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Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

We use the Brightsign units with a GPIO adapter for the buttons.  It's very easy to setup and configure which video's or audio clips it plays when you push a button.  I use them for kiosks as well and we haven't had any major problems with them in the last 8-10 years that we've been using them.  If you ever need any help with them send me a message and I'd be more than happy to help out.

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hi Daniel,

Alcorn McBride sells push button audio equipment Audio Players

or BrightSign BrightSign :: Products

. We also buy a lot from Amazon. We offer a lists of other sources for all things exhibits if you would like to get our report http://www.taylorstudios.com/improve-exhibits-secrets-experts/

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

This may not interest you, but if you're looking for a really inexpensive solution, you can get a Nutone doorbell, the kind that lets you play your own mp3 file. Of course, most homeowners would just put in "Welcome to the Jungle" or some other winky tune, but we recorded a one-minute explanation of the naming of our exhibit hall and uploaded it to the former-doorbell, now-standalone player. The pushbutton itself is wireless so it can be some distance from the doorbell unit. If you want high-fidelity, it's not your answer, but it solved a little problem for us for less than $100.

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

Hello folks,

Has anyone used a push button mechanism to play short audio clips in a museum exhibit?

We are envisioning the museum viewer seeing images of people and then hearing short audio clips when a button below or next to the image is pushed.

If you use such a mechanism, was it designed in house, or was it outsourced to an exhibition designer.

Thanks,

Daniel

As you can see there are several ways to do what you are looking to achieve.  Here is a breakdown of what I have used in the past and what I would recommend, in the end you will need to decide what you want to do.  Most of the options may require so soldering knowledge to make connectors and some level of programming.

Brightsign players: They are reliable and to do what you want possibly the easiest solution, but to just play audio they are too expensive. Also you will need to learn BrightAuthor, its not hard but there is still a learning curve.

Windows PC (Intel NUC, Compute Stick or other types of mini computers): These types of computers can be cheaper, but unlike the Brightsign players they have more flexibility which makes them a better option (in my opinion). Both a PC and Brightsigns can play interactive audio & videos but where the PC will outperform a Brightsign player is in interactive Multimedia, it is far easier to program multimedia an a PC then on a Brightsign; is it far easier to integrate other devices with a PC then a Brightsign, e.g. I use a Micro Arduino to detect motion so I can raise and lower the volume of a video and for about $300 less then an equivalent Brightsign setup which I could not get to work correctly.  As you get more complex with BrightAuthor the harder it is to program.  

To do an Audio Button push on a PC you can get a USB button interface for about $40.00. This will give you 20 buttons and there are mapped using the keyboard numbers 1-20.  There are several ways to program this, you can use a program like Flash or even HTML to play the sounds or you can use a Windows Macro utility that allows you to program any keyboard button to do a task in this case play audio.

Android Mini PC: By far the cheapest option are the Android Mini PCs, I use them as a cheap audio/video players (they cost about $60) I have had one unit playing a video loop for over 3 years without issue and another running a Flash App for about 3 months.  There are a bunch of free apps to do the audio and video loops.  As for push button, I have not tried it but the USB button interface should work because it is technically a joystick with a lot of buttons.  You can also use Flash with AIR to create native Apps or HTML to program these features. 

All of the unites have pros and cons but I find that using a PC gives you the most flexibility for future use and access to other technologies that are not available on a Brightsign.  

Good luck with your decision

Raymond

The two big differences I found between Brightsign and PC applications was whether or not a database had to be used and the space available. If something was simply media (music, images, video), it usually went to a Brightsign.

The space sometimes did not allow a PC. Sometimes due to volume, sometimes due to a lack of ventilation. 

You no longer have issues with lack of space or ventilation with PC.  There are several small (intel NUC) or Micro (also know as Gum stick PCs, Intel Compute Stick) that are smaller then the Brightsign.  You also have the option of fan-less PC which are about the same size of a Brightsign player.  I still can't justify spending $350+ for a Brightsign that will just play music or videos.  You can get more mileage from a PC, once the exhibit is closed and move that PC to do anything else.  I have about 6 Brightsigns sitting here while all my PCs are in use doing other multimedia that a Brightsign can't do.