Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

[Spoon]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

Once the beta is out, if you can write simple scripts then you could implement it yourself...

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

How about COMPOSER Optical Autoloaders?

[Spoon]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

Never heard of them

[bhoar]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

How about COMPOSER Optical Autoloaders?

Eli - one thing to remember: if the Primera autoloader doesn't have a drive installed and instead has a blank faceplate, it's a Primera Conductor, not a Composer. The Conductor is a printer autoloader and will not drop discs into a drive even if you install one.*

The firmware chip is the same as the composer firmware, but primera programed the unit to one of several profiles at the factory, and I still haven't worked out how to change that. It might involve one or more of the following:

1. Using the front panel keys in an unpublished pattern.
2. Invocations via the standard serial port.
3. Invocations via the secondary serial port (you may need to add a 4-pin header on some boards).
4. Using an in-circuit programmer on the 4-pin chip near the left side of the board to modify parameters.

Or, just stick to buying a Composer/Composer Pro unit.

-brendan

* A similar issue arises if you wish to install a second drive into a Composer - unless it is a Composer Pro, the robot arm won't go to the second drive, even if the firmware is the same.

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

My dream feature setup
-plextor drive(s)
-room for multiple drives
-100+ spindle capacity
-ability to sort discs after rip into accurate rips and inaccurate rips (one source spindle and 2 destination spindles)
-USB or Firewire with full command passthrough/control including FUA and C2

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

Other features I would like:
-ability to automatically re-rip discs without accuraterip entries or different pressings in a second drive (would need to install different drive models in robot)
-small camera on robot arm to photograph the disc being ripped

[bhoar]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

-small camera on robot arm to photograph the disc being ripped

Heh. Weibetech already repackaged the Baxter 25-disc device with a webcam,

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/Imager.php

...and then increased the price to $2400 (a $1600 forensics premium, well I guess you get some custom software too).

You could do the same, with some elbow grease, if spoon added the ability to run post-"Accept" (or pre-"Insert" depending on ease of camera placement) batch files.

-brendan

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

Brendan,
Are parts available to consider building a ripper yourself? The cost of these "robots" seems outrageous. It doesnt have to look pretty, but I would imagine that it can be done.

[bhoar]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

Are parts available to consider building a ripper yourself? The cost of these "robots" seems outrageous. It doesnt have to look pretty, but I would imagine that it can be done.

Short answer: no, not unless you are a masochist.

IMHO, the best do-it-yourself approach would be to get the Sony XL1B (aka XL1B2 aka XL1B3) changer, which can be had for ~$200 from time to time. It's big, but you can pre-load 200 CDs. Then:

a) Lobby Spoon to support it the changer.
b) Use the MediumChanger GUI software, links can be found in the AVS Forum website.
and/or
c) Write your own batch files using the windows version of MTX (which now supports the XL1B series) and a command line ripper (perhaps db power amp, if all the features you need are supported at the command line).

-brendan

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

One of my criteria is to be able to use a plextor drive

[Spoon]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

If you have a Sony XL1Bx email me please:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/email.htm

[bhoar]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

One of my criteria is to be able to use a plextor drive

So Eli, how's the hardware acquisition and rebuild going?

FYI, I've started up a wiki to document robotic command sets here

http://hyperdiscs.pbwiki.com/

Maybe you can help to fill this one in soon?

http://hyperdiscs.pbwiki.com/Command+Sets+--+Primera

-brendan

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

The package containing the guts of the robot (arm, control board...) was lost by fedex....

[bhoar]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

The package containing the guts of the robot (arm, control board...) was lost by fedex....

That would make me totally flip out.

-brendan

[EliC]

Re: Discussion of Automated CD Loaders

I am working to aquire a new one since the original ComposerMax was lost by fedex. No worries as it was there fault, the shippent was insured, and my purchase price has been refunded.

I do plan to get a Primera Composer Max. Is there anyone that has used this with the current batch ripper? Are there any issues before implementation for this device will be complete?