Play mp3 player through dvd player

[daj3245]

I have a 2004 Venture with factory-installed dvd player. It has the player console located up front at the center bottom of the dash with the display unit mounted on the ceiling for rear passengers to view. The player console has RCA jacks for video and audio inputs.

I would like to take the Line Out (left and right audio) from my mp3 player, connect it to the audio input (left and right) at the auxilliary input on the dvd console and hear the audio through the vehicle's speakers.

If I make this connection, no sound is heard when I play my mp3 player.

If I add just the video cable connection from my camcorder to the video input on the dvd console auxilliary input, play my camcorder and then the mp3 player, sound from my mp3 player plays through the vehicle's speakers and sounds great. If I stop playing my camcorder, sound from the vehicle's speakers stops.

I would like for this to work without having to play my camcorder video in order to listen to my mp3 player sound through the vehicle's speakers.

Any ideas on how to achieve this would be greatly appreciated.

[bleepster]

Does your DVD player have MP3 support? sorry to ask possibly a dumb question. But if you burned the MP3s to disk - I wonder if it will play in the DVD player.

[daj3245]

Thanks for your prompt reply, Bleepster.
I should have noted that the dvd player will not play the mp3 disc directly-only by the method I described; that is, using the auxiliary inputs on the dvd player console to connect the line out from my mp3 player, and in addition, playing the video from my camcorder through the video input of the dvd player console at the same time in order to hear the sound from my mp3 player through the vehicle's speakers.

[cdru]

Your aux input automatically switch over when a video signal is detected. Many RF modulators for home theater systems are like this as well. If there is no video input, then the normal video is played, but when something is hooked up and playing, be it a camcorder, vcr, game console, etc, then it swtiches over to the aux inputs.

You'd have to look around to see if there is a way to defeat it. I'd have to do some research to see if it is looking for a resistance between the signal and ground, or if it looks for a voltage or what exactly.

Another option is to use a FM modulator instead of the aux input on your dvd player.

[GregA]

Originally Posted by daj3245

Thanks for your prompt reply, Bleepster.
I should have noted that the dvd player will not play the mp3 disc directly-only by the method I described; that is, using the auxiliary inputs on the dvd player console to connect the line out from my mp3 player, and in addition, playing the video from my camcorder through the video input of the dvd player console at the same time in order to hear the sound from my mp3 player through the vehicle's speakers.

What if you get yourself a CHEAP little camera that has RCA output and connect it to the video input. Most of those run on 12 Volts I believe. Put a power switch on it, mount it on the dash, and switch it on when playing MP3s. Then your passenger's can "see where they are going" and listen to the music at the same time.

Just a thought.

[daj3245]

Thanks, guys.
I hadn't thought of either solution.
I wonder if there's a simple input to the video jack that would allow the dvd player to switch to auxiliary input so it would then play the audio input from my mp3 player.
Of course, it would have been nice if GM had selected a dvd player that would play mp3 discs directly! Their Customer Support has been of no help on this---at all!
Since there are no cassette tape players on later models now, a tape adapter to inject the audio line out signal into the system is no longer an option.
Don

[cdru]

Originally Posted by daj3245

Of course, it would have been nice if GM had selected a dvd player that would play mp3 discs directly! Their Customer Support has been of no help on this---at all!

Nor should they be of help. It's not their MP3 player and you are trying to use it for something outside of its intended design.

Since there are no cassette tape players on later models now, a tape adapter to inject the audio line out signal into the system is no longer an option.

Which is where a FM modulator comes into play. It will modulate your RCA inputs so that your radio tunes into the modulated "station. There is a slight loss in audio quality as you are only going to get as good as FM gets, but it's better then nothing. Many aftermarket CD changers include the modulator in case the radio doesn't have a set of RCA inputs.

The modulator just plugs into the back of your radio where the antenna plugs in. The antenna then gets plugged into the modulator.

[daj3245]

All suggested solutions are very much appreciated.

