Simple Music Player for people with dementia and similar problems with cognizance

The most asked question is ...

 

I use an Apple MAC. I've deleted some files but they still play. How do I delete them? 
This is easy, but its to do with how Apple works and nothing to do with the Simple Music Player or any other standard MP3 player for that matter.
1. Drag unwanted tracks to the Trash
2. Empty the trash with the player still connected to the computer
If this doesn't work for your particular version of iOS, we've prepared an Apple application note.

I plug my USB cable in but my computer doesn't recognise it as a device

 

Turn the power off to the music player before you plug the USB cable in. Then plug in your computer and only after you've made this physical connection, switch the power back on. The Music Player decides at power up if it is just a player, or its a USB device, so just plugging the cable in does nothing.

How many tunes can be uploaded? 

 

The internal memory is set at a minimum of 4GB or 'far more than you probably need'. Obviously the length of individual songs, and the file format has an influence on the capacity but typically this can be 1500 - 2000 songs (over three days worth of continual play, which then loops back to the beginning). To some extent this is an academic question since most people with dementia are more than happy with a much smaller songlist of say 25 to 40 familiar tunes.

(Apple MAC and Windows 10 users)"I've reformatted the drive and now it doesn't play anything, even the tunes that came with it" 

 

Make sure you reformat as an MSDOS-FAT or FAT32 device; exFAT will not work. The player is not an apple device so it can't read iOS formatted discs so you must reformat the player and choose an MSDOS-FAT format option, not an Apple iOS format. An application note is available.

Does it upload from Apple devices? 

 

'Yes', Simple Music Players have an Apple compatible USB interface. It can handle the .mp3 file format directly from iTunes (Please note that it is not an Apple device so it cannot play 'Apple protected' .m4p downloads, nor .m4a files, neither can it synchronise in iTunes like an iPod).

I haven't got files in MP3 format. What do I do? 

 

MP3 is a generic term for this type of player; the Simple Music Player can handle file formats listed below:

• .mp3 "MP3 format sound"
• .ogg "OGG Vorbis"

There are many free file converters which can be downloaded from the internet, which convert your music into MP3 format. Don’t be too concerned about which version of MP3 file you have, the ’Simple Music Player’ handles them all. However, for best results convert you files into mono and choose a higher bit rate (greater than 125kHz). Below is a short list of third party providers (we have no responsibility for their operation)

• Koyotesoft
• Online-convert.com
• DVDVideoSoft
• NCH Switch MP3

What filenames can I use for the tunes? 

 

Some applications, particularly iTunes, generate a huge amount of unnecessary files with complex filenames. Many of these are unnecessary and some actually cause problems as they are not really MP3 format files.
When naming files avoid using none alphabetical or numeric characters such as !"£$%^&*():@~;'#<>?,./
Also, iTunes often creates files starting with ._ and ending with .mp3 These need to be deleted as they are not MP3 files.

Does it work in USA/UK/Europe/Asia/Australia? 

 

Units are supplied anywhere in the world. They are configured to have the correct mains adapter to suit the despatch address on our order.

Can it use headphones? 

 

There is a headphone socket provided in the rear of the unit. Plugging in headphones immediatly cuts out the main speaker. The socket is the light green one, the same as on your computer.

How can I load the tunes in a particular order? 

 

The human question is 'why does a particular order give benefit?'. As the tunes play in a continuous loop and start from where you last stopped, then playing order becomes less relevant. Our research suggests song order tends to be a perceived need of the cognizant helper, not the person with dementia. However ...
The Music Player simply looks for tunes in the order in which the tunes are stored. This is not how the tunes appear on your computer, as what you are actually doing is looking at a list of those files presented to you in a particular order that your computer's preferences have decided. If, for example, you changed the view settings, you could see it in reverse alphabetical, date, file type, etc. - the presentation of the list would change, but the files would still be stored in the same place (be that on your Music Player or your Computer). The Music Player doesn't order the tunes in any way; it finds the first tune in its memory, then the next, then the next, etc., regardless of its name.
If playing order is of vital relevance, such as a talking book for example, then:
1) Make sure all the tunes you want to load onto the player are copied somewhere safe on your computer
2) Reformat the Simple Music Player's memory (point to it, right click, then select 'format' as FAT32). This will erase everything on the Music Player's memory.
3) Copy each tune in the order that you want it to be played; one by one

Dad can't move his hands very much. Is there anyway he can use it? 

 

We have provided two sockets in the back panel which over-ride the ’ON/OFF’ and ’NEXT TRACK’ controls. Switches from OT suppliers are readily available but please remember this does require a higher level of cognizance to operate than many people with dementia. Please read our guide Using Remote Switches

When I use remote switches it stops when I press switch but starts when I release is again? 

 

You have the main lid open. To use external or remote switches you need the lid to be in the down position.

Can the tunes be preloaded? 

 

We used to provide this as a service on an earlier model, but loading is now very straightforwards and we no longer offer it as a standard service. If you would still like us to program your ’Simple Music Player’ with your music, just communicate with us at the point of order and we'll be happy to sort it out for you at a nominal charge.

Why is the burr-walnut version more expensive? 

 

We have to use a special technique and a more expensive production process to achieve this attractive finish. The casing is vacuum formed not injection moulded for the burr-walnut version.