Custom Sounds for the NXT
I realize that sound files eat up memory in the NXT Brick, but if anyone out there is creating custom sound effects for their robots, I'd like to hear about how you are doing it. What software do you use? What equipment is required? Is there a way to minimize the size of the files? How do you download it to your Brick? Any other advice?
Comments
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
As far as I know, the Dialog OS software generates speech from a computer, which is outputted from the computer via speakers. The NXT is used here for applications such as outputting movements controlled from the software, but the NXT is not used to generate speech from the software.
However, I haven't yet tried the software, but I think I will buy it. Has anyone purchased it yet? If so, how does it work for you?
Kirk
Then I shift one of the defaul tound files in NXT-G with the new one. =)
Here's some tips:
Once you have created a RSO file you need to copy it to the proper directory to use it with NXT-G. The directory is: C:\Program Files\LEGO Software\LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT\engine\Sounds
Once the file is there you can choose it in your sound blocks.
Most music programs will be complex or at least require large sound file sizes. The NXT brick contains a number of programs and files preinstalled which take up about half of the available memory space. These files can be removed and reinstalled with no consequence. Reinstalling the NXT Firmware will completely restore the onboard software.
I recommend maximizing onboard memory space by:
• Downloading the newest firmware using the NXT-G software.
• Deleting unused programs.
• Deleting unused sound and graphic files.
• Deleting preinstalled files and programs. You should try to remove all of the Demo programs and unneeded sound files (NXT pwr on sound, click, etc.)
• Create subroutines to reduce the number of programming blocks needed.
• Create programs with Mini Blocks when possible.
For detailed information about deleting files from your NXT brick as well as how to manage NXT memory and firmware downloads please read the LEGO MindStorms NXT Users Guide or by activating the Help functions within the NXT-G Software.
Chris
Chris
Chris
Find it here.
Make your NXT Talk!
Or, just record your voice as WAV files with Sound Recorder.
Chris
David, how would you describe the process to one of your students or parents?
Does anyone know anything about doing this on the Mac?
1) Get animal sounds off of iTunes. (There are lots of them).
2) Since the sound files on iTunes are AAC/MPEG 4, put your iTunes files on a disk to convert them to mp3, then to wav.
3) Convert your wav files to .rso files using wav2rso or some other utility.
There are probably more efficient ways to do the above, but it's possible.
Recording just a snippet of the animal sound saves space on your NXT, although wav2rso is notorious for making large sound files.
Chris, I'd be real interested in any sound compression utilities that you discover.
Rick
This means that a little more space will be freed up for animal sounds, musical sounds, etc.
Rick
I forgot to mention that wav2rso is for the Mac as well as for the PC. :)
Rick
I'm writing a good tutorial and will map out everything from freeing NXT space (and returning the NXT to "as new"), creating sound files, converting, resampling, loading sound files, etc. I'll cover everything and even compare s/w and process choices.
Rick, et al...There is a MAC OS version of Wav2Rso available Here. Scroll down and you'll see it.
Chris
Awhile back, my son and I were making rso files using wav2rso.
We noticed that the files were much softer in volume than the sound files that came with NXT-G. (Someone else in this thread mentioned this problem, too).
Is there a way to make these converted files as loud as the ones native to NXT-G? For example, do other sound conversion programs (other than wav2rso) produce louder files?
Rick
You may want to try using commercial tools that can change a stereo, 16 bit wave file with much higher sampling rates into the required 8 bit mono 8k format first and then use the output of that conversion as the input to wav2rso or wavrsocvt. Commercial utilities may do a better job of that part of the conversion process.
All versions of this utility will support compression in conjunction with the upcoming 1.1 software release. Version 1.5 of the standard NXT firmware supports compressed .rso files.
John Hansen
The "1.5" firmware update you mentioned is the yet-to-be-released "1.05" firmware update, correct?
I assume this 1.05 firmware update will be released simultaneously with the 1.1 NXT-G software release. Is this correct?
Rick Rhodes
John saved me some trouble. But I think I'll compare it a little.
Chris
Alex S.