DIY Open Source Bluetooth Headphones -- Episode 586

This was another interesting element14 presents project.

Up until now I've been using the likes of Denon or Radial Engineering Bluetooth receivers:  

https://www.denonpro.com/products/view/dn-200br

https://www.radialeng.com/product/bt-pro

to accommodate those pesky mobile device users... Starts to get expensive when you need to pair with multiple devices.

However, this open-source project looks like this could open up some alternatives and experimentation.

USB Audio 'Class Compliant' interfaces would be another interesting area to explore further. It would be great to have some 'problem-solving' adapters that can plug into a computer USB port without needing additional drivers and provide basic channel mixing / splitting type functionality along with basic level control and metering, ideally all within the limited USB power budget to avoid the need for yet another wall wart power supply.

that sounds indeed like a neat problem solving product! would be cool to elaborate on that.

Yes, that was intended as a separate project idea.  

( The Inogenie devices do the webcam switching:
https://inogeni.com/product/share2u/  )

Seems the intended use is dunymic composition of additional sources into an hdmi feed, that is passed on downstream.
yeah a simpler solution for just the mentioned usecase seems to fit aniche here!

They do a 4:1 switcher 2xUSB/2xHDMI as well:

https://inogeni.com/product/cam300/

Originally, I was thinking of passive routing with the switches but then I was thinking of GPIO inputs so that their function could be defined in software depending on an individual's use case making it more flexible.

They could also be push buttons though that act as a simple mode selector that uses the LED VU bar position to show what mode you are in and then the rotary selector does inc/dec push to set.

5V at 500mA would be ideal as there is a lot of kit out there that isn't USB-C yet. It could use a second USB port though to bring it up to 1000mA, without reaching for a wall-wart PSU.  

In a lot of cases, the LEDs don't need to be on for the duration. They would mainly be used for configuration purposes, so a small battery could be used to provide the additional power demand for LEDs or even a small OLED display. However that adds to the design.

oh i just saw how expensive these devices are, well a simple solution just focused on the task would surely be abit more accessibly priced.

the internal battery for the higher demands and charging while its not in use is such a cool idea, of course it adds complexity but would also make the device better for payortable applications like podcasting on site.

That's one of the problem areas, most people can probably pull together a few low-cost USB devices, but when it comes to using several together, it can quickly become an overly complicated and expensive business.

also making them all play nicely togethers and have no wonky conenctions is a cluttered desk in itself

Another related USB project idea would be to intercept the control functions of a UVC compliant camera module in a USB pass-thru device. Quite often web conferencing applications will capture control of the USB webcam but then not give you any controls for adjusting focus, exposure etc. which can be annoying as often there isn't a separate control application for UVC devices. Being able to insert a pass-thru remote control into the USB cable, would quickly provide a solution.

Take this one step further and it would be useful to be able to snoop and break the USB video stream out to a LCD display, at which point you now have yourself the basis for a low-cost USB 'studio camera'. Mount the camera onto a tripod and attach the LCD (touch)screen on a bracket and you have a preview of what the camera is framed on and easy access to the camera controls. 

One approach might be to use the likes of Arducam UVC compliant box cameras which have C-mount or S-mount lens options, allowing for a wide range of low-cost focal lengths and easy tripod mounting in a robust aluminium package. Alternatively, you could substitute any UVC compliant USB camera and 3D print some sort of mount for it if it doesn't already have one.

Another approach might be to go down the R-Pi HQ camera route with its 7" touchscreen, however with on-going supply chain issues this may not be such a great option at present. I've seen a couple of UVC webcam projects done already this way but without the image preview screen.

i think that is a great case for the new Arducam modules,

with manual controlls over every aspect und pasing it on as UVC class Webcam feed t owhatever wants to use that feed.

i think that is a great case for the new Arducam modules,

with manual controlls over every aspect und pasing it on as UVC class Webcam feed t owhatever wants to use that feed.

I have a couple of older Arducam box cameras and having to rely on Amcap to take them out of auto mode, lets them down.

At the other end of the scale, I have a BirdDog PF120 'webcam' and it too is let down by the lack of access to manual controls when using it in USB mode.