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pages/2013-03-05-Two-Small-Projects.md

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+title: "Two Small Projects"
+subtitle: "Audio and Arduino"
+
+###Breadboard Arduino
+I didn't really like the arduino when I first heard about it.  It
+was vastly overpowered for any task I saw it used for and with the
+interpreted coding it seemed little more than an expensive waste of
+processor cycles.
+
+Then I went and bought one anyway, and I am happy to admit that I was
+wrong to think it useles.  I remember opening the box, and ten minutes
+later I had used it to solve a problem which had been bothering me for a
+week.  Now I'm thinking of getting a third one.
+
+The one I use the most is an Arduino nano, which can be seen sitting on
+my breadboard in this photo from a previous post
+![Z80 tester wiring](/media/img/z80_tester.png)
+
+This placement worked well, but I kept thinking about the big open area
+just to the left of the Arduino...
+
+So, one day I brought out the dremel and... perfect fit!
+![Arduino breadboard](/media/img/mini_project_arduino_breadboard2.png)
+
+To the sides are an IC holder I split in half and soldered on the back.
+![Arduino soldering](/media/img/mini_project_arduino_breadboard1.png)
+
+It was a bit tricky to avoid melting the plastics, but I think it turned
+out allright.
+
+Finally, heres a picture of it in use for studying the timings of an SD
+card for my Z80 computer.
+![Arduino in use](/media/img/mini_project_arduino_breadboard4.png)
+
+###Mac mini headset adapter
+I use a Mac mini (mid 2011) as my main desktop computer. I wanted
+to connect a headset to it for skyping, but found out that the only
+connections are Audio out and Line in.
+
+The Audio out port, however, allows you to connect an
+iPhone headset and use its microphone with the computer.
+That gave me an idea, and after some searching I found
+[this](http://benttronics.blogspot.se/2009/05/audio-breakout-cable-for-i
+podiphone.html).
+
+Once again I heated the soldering iron and got this:
+![Headset adapter](/media/img/mini_project_headset_adapter.png)
+
+Let me tell you, that four-pole connector is one tight fit.
+
+The top two connectors are wired in parallell and allows me to have both
+my speakers and my headset connected at the same time. It's easy enough
+to just turn off the speakers when I don't need them and I wont ever
+have to dig around behind the computer to connect the headset.