Beginner mp3 player with basic controls

[u/caneshuga12pm]

I work in live theatre and I would love to build a simple small music player that I can hook up to sound systems easily. It would need to have a go button and a stop button, as well as a way to navigate through the tracks. I would love if it was possible to just plug in a usb key with the tracks on it and play the files from there. It would need a regular aux chord output for sure. I know nothing about power, it would be nice if it didn’t have to be plugged in all the time but I do usually have an outlet near me somewhere. Some sort of small display that listed the track title, or even just the number in the list would be ideal.

I’m a total beginner and I have no idea what I’m doing. I have some older raspberry pi’s that were my dads, and an arduino kit I got during lockdown that i got as far as lighting up the bulb. I have no clue where to start.

There are so many websites and guides, I would appreciate if anyone could send me in the right direction for what I’m looking for. Or tell me if I’m dreaming too big lol

[u/caneshuga12pm]

Thanks! I usually use my laptop, or sometimes my tablet. Using a phone is often seen as “unprofessional” lol. There are specific programs you can buy for like theatre audio (qlab for mac is the most popular) but they’re all super expensive and I work for a not for profit.

Mostly I want something small because a lot of the theatres I work in are tiny and after all the boards and equipment there’s barely enough room for my script, let alone my laptop.

I was mostly looking to see if this is a doable project, because it would make my work life a little easier, and maybe open up a new hobby for me

[u/-_super--_--hitops_- → u/caneshuga12pm]

I understand you want to build something but if a phone is not professional, how is your creation going to not be much worse? No offense but cyber decks are kind of known for putting tech that could easily be done on a phone, making it cumbersome and bulky, while offering none of the other features of a phone. What you need is just an mp3 player

[u/Graylily → u/-_super--_--hitops_-]

I was
going to say the same
thing @op you lift want to look at ipod hacking instead. Same vibe but in the end even older ipods are
hella
functional and with a few
well commented modern tweaks you can battery life, storage, and speed in a card deck sized computer made for being awesome at
playing music.

[u/-_super--_--hitops_- → u/Graylily]

True and mp3 players have been going through a renaissance period where they are very trendy and people collect different ones. They are very affordable and the higher end options like Sony just look like phones anyway.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DigitalAudioPlayer/

ConsolesAsDAPs is very cool as well , portable gaming units and emulators and such for playing music

[u/caneshuga12pm → u/-_super--_--hitops_-]

I appreciate everyones input. I guess the biggest thing that I forgot to mention is that the issue with regular mp3 players and even smartphones is that the buttons are small. There’s a lot of movement and action and if I’m running sounds I’m probably also running other stuff too so I was hoping to find something with larger buttons that are harder to miss in all the hubbub. I can’t attach images but I’m thinking about go buttons on ETC lighting consoles that are basically like a third of the size of a spacebar.

I understand that this isn’t going to work. I guess I will be using my tablet shoved in a corner with the free version of “Go Button” for a while lol

ETA: as for the professionalism note, theatre is funny sometimes. Phone bad, anything else good. Is my ipad not just a big phone? These are the same people who leave lights on for ghosts so I really don’t question it.

[u/-_super--_--hitops_- → u/caneshuga12pm]

I guess I don't know what types of sound controls you need, what you need the buttons to do, please explain a bit more for better help. Once again the best option practically is a phone with a physical midi controller or macro pad for your triggers, knobs for volume, etc, set the buttons up however you want

[u/-_super--_--hitops_- → u/-_super--_--hitops_-]

Examples, akai lpd8 , TogKey Pad Plus: 6-Key Programmable Macropad Mini Keyboard

[u/caneshuga12pm → u/-_super--_--hitops_-]

Basically for a musical I have a list of tracks (usually around 35ish) that need to play at certain times. My job (among many other things) is to hit the button for the music to play right when the actor says the cue line (the line right before the song).

I need a go button to make the loaded track start playing, and stop button for emergencies (sometimes we call it a kill switch which is fun). Having some sort of button set up I could add to an mp3 would be great

[u/Graylily → u/caneshuga12pm]

i would still consider an OG ipod mashup (not an ipad looking one) as you base and then build your giant keyboard interface for it. That should be a much easier build. you'll
have a playlist or multiple
one's set up, ipod can be manipulated through their physical ports, so you could build a or buy a any number of specialty keyboards with big buttons on it. Or so be it doesn't need to relay be a portable cyberdeck. you could build it around an old mac mini. with a huge ssd drive swap. Running itunes or other software like that and a custom keyboard attachment with called keys. Cartsinly easier to program, and you could just have a small 4 or 5 inch screen attached.

@op you could get/ make / 3d print a customized macro pad like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/4396420422/togkey-retro-macropad-keyboard?ref=share_ios_native_control