This document provides information about the Convergence Jukebox software. It is written in Python and can run on Windows and Raspberry Pi systems. The jukebox software includes three Python programs that initialize hardware, create a database of MP3 files, and provide a graphical user interface. Key features include supporting an unlimited music library size, automatic song detection, different music genres and styles, song queueing and payment, and log generation. The jukebox displays song details and uses various Python libraries for playback and RSS feed generation.

1. www.convergencejukebox.com

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wallbox jukebox
arcade 8 jukebox - (macromedia movie!!!)
http://www.arcadejukebox.net

3. www.convergencejukebox.com
written in python 2.7
(cross platform) and
licensed with a GNU
V3 General Public
License

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original usb keypads used in windows
version (with auto hotkey)
X-keys® XK-24 programmable keypad
http://xkeys.com

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original installation 2013
weavefuture coin acceptor ak5
with usb jukebox interface board
http://www.weavefuture.com
christmas 2015

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python code runs on windows and raspian wheezy

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“just works” raspian image available for download

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● three python programs.
○ convergencejukebox.py
■ ensures hardware is compatible.
■ initializes resolution, required folders, music and datafiles.
○ convergenceplayer.py
■ creates database of mp3 music.
■ plays music in endless loop.
○ convergencegui.py
■ graphical interface (TkInter).
■ user interface.
○ gui and player communicate by generating and reading data files.
how convergence jukebox works

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● creates python list (array) of mp3’s.
○ each mp3 is assigned a number
○ most software manipulation involves mp3 number only.
how convergence jukebox works

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● multiple display resolutions and skins.
● jukebox name or service at top of arch can be customized.
features

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● unlimited mp3 library size.
● field version running over 10,000 mp3 files.
○ HP MINI 210 PC that contains an atom N450 processor, 1024
MB of memory and a 160.0 GB hard drive.
● raspberry pi versions running 9400 mp3 files
○ tested on raspberry pi 1 model B revision 2 with 512 MB ram, a
raspberry pi 2 and raspberry pi zero.
○ 64.0 GB SD card to hold music.
features

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● automatic song detection.
○ MP3 library database is built automatically when additional
properly formed ID3 tagged files are added to the music folder
and the program is restarted.
○ see “building an mp3 library” on website
■ rejects mp3 if unicode in ID3 tag
■ eg. Motley Crue vs Mötley Crüe
■ ö - 19th letter of the Turkish alphabet
■ not ascii
features

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features - ID3 tags (metadata engine)

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features - ID3 tags (metadata engine)
● does not make use of genre tag to identify genre
o could not find standard to genre naming
o genre tag only allows for one genre
● Convergence Jukebox makes use of the Comments tag for Genre.

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● background music system.
○ plays library loaded in jukebox in a continuous manner randomly.
● different styles of music.
○ mp3’s can be tagged with genres.
○ random play can be set to play specific genres by altering a simple text
file. (genre_flags.txt)
features

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features
plays mp3’s tagged with classicrock, newwave, newcountry, modernrock and modernpop randomly first.
plays mp3’s by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Paul Anka, Nancy Sinatra between the years of
1960 to 1969 randomly first.

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● songs can be skipped.
○ "norandom" tags mean mp3 will never play randomly.
● avoids repeating the same songs continuously.
○ mp3’s on the random list are only played once during a random play
cycle.
● automatic resetting of random list.
○ random list is reset when the software is rebooted or all songs have been
played once randomly.
features

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● clearly identified songs.
○ while song is playing, song title and artist are
displayed prominently under the jukebox
arch.
○ detailed song information is shown in the
green display
○ includes
■ year released
■ song length
■ album name
○ pulled from the ID3 tags.
features

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● convergence jukebox plays paid songs as a
priority.
○ paid songs are listed as upcoming selections.
● users cannot select song if it’s on the upcoming
selections list.
● songs played via selection are removed from the
random playlist
● random play resumes once user selected songs
have completed playing.
● number of credits, cost per credit and the number
of songs available in the library are displayed.
features

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● users navigate through music using
up/down/left/right keys.
● users can select navigation by either title or
artist.
● users can navigate to the alphabetical start of
either artist or title using letter keys that
employ multiple keypresses.
features

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● log generation.
○ songs played randomly.
○ paid songs.
○ time jukebox is rebooted
○ when songs are added
○ when a new random list is generated.
● undocumented code
○ using dropbox folder to providing rss
feeds for digital signage systems.
○ to tweet to twitter accounts making the
jukebox useful as a global barker system.
features

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● Hsaudiotag – reads mp3 ID3 tags.
● ctypes – used in Windows version to play mp3
files through Windows Media Control
Interface. (Thanks Jim Lawless)
● mpg321 – used to play mp3 in Raspberry Pi
(Wheezy) version.
● PyRSS2Gen – used to generate RSS feeds.
beyond the python standard library

23. github.com/bradfortner/convergence_jukebox
www.convergencejukebox.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bfortner
www.bradfortner.com