DIY CD drive based on a computer CDROM

[Holger Barske]

I know, the issue has been covered several times before on this board, but has never been brought to a satisfying result.

As we all know, ist is more and more getting difficult to get CD drives for making really good hifi units from it. Yes, the big Philips from http://www.daisy-laser.com/ is an option, but an expensive one.
Also we have the cheaper Philips (CD 723) and Marantz (CD 6000) models, but who knows how long they will bei availeable.

So I think the only somewhere reliable source for "pure CD transports" will be computer CDROM drives, which are availeable at prices at 20 bucks - even the better ones.

It is of course not too difficult to use them in a hifi setup if you are happy with the built-in control buttons (which are normally very few), although there are some models out there with a remote control - which may be fine. But in eny case you won't have a display.

So why not try to develop our own universal CDROM controller?

It has been done before (mostly published on Russian, Korean, and Chinese sites - search this forum), but personnally, I have never found a soulution I could reproduce without major problems.

Technically, it should not be too difficult to control the drive via the ATA/IDE interface, for we don't need to transfer data through the controller.

One interesting (in terms of hardware simplicity) approach I have found is here: http://home.cybervillage.de/heesch/english/ide.htm. I have attached the schematic for all non-Eagle users. This unit so far is kind of a RS-232 controlled data storage device - not exactly what we want, but not too bad as a starting point.
As you can see, you need a microcontroller with 23 I/O pins to perform communication with the drive - no problem.
Most probably you will need a second controller for controlling keyboard, display and remote - I remember having seen this approach on a korean(?) site posted some time ago.

The problem is: controlling a drive via ATA commands is possible, but not that simple (at least not for me, as I haven't read all the hundreds of pages of interface specs). I am pretty much into hardware design as well as assembly programming on AVR microcontrollers, so this will be not too much of a problem - but only if someone can tell me exactly what to do.

So if there are some ATA/IDE interface experts out there it should be possible to get this thing started.

Come on guys - let's turn this into a really big thread

[MCLL]

My CD-Rom Transport...

[MCLL]

Other 8051 CD-Rom Controller

[Holger Barske]

Thx a lot for the pics, excellent work.
What about some details? Schematic? Software...?

[MCLL]

At First, There are TWO Separate Projects.

8051 Open Source Version

Commerical Version (No Source Code)

About Open Source Version R2
http://jsno.arafuraconnect.com.au/pr...onhold_r2.html

But Can't to Access...

[omar]

I am interested to do the same project ,
but I have no idea how to start.
Because I'm not familiar with those IDE controller things.
But I do have some related information, if needed,I can email you!

BTW, If you succeed, would you consider making a DIY kit for sell?

[MCLL]

omar

In Taiwan Chinese Website, diyzone have a KIT - 8051 CDRom Controller V:2.2 (Commerial Version)


http://www.diyzone.net/article.php?sid=195

[Holger Barske]

This one's the killer url: http://www.8052.com/users/jsno/.

Thx a lot, MCLL.
Controller layout is already done, as soon as I have the first useful reactions from the drive I will report.

[jleaman]

This is interesting. One could use a nice Pioneer Slot loaded Cd-rom and build anice Cd-player..

[JoeBob]

HBarske, keep us posted on your project, I'd like to try this next.

Seems simple enough, haven't used an amtel before, but there is a first time for everything...