo of song you don't really wish to change the pitch of the tune.

All of this need to be done whilst in a hall or possibly outdoors, so IR controls are out.

I have thought about getting a cheep laptop with some kind of Media Software, and we have an old Nvidia Remote, so I might be able to get some software that would map some of its buttons to control the speed (such as in WMP, and the Visulization Speed option).

Other than that, my mother does use a wireless Mic, so it maybe possible to use an MP3 device on her person and wireless transmit the signal to the amp. Problem there is that is need to be REAL simple and easy to read - her eyes are very poor, and she isn't the best with technology, so getting tempo to change without routing through menus may be impossible.

Still, any other ideas are welcome.