My disappointment in GM's response is:
1. They won't tell me who manufactured the dvd player-it's "proprietary"- so I don't know which manufacture's technical person I might contact for a simpler solution.
2. They won't request that a competent GM person contact the dvd manufacturer for me to request a solution and relay that solution to me.
3. The dvd player in my house plays the mp3 disc directly so I'm curious as to why GM didn't select one with this capability.

I'm still hopeful that I'll learn of a simple device to input to the video
jack on the player that will allow it to play the line in from my mp3 player without having to play the video from my camcorder at the same time.

Any suggestions on where to contact a person with the necessary electronics background to help me would be much appreciated.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by daj3245

My disappointment in GM's response is:
1. They won't tell me who manufactured the dvd player-it's "proprietary"- so I don't know which manufacture's technical person I might contact for a simpler solution.
2. They won't request that a competent GM person contact the dvd manufacturer for me to request a solution and relay that solution to me.

Even if you knew who made the player, I doubt you would get an answer. You are not the manufacturing companies customer, GM is. There is no way the company would want to provide end customer support for the thousands of GM customers with the integrated DVD player. GM won't contact them on your behalf because you are trying to do something nonstandard and different then what it was designed for. I know it sucks for you, but that is the way it is.

[bquote]3. The dvd player in my house plays the mp3 disc directly so I'm curious as to why GM didn't select one with this capability.[/bquote]Likely two reasons: money and more money. While you and I might listen to MP3s, a good portion of the public doesn't. They are happy with CDs (or tapes) and so they don't demand a MP3 player in the factory system. Leaving out that functionality simplifies the device as well as saves a little on each unit in licensing costs for the codec. Multiply by thousands of units and the savings adds up. Do other manufacturer's factory DVD systems play back MP3s?

I'm still hopeful that I'll learn of a simple device to input to the video jack on the player that will allow it to play the line in from my mp3 player without having to play the video from my camcorder at the same time.

Is there a reason why you don't just go with the FM modulator? 15 minutes to get it installed and running a pigtail to an accessable location would allow you to easily hook up your MP3 player as needed, while allowing you to quickly disconnect it when you want to remove it.

There are also adapter cables that can be purchased specificly for your vehicle if your vehicle's head unit (radio) supports it. Look for them in satellite radio installtion related sites or dealers.

[bryanb2]

I have read your thread and can't believe that there is not a way to beat this!! What is it looking for on video in voltage and if so what 5volts btween center and ground. I have messed with this still have no answer. The fm modulator is not easy to install ( gettting the dash apart) is 1.5 hour minimium job plus a $50 modulator. Please anyone help if you know how to beat this.

[RNRea]

We have used the FM modulator, which worked quite well (until driving through an area with an FM station on the same or adjacent frequency - changed to a different frequency on the modulator and the radio to fix). The sound was pretty decent. Yes, it would have been nice to have mp3 support on the DVD player (or, in my case, the CD player) but you do what you gotta do. CDRU is right about not getting help from the manufacturer.

[daj3245]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your input.
I was in Wal-Mart one day and saw a sign for a video game on sale for $11.43. Suddenly, a light went on and I decided to buy it and try it as the video source needed in order for the DVD player in my van to accept the line out from my mp3 player.
It worked and continues to work just fine.
I had previously bought some rf modulator units, none of which provided acceptable audio quality so I'm pleased that this does the job.
Hopes this helps others with this problem.
Don

[bryanb2]

After fooling around with this you can use a cheap video source as mentioned in a previous thread but i didn't want the bulk of this device sitting around. The way to make a permanant fix is get a adjustable voltage supply that runs from your car plug $4.50 at walmart and set it to around
2 to 2.5volts and cut the end off and connect a rca video end to the cable positive in middle and plug it in and wallah the input is always availble through your radio. You can even make it better by connecting to a switchable fuse like dvd player or radio fuse and it will switch on and off as you go. By the way do not connect more than 5volts to this input or it may go up in smoke. Thanks for everyone's help on this and i hope this helps.

[dz0k52]

Sounds like a great trick but are you sure it won't hurt anything?

[bryanb2]

yes i am sure. I have ran mine for months now and it works great.