Control Computer's Sound Levels?

nyfael · Apr 28, 2011

I am trying to create a new Tasker profile that turns off my computer's sound when any of my "Favorites" call me, so that if I leave my phone next to my computer while music is playing, it will shut off and I can hear it ring.

I've seen many applications control your computer in other aspects, it seems that sound levels has not happened yet -- does anyone know how this would be possible? Or if this has already been done?

Thanks!

-Kerry

sitlet · Apr 28, 2011

I'm not exactly sure how the phone can control what happens on your computer...

Tumeg · Apr 28, 2011

sitlet said:
I'm not exactly sure how the phone can control what happens on your computer...

I'm sure it's not an impossible thing to do, seeing as how there are apps that can wake-up your computer, and also control iTunes on your computer through your phone.
I'm sure all it takes is a dev who is willing - and I'm sure the OP's request can become a reality.

I also must add that I am interested in the same thing as the OP. Something to mute\pause music (really I just need it to pause\mute iTunes, which should make it easier to do? Maybe?) when certain people are calling. Even if it is a stand-alone app (not involved with Tasker), I would be willing to pay for it...

nyfael · Apr 28, 2011

@sitlet -- Tumeg is correct.

I have Gmote, remote for iTunes, there's also an app called "Control Computer" which has things like Shutdown, restart computer, etc. etc. I simply need volume control.

The other option I'm thinking about is possibly using Tasker + DropBox on your phone, then using:
DropBox + AutoHotKey (AHK) on your computer:
Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done

Thoughts, Tumeg?

Tumeg · Apr 28, 2011

Rather than having an app mute my sound, I found one to deliver notifications to my computer when I am receiving a call, or a text.

Next best thing?

https://market.android.com/details?id=org.damazio.notifier&feature=search_result

Now I just need a way to have Tasker activate this app, when I need it to (it only works over WiFi, but I'm not sure what it does when WiFi is off)

EDIT (3:53pm): This app, combined with "Browsix" = A pretty great fix\solution to your "problem"...
As for the DropBox + AutoHotKey, that actually sounds like a possibility... However, I'm not a very tech-savvy person, and I won't be able to configure that setup to alter audio\itunes settings, unless I have a step-by-step guide in front of me ;p

EDIT (3:56pm):http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=148405
Wow, I almost have it working! I'll post the instructions, once I am done.

EDIT (4:12pm): Ugh. I'm running in to a problem - it says to edit the autohotkey script, then save it, and wait the amount of time for it to "kick in" on your computer. The only problem is, I can't open the script on my phone (the file type is not supported). I can't even find a way to edit the script using the DropBox website, which that article says is possible to do - maybe I am missing something?

Here is the code:

Lifehacker said:
;
; Script Function:
; Controls both iTunes and Windows Media Player using hotkeys.
; Functions when maximized, minimized to taskbar, or minimized to system tray.
;
; Controls
; Play/Pause Ctrl-Shift P
;

Send, ^+p

^+p::
DetectHiddenWindows,On
ControlSend, ahk_parent, {space}, iTunes ahk_class iTunes
PostMessage, 0x111, 32808, 0,, ahk_class WMPlayerApp
return

I just need a way to edit the script file (*.ahk) remotely. So far, I am only able to edit it on my desktop and on the desktop Dropbox app - not on the website app (which, like I said, the Lifehacker article said you can edit it through the website Dropbox interface\app, but I cannot find a way to do so)

EDIT (4:17pm): Looks like it may not work, after-all

You’ll need Dropbox and AutoHotkey installed on both computers for this method.

EDIT (4:48pm): My brother is a programmer (somewhat), and I have asked him to try and work on a solution for us.

He is going to start with trying to find a way to get something in Dropbox to pause\mute your computer (Tasker would trigger the Dropbox file, which would trigger the app), and if that goes well, he will make an app for Android as-well as for your computer that will work together, and hopefully be quicker than Tasker>DropBox>Computer.

EDIT (5:19pm): Alright, so I got the Tasker task setup - It will upload the script to the folder\directory where AutoHotKey expects the script to be, in order for it to work.
It would be nice if I could get AutoHotKey to automatically play the script, when it appears (I have posted a question on the AutoHotKey forums, seeing if they can help me figure this out). If this doesn't work, then that Android Notifier app will have to do...

EDIT (5:53pm): Just realized that Tasker can\will communicate with Android Notifier (it can only enable\disable it)! Which means I am no longer going to try and get this AutoHotKey thing to work. ;p

nyfael · Apr 28, 2011

Wow! You went through some extensive efforts.. .and so did I, because I didn't realize you were doing all that. I went down a similar path, and made my work for me.

I'll explain what I did in just a second -- Android Notifier, the one you linked to: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.damazio.notifier&feature=search_result ?

Curious how you will get yours to work?

Okay, now, my solution, it's pretty specific yet very customizable.
Android: Tasker
Computer: Digsby, AutoHotKey
I setup 2 AIM accounts

Tasker, when receiving a call, sends a text message to AIM which then sends an IM to my computer.

My computer is running my AHK script which is simply waiting for that message to popup from my username, as soon as it does, it reads the log file that Digsby creates.

It finds the word that was sent, and then can do any action that AHK can do (which is just about anything).

AHK mutes and unmutes my computer.

------

I would love to see your final solution -- the main thing that would make this better for me is if there was a better way to directly communicate with my computer, rather than sending a text message, which is interpreted as an IM, and then I have to read the log file that is created.

I can give the code if anyone wants it. I'd like to see it grow and see what options can come about. I've named it Project Jeeves (kind of playing off Jeeves and Project Jarvis)

Tumeg · Apr 28, 2011

Wow.
Very creative route, you went in!
Can you post the AHK code? I would like to try and find a different way to trigger it, though yours certainly isn't a bad one

And yes, I have told my brother about Android Notifier, and he is now going to try and make a simple app for my computer that will mute the volume, once Android Notifier (and Growl) send the notification to my computer. This should be a simpler task for him, assuming it is as easy as it sounds...

nyfael · Apr 28, 2011

That would be great!

This isn't complete, but its working under my setup. I removed the full file path to my folders simply because I don't want that data posted online -- but I left the end on.

Code:

;
; AutoHotkey Version: 1.x
; Language:       English
; Platform:       Win9x/NT
; Author:         Kerry Jones <Kerry.Jones@earthlink.net>
;
; Script Function:
;    Acts as a controller based on instant messages
;

#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
fileLocation = C:\[...]\%A_YYYY%-%A_MM%-%A_DD%.html

; Get the time of the last update
FileGetTime, fileDateTime, %fileLocation%

; This program will stay active
Loop
{
    ; Digsby will popup a ProjectJeeves window
    WinWait, ProjectJeeves
    {
        ; Activate that window, and close it
        WinActivate, ProjectJeeves
        Send ^w
        
        ; Loop until the log of the command has been done
        Loop
        {
            ; Get the time of the file
            FileGetTime, changeFileTime, %fileLocation%
            
            ; If it has changed, then go on
            if changeFileTime > %fileDateTime%
            {
                ; Read the updated file
                FileRead, xml, C:\[...]\%A_YYYY%-%A_MM%-%A_DD%.html
                
                ; Get the command
                RegExMatch( xml, ">([^<]*)<.span><.div>\s$", command )
                StringReplace, command, command, </span></div>`n
                StringReplace, command, command, >    
                
                ; Execute command
                If command = mute
                {
                    ; Mute the computer
                    SoundSet, 0
                    Sleep, 1000
                }
                Else If command = unmute
                {
                    ; Unmute the computer
                    SoundSet, 100
                    Sleep, 1000
                }
                Else 
                {
                    ; If something was sent that we don't understand
                    MsgBox Jeeves does not understand command: %command%
                }
                
                ; Update the standard time
                fileDateTime := changeFileTime
                
                ;; Break out of this loop
                break
            }
        
            ; It will be updated very fast, check every 1/10 of a seconds
            Sleep, 100
        }
    }
}

Brucew0617 · Apr 29, 2011

That's really a high technology

sonofaresiii · Apr 29, 2011

see, this is why I love Android. Want your iphone to do something it can't? Too bad! Want your Android to do something it can't? Get creative.

Control Computer's Sound Levels?

nyfael

Lurker

sitlet

Banned

Tumeg

Android Enthusiast

nyfael

Lurker

Tumeg

Android Enthusiast

nyfael

Lurker

Tumeg

Android Enthusiast

nyfael

Lurker

Brucew0617

Banned

sonofaresiii

Android Enthusiast