Hey, I have a question that might sound a bit silly, but I’m wondering if it’s possible to get a car stereo (one with pixelated visuals) and code your own designs into it? I’m not sure how this would work, just curious if it’s even a thing. Also, I’m wondering if you could set audio commands or triggers for it, like making the stereo greet you when you turn the car on, maybe like something from the Batmobile. I know the easy way to do something like this might be using Siri or something, but I was still curious if there’s a better way to make this happen. Let me know