Looking to control all functions of a CD player, any suggestions?

[HappMatt]

I am working on a project and would like to be able to control the many functions of a standard computer CD player. For example I would like to be able to control the speed of rotation, the position of the sensor/laser , when the laser fires and when the computer reads the photo diode, if I could see the value of the photo diode that would be even better though I really only expect on/off data. I am not really a computer programmer and so I am trying to figure out what I need to learn in order to figure out how to do this. I have some programming experience and if all else fails I can build something that does this though I would really like to take advantage of the existing technology as much as possible. Thus if anyone has any suggestions on sites to look at, books ,or journals or ways in which I can work towards doing this that would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Future Bruno]

for your question. It sounds like you are looking to use software to control the functions of a standard computer CD player. The first step is to determine what type of CD player you have, as different players may require different software. Once you have identified the model of your CD player, you should check with the manufacturer to see if they offer any software or drivers that can be used to control the player. If they do not, then you will need to find a third-party software solution that can be used to control the player. Depending on the model of your CD player, you may be able to find a program that allows you to control the speed of rotation, the position of the sensor/laser, when the laser fires and when the computer reads the photo diode. In addition, there are some programs that can give you the value of the photo diode. Finally, if you are comfortable with coding, you may be able to create a custom program using languages such as C++, Java, or Python to control the CD player. You can find tutorials online to help you get started. Good luck!