@stan2004 posted:OK. Since the BY8001 MP3 module provides no guidance in this regard I guess it will be a YMMV.
Yep, they say absolutely nothing about transitions.
One thing I know for certain is the MP3 processor in the module is NOT performing any kind of pre-fetch or caching of the beginning of the different MP3 files. That is, part of the delay in starting MP3 playback is the nature of the digital compression/encoding. I guess all you can really advise in this regard is to expect a small gap when starting/changing sounds...and to the extent possible construct the sounds to best accommodate this effect.
I'm sure it doesn't. The startup seems pretty quick, but there is a delay, I was just playing with it and watching the little LED on the MP3 module light and how long it takes for the sound to start, there is a slight delay before the sound starts after the light goes on. The delay is well under a second, and I'm wondering if I put some WAV files on instead they'd start up faster. They don't require the decompression, that may be one option.
(time for a test...)
I tried WAV, they do seem to start faster, almost instantaneously. I suspect I'd have to connect the 'scope to see when the trigger and when the sound started coming out, but it sure seems faster than the MP3 file.
Separately, for background/layout sound application I think the instructions should advise on how to wire it up to start playing upon application of power. The closest example in the manual seems to be the Mixed-Connection diagram but that gets the trigger voltage from the +5V connector...and I don't believe the kit comes with that cable. Plus, it's not clear/obvious if the BY8001 player module is GUARANTEED to start playing if the trigger is present upon initial powerup?
You're correct, I didn't actually provide an extra cable, maybe I should add one of those in. FWIW, I cabled the 5V to the 5th discrete input and then powered up, tried it a few times. It always does start the sound upon startup, so there's another thing to add to the documentation.
2 other ideas on using the module:
1. Since the volume control is on the board, it may not be convenient to access in day-to-day use. So if this is a single-sound application like for layout background, you could simply create 3 different MP3 files with the same sound at LOW, MED, HIGH volume. Then via the remote control you can simply activate 1 of the 3 and you have remote volume control. Ta da!
That's a good idea, and for a single use, it's a pretty effective "poor man's volume control".
2. And related to above, you could create a "silent" MP3 sound as the 4th MP3 sound. So if you want to mute the background sound simply press the 4th button and it will play the silent sound and stop so you have just muted the sound by remote control.
I have actually used that technique a number of times, but it's useful to add it to the manual.
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