How can I convert and ordinary CD-ROM drive (used in PC's - 52x, LG or Creative make) to a VCD drive with out using computers and related softwares. I want to know whether any DSP chips are used in the drives and the correct pin number of RF EFMin.

-- Binu (vijinpaul@eth.net), May 23, 2001

Answers

Your question is not very clear here, no one can really answer.

Are you trying to make a VCD player out of ordinary CD-ROM drive? pls clarify.

Actually VCD players only need 1X CD-ROM drive and does not need anymore than that.

-- ktnwin (ktnwin@excite.com), May 24, 2001.

Yes I am trying to make a VCD drive from cdrom drive..

-- Binu (vijinpaul@eth.net), May 25, 2001.

Thank you for your response.. An audio cd player, which plays only audio CD, can be converted to play video CDs as well. To do this we have to add an MPEG card. This card decompresses the data available from the cd-player and converts it into a proper level of vedio signals before feeding it to the television. The card is redily availabe in the market. An ordinary CD-ROM used in computers (any speed) can play audio tracks by itself if proper power supply is provided and we can obtain analog audio as well as digital audio from it. But the same CD- ROM will not play VCDs unless it is used with computers and some movie controlling softwares.. What I want is to convert an ordinary CDROM drives used in computers, and normally which does not play Video CDs by itself ( It needs computer and related softwares) to a VCD drive. For that I want to know the DSP chip details and the RF EFMin pin number of the DSP chip ( If it is used).. Binu

-- Binu (vijinpaul@eth.net), May 25, 2001.

You already have the answer yourself. If the CD-ROM drive has digital audio out then connect the MPEG card to it and away you go. I suppose the MPEG card is just connected to the digital audio out, isn't it?? But why do you want to do this? A separate, complete VCD player is probably cheaper.

-- Mehmet Tekdemir (turk690@yahoo.com), May 26, 2001.

Thank you Mehmet

As I have already mentioned, an ordinary CDROM drive is unable to play back VCD's by itself. I mean, if proper power supply is given to a CDROM drive and if we try to play an audio cd it will play.. but it will not play a video cd unless it is connected to computer.

Is it possible to play back VCD's by controlling any pin/s of the 50 pin cable side. ?

Thank you Binu

-- Binu (vijinpaul@eth.net), May 26, 2001.

I am also in search of the same . one of my friend had tried it and was succesful to do that. Some PAL converter card has to be put to it which is readly avaliable in market. and in put that card is given by some point hunted from PCD of CDROM drive. By putting external power we can attached that to TV in put. But bad thing is that i lost is address. If this hint help u to accelerate. please let me know

Raju

-- Raju Shaikh (kmdigit@rediffmail.com), August 11, 2001.

Any functional drive having a working tray mechanism can be used to connect to the MPEG-1 decoder card. Latest Decoder cards ( hardware version 3.0) of today are widely available and manufactured by some chinese companies that use SAMSUNG's or SONY Video Logic and motor servo controllers. As a result the existing motors i.e. SPIN servo, Eject servo and laser head servo can be used without the need of changing them. Firstly, remove the old PCB attached to the motors (For all systems, CD Drives etc.) and then Just connect the ready-to-use MPEG card to these motor and controls. What's great is that these MPEG cards come handy with remote controls and toggle button boards for media controls. These MPEG cards can play MP3, VCD, DVCD, SVCD, ACD, and even cards can support playstation standards. Morever nowadays, MPEG- 2 cards (that find use in DVD's) are approaching.

Connecting the MPEG card:- I suppose the older board must have been removed by now. now find a respectful place for the MPEG card and place it carefully, protect its electronics such that it does not get touched with any metal case or risk of shorting. Now connect the respective wires to the motors. Now u have to supply power to the card. These cards take 5V and 8V instead of 5V and 12V for computer system. So if u r using a computer interface to derive power, use some resistance to reduce it. Now u'll find that the card has ready-to-use stereo output, so it's not a big problem connecting to a TV system. Next the video has 4 cables; don't worry it's S-Video, so u'll need a small circuit or a cable that converts S-video to composite video(RCA) as older TV's don't have support for S-video. I bet the image is very detailed, crisp and clear. Not to mention the surround sound feature of this mpeg card, i recommend it to all who want to upgrade their drives to vcd/mp3/acd system at minimal fuss and cost. Item of surprise: This MPEG-1 card can be found in indian market for anywhere from 700 to 900 bucks.

Hopefully all of u would find this material helpful. In case of any comments, feel free to write to me.

-- Devesh Kumar (deveshcrazy@yahoo.com), February 21, 2002.

Wassup friends, It seems no one has tried implementing my suggestions as there are no feedbacks. However I have one great news for those who are budget serious and would like to make a remote featured audio CD player system (using a damaged Creative Infra CD-ROM drive). U could find any such old drives from ur local vendor, install it in house or car! even. To get amplified volume, connect the headphone out to any amplifier u wish to use and finally the power supply to the driv, i.e. 12V and 5 V DC can be given by using transformers or car batteries and IC's 7805 and 7812. Well right now I won't be able to handle requests in mail as I'm preparing for my end-semester at BIT (birla institute of technology), Mesra in Ranchi.

Wish u all good luck experimenting!

-- Devesh Kumar (deveshcrazy@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.

In pakistan such mpg card are available you just have to find the the rf/efm pin on the cd rom dsp the pin no is usually given in datasheet with the card any how if you face difficulty in finding the pin mail me the brand of your cd rom i am not going to come here again so mail me

-- naseer ahmad khan (naseerak@scientist.com), November 06, 2002.

Hi,

I was looking for same, I have done R & D (Research & Destruction)on some CD-ROM drives.

I am curently using CD- ROM drive as stand alone audio-cd player. I want to convert it to VCD player. I prefer changing whole board , rather than patching.

I want to know make/model of MPEG decoader card which has motor control also.

thanks Sudheer

-- Sudheer (sudheermt@hotmail.com), November 21, 2002.

pls check this site http://www.sector101.fsnet.co.uk/cyberhome/inside/decoder.htm the site says that even you can convert a dvd rom into dvd player without using a computer. but you need to have a decoder board. that i suppose rare in the market. but gove it a try you can make it from a cd rom. open it up and you'll see a dsp chips, match this with the paper given with your MPEG decoder board,and care fully solder this.i'm gonna make this afteer eid then i'll notice you all how i did. thank you.

-- sagar (sohel_sagar@yahoo.com), November 30, 2002.

i have a complete circuit & data sheets & technical diagrams to convert a simple CD-Player to VCD player mail me to get the whole circuit and other data

-- Sukhdeep Singh Sukhi (sukhdeep14@yahoo.com), December 16, 2002.

I have a decoder board using ESS3210 and Ess3207 (not sound card) which can use to convert a CD-Rom drive to VCD player. But you need to locat three signal path DATA, LRCK and BLCK from your CDROM.

-- (tywong888@yahoo.com), December 30, 2002.

hello cd to vcd player is no matter at all.U can go to any electronic spare parts shops in major towns and ask for REPLACEMENT BOARD FOR ORIGNAL BOARD IN LOCAL VCD MP3 ACD PLAYERS(players available there for 1800 indian rs) and the card without remote mdule cost u 550 rs just plug in the rpm monitor(wire startin from a slotted wheel)head connectors motor controls and out puts .Happy viewing Iused a scrapped creative infra and Anshuman replacement board madhu

-- madhu thomas (madhu_msec@yahoo.com), December 31, 2002.

If you know the diagram to cd rom to vcd player then please send me the diagram.

rana

-- Mr.rana (ranarajshahi@yahoo.com), April 20, 2003.

Question I want to knowAre how to make a VCD player out of ordinary CD-ROM drive?

-- Mahabub Alam Ripon (ripons@eudoramail.com), May 24, 2003.

can someone be more clear and specific. I have been trying this for a year and still my rom dosent play any vcd's.

-- Achut (achut_peru@yahoo.com), May 27, 2003.

Hi guys i have been trying out the same using a creative infra cdrom and a c- cube mpeg card it does not work by connecting to the digital out of the cdrom. what u need to know is the RF/EFM out pin of the DSP chip in my case toshiba TC9440F or TC9440AF unfortunately i cannot find a data sheet for any of theese chips on the net if anyone has them please forward them to me

-- Sylvester (sylvester2k1@yahoo.com), July 01, 2003.

Hi All , It seems that 10% people had succedded to achieve it, but no one is providing technical data on this forum , i think they are wasting other's time. If any one wants to make VCd from ordinary VCD , buy an mpeg card, Open ur Cdrom Drive, check out from which IC the Digital audio output comes. Now, note down the IC number. search for that IC's datasheet on internet , in the datasheet the Digital Video stream output pin no will be mentioned. Connect it to Mpeg card and Go ahead. This is the only way, connecting all controlling motors to the card is not wise solution because after siassembling 10 Cddrives, i can say that every Cd drive has different coloured wires and different no of conn. pins. I didnt converted any Cddrive to VCD by the way , but this was a suggestion

regards, Shashank Parab

-- Shashank Parab (shashankp@imsindia.com), November 19, 2003.

I need to be clarified about the pins to use for the conversion. If I'm converting a CD Drive to VCD Player using a card, which cable I have to use to connect. The data cable side or digital audio cable? If its with data cable whats the circuit?. I'm planning to make it by now a days. Please mail me

-- Prasanth Kumar S R (prasanth@greeshmainfo.com), November 21, 2003.

I have Creative Infra4800 CDROM can any one tell me how to connect MPEG CARD TO IT also which make of card i should buy & cost of that card where would i get that card i live in india

-- Santosh Joglekar (sandy_jog81@yahoo.com), December 11, 2003.

If you know the diagram to cd rom to vcd player then please send me the diagram

-- sriharsha (harsha200234@yahoo.com), December 22, 2003.

i am also intrested to convert creative infra 52x to vcd player i connect rf pin or tp to vcd card but card say on display video cd but cant play way any help

-- ejaz ghaffar (ejazjv@yahoo.com), February 28, 2004.