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DIY Audio Switchby randofo on June 3, 2009

Table of Contents

intro:   DIY Audio Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1:   Go get stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2:   Open the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3:   Wired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 4:   Re-wired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 5:   Cut a bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 6:   Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 7:   Case Closed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 8:   Magnetic Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

step 9:   Plug and Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

intro:  DIY Audio SwitchA while back I got an old data switch off Freecycle and I've been eyeing it ever since and thinking "I should really convert that to a stereo audio switch." And so, afterabout a year of looking at it, I finally converted that old data switch into a cool-looking and extremely useful audio switch. I am now able to select between four audioinputs and route them to a single audio output (or one input to four outputs).

This is useful for a home stereo system when you want to send multiple music sources to a single set of speakers or for home recording to select between input sources.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

step 1: Go get stuffYou will need:

A data switch5 stereo jacks10 nuts and boltsA screwdriverA soldering ironA wire stripper3" x 8" sheet of 1/8" acrylicA laser cutterVinyl coated magnet sheetingA fine tip black marker

(Note if you don't have a laser cutter, you may be able to get away with a jigsaw and power drill or quite simply 10 appropriate-sized washers (pictured)

Image Notes1. Alternative to laser cut bracket. Place one on each side of the case and fasten the jacks to them.

step 2: Open the caseOpen up the case to expose the wiring inside.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

step 3: WiredFigure out which wires are going to be used as your audio wires.

The way I did it is by pulling the bottom left wire out of the jack and marking it, then repeating for the one next to it and then again for the one next to that. I then cut off allthe other wires.

If you repeat this process for each jack, all the wires will be standardized.

You can also figure this out with a multimeter.

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step 4: Re-wiredAttach the three wires to the jack such that when you move through the sets of wires, you always attach the same numbered wire to the same pin on the jack.

In other words, A1, B1 and C1 should all attach to corresponding pins on each jack.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

step 5: Cut a bracketLaser cut your bracket using the file below.

If you don't have a laser cutter you can print out the file below and use it as a stencil for sawing and drilling.

If you don't want to do that, you can use 10 washers by placing one on the inside and outside of each hole and fastening the jack through them.

Image Notes1. Paper test. See acrylic one in next step.

File Downloads

AudioSwitchBracket.cdr (9 KB)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'AudioSwitchBracket.cdr']

step 6: MountMount your jacks into the bracket in the proper order to correspond correctly to the letters on the front of the case.

Fasten the bracket to the case with nuts and bolts by fastening them through the two outermost holes. Once the bracket is secured in place, insert the rest for aestheticappeal and redundancy.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

step 7: Case ClosedClose up the case and reinsert the screws.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

step 8: Magnetic LabelsThe nice thing about using a data switch with a metal case is that you can make a seemingly endless supply of magnetic labels that are easy to swap and rearrange.

Simply cut a small square of vinyl coated magnet sheeting and write down what your input/output sources are for easy handling.

step 9: Plug and PlayPlug in your various input (or output) sources and arrange your labels correctly and enjoy.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

Related Instructables

Audio SwitcherBox (1/8" stereojacks) byjeremiah_migas

How to Connecta Push Buttonwith Audio Inputand Output byjojporg

Audio Splitterby cornflakes

Headphoneamplifier byMilen

Convert a radiotape player toan MP3Boombox byHappyDad

How to Connecta Fader withAudio Input andOutput by jojporg

Analog SoundSynthesis onYour Computerby tyler_durden

Mp3 AmplifierOutput byCaveman477

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Comments14 comments Add Comment

 oppie says:  Jun 18, 2009. 5:36 AM  REPLYOK, I'm intrigued with your use of a laser cutter but...I'm unfamiliar with the file type you specified (CDR). Is this specific to a particular Laser cutter? If so, please reference which machine.Please try to give artwork files that will open in generic CAD (dwf, dxf...) or export as a GIF.

 randofo says:  Jun 18, 2009. 11:45 AM  REPLYIt is a Corel Draw file. That tends to be the program used with laser cutters. That said, the file generally has to be a vector image. If you actually intend tomake this I will happily post an EPS file.

 askjerry says:  Jun 18, 2009. 12:04 PM  REPLYThe Corel file is a combination vector file (lines and shapes) and raster (image) components. In short... anything with a hairline width (0mm thickness)will be cut using vector, the laser head follows the path... anything wider than the minimum software settings will be treated like an image and thelaser head will sweep back-and-forth to create the pattern on the material.

If you are creating a file to be cut via a laser, it is best to send the file as a vector format... Corel will import several file types. If you don't havesoftware but wish to make a part to be cut I have found that CADstd http://www.cadstd.com works very well... and has a lite version you candownload and use for FREE. (No time limits)

Save your work as a DXF and it can be imported directly to Corel and cut. Be sure to draw everything 1:1 and specify if it is mm or inch to the persondoing the cutting.

Note: I have an Epilog 35W laser and use Corel 12 because it was specified by the manufacturer. I have also used Photoshop with some success,but sometimes the print driver needs some twiddling to get it right.

Jerry

 oppie says:  Jun 18, 2009. 1:51 PM  REPLYNice information, thanks!I was wondering what program would open the files. Filext.com showed it as Corel but nothing I had in my toolbox would open it. More out ofcuriosity than need.I'm an engineer and mostly design PC boards with the Eagle 5 CAD software. Output for this is to a Gerber plotter which is to my understanding,very similar to the laser cutter. It just uses a low power laser to photoplot to film.

 askjerry says:  Jun 18, 2009. 5:05 PM  REPLYGerber files are more similar to CNC G-Code than a laser. A G-Code file is a text file that has commands like...

G00 X5.0 Y4.0

The above would say, "(G00) Move rapidly along the X axis 5 inches, (X5.0) and along the Y axis 4 inches (Y4.0)"

In fact... if you look at the gerber files... you will see they are a collection of several files... one for drilling, one for plotting, etc. You can opensome in Wordpad or "Notepad" and actually make out what each line of code does.

The laser is basically a printer... you select it from the list of printers and click "PRINT" to send the file to the machine. Then you walk over tothe laser and press the START button to actually make the part.

Corel files are proprietary to Corel Software... I don't know of anything besides Corel that will open them. Adobe Photoshop may open them...CS4... but I haven't tried so I don't know. I like to use DXF format for making cutting patterns because there are hundreds of softwarepackages that can open them.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Audio-Switch/

 SPGWhistler says:  Jun 11, 2009. 9:31 AM  REPLYIf you have an amplified output and it is loud enough - when you change sources, you'll hear a loud pop. To mitigate this, I would suggest turning down thevolume of your output before changing the source.

 srilyk says:  Jun 18, 2009. 6:14 AM  REPLYYou could also figure out a way to cut the ground out of the loop when you switch the hot, and then bring it back in. A surprisingly helpful guy at RadioShack taught me this when I was buying some toggle switches to hook up my pickups on my guitar. I suppose if you just added a toggle switch on the"ground" side of the output, that should fix it. I think :P

 tsukdotcom says:  Jun 16, 2009. 11:53 PM  REPLYhaha I have the exact same switch but for VGA switching. :D

 ReCreate says:  Jun 17, 2009. 9:20 PM  REPLYYeah those are utterly useful...

 beddings says:  Jun 11, 2009. 7:34 AM  REPLYI did the very same thing but used it as a A-B MIDI switch, nice werk!

 Boss_Sauce says:  Jun 11, 2009. 10:39 AM  REPLYHa, me too, but using an old A-B KVM switch-- VGA and PS2-- so (I think) 21 connections getting switched...:o I kept the original ports and just drilledand hot glued 3-conductor stereo mini jacks, connecting each jack to three of the VGA pins.

 Swishercutter says:  Jun 11, 2009. 9:31 AM  REPLYI have a couple of these in my "scrap electronics" box. I have been saving them for something like this to come along. Thanks.

 gmjhowe says:  Jun 11, 2009. 2:22 AM  REPLYI was thinking about building one of these also! I have an old 4way VGA switch, can i achieve a similar end result?

 Da_Fudge says:  Jun 11, 2009. 4:48 AM  REPLYIn theory, yes.

Your switch will just have a larger switch with more poles, but it should still work.

Good Luck!