Introduction: NES Controller MP3 Player
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About: Normally I use the handle Windcalmer online. Every other project I have done and posted online is under the Windcalmer name. This account was made long before I adopted that name.
So a while back I saw where someone had done a NES controller mod and turned it into a MP3 player. This is my version of this mod. Hope you like it.
BTW, I used a Coby 512MB MP3 player.
And check out www.straightrazorplace.com if you get a chance. Its a great place.
Here is a video of it playing with the speakers I made for it.
BTW, I used a Coby 512MB MP3 player.
And check out www.straightrazorplace.com if you get a chance. Its a great place.
Here is a video of it playing with the speakers I made for it.
Step 1: Tools Needed...
O.K. if your gonna do this one you will need a few things.
Dremel or similar tool
Multimeter
Soldering Iron
Flux
Solder
Wire cutters
Needle nose pliers
Low heat glue gun
Spare wire, a few paper clips, wire ties...just the usual crap for improvising. LOL
Dremel or similar tool
Multimeter
Soldering Iron
Flux
Solder
Wire cutters
Needle nose pliers
Low heat glue gun
Spare wire, a few paper clips, wire ties...just the usual crap for improvising. LOL
Step 2: Opening the Case and Getting to the Guts of the Matter...
Take a deep breath and pull apart your MP3 player, and the NES controller ((which for the rest of the instructable will be referred to as the NESC)).
There will be some small screws. Just go slow and take your time. Make sure that you keep all of them for later use should you need them.
There will be some small screws. Just go slow and take your time. Make sure that you keep all of them for later use should you need them.
Step 3: Cleaning Out the NESC...
To make room for everything to fit you will need to use the dremel to clean out some of the plastic from inside the NESC.
Step 4: Stripping the MP3 Player
Time to put the MP3 player on a diet...
Desolder the USB, headphone jack, and the power connectors.
DO NOT TAKE THE LED OFF YET!!!
Desolder the USB, headphone jack, and the power connectors.
DO NOT TAKE THE LED OFF YET!!!
Step 5: Cutting Up the NESC Case...
In order to fit everything in and have it all look and function well you will need to spend some time with the dremel and a pair of safety glasses.
Now depending on the headphone connector you have you may or may not need to cut out the hole we talked about earlier. i ended up having to drill it out a bit, but you may not need to. Just see if it fits and go from there.
Now depending on the headphone connector you have you may or may not need to cut out the hole we talked about earlier. i ended up having to drill it out a bit, but you may not need to. Just see if it fits and go from there.
Step 6: How Will We Know If It on or Off???
I thought of that too!
First measure from teh top and from the side of the NESC to the "O" in nintendo.
Now carefully take the sticker off the front of the NESC.
Next use the measurements from step one to mark the hole location on the inside of the controller.
Drill a hole the same size as the "O".
Put the sticker back on and check to make sure that it lines up so that the "O" will light up when the led does.
First measure from teh top and from the side of the NESC to the "O" in nintendo.
Now carefully take the sticker off the front of the NESC.
Next use the measurements from step one to mark the hole location on the inside of the controller.
Drill a hole the same size as the "O".
Put the sticker back on and check to make sure that it lines up so that the "O" will light up when the led does.
Step 7: Fattening the MP3 Player Up a Bit...
Now it is time to add some stuff back on. We will be adding the USB jack, headphone jack, and the power wires.
Step 8: Putting It All Together...
O.K. if you are still with me after this long then you can make it to the end. LOL
We now need to wire up the buttons. This part is really precise work. The solder points are very small and if your hands shake then you might want to get a calmer person to do this part.
Just go slow and take a break if you need to.
Now we are only putting the wire on in this step. We are not hooking the wire to the tactile switches yet, just to the MP3 player.
We now need to wire up the buttons. This part is really precise work. The solder points are very small and if your hands shake then you might want to get a calmer person to do this part.
Just go slow and take a break if you need to.
Now we are only putting the wire on in this step. We are not hooking the wire to the tactile switches yet, just to the MP3 player.
Step 9: Getting Tactile...
First, go take a break. Get some coffee, smoke a cigarette, play with...just take a break.
O.K. back from your break. Feeling good? Alright, lets continue.
We need to get out tactile switches to stay in place and function well for a long time. It took me forever to figure this out and its really the only part of this that I feel like is a real breakthrough. The pictures are pretty self explanatory, but I will fill in some of the blanks for you.
After you get everything glued in check that each of the tactile switches works freely and is not pressed down too far. Use a multimeter for this.
O.K. back from your break. Feeling good? Alright, lets continue.
We need to get out tactile switches to stay in place and function well for a long time. It took me forever to figure this out and its really the only part of this that I feel like is a real breakthrough. The pictures are pretty self explanatory, but I will fill in some of the blanks for you.
After you get everything glued in check that each of the tactile switches works freely and is not pressed down too far. Use a multimeter for this.
Step 10: Finishing Up.
O.K. all that is left is to take the LED off the board and wire it up.
Just desolder the LED and then hook it back up. MAKE SURE that you hook it back up in the right polarity. If you get it wrong it will not light up.
Solder the battery up and test the everything.
If it all works well and the switches work then you are free to glue anything loose down and put the case together.
Just desolder the LED and then hook it back up. MAKE SURE that you hook it back up in the right polarity. If you get it wrong it will not light up.
Solder the battery up and test the everything.
If it all works well and the switches work then you are free to glue anything loose down and put the case together.
Step 11: DONE!!!
You should now have a working NES Controller MP3 player for under $30.
Enjoy and feel free to ask me if you have a problem.
Enjoy and feel free to ask me if you have a problem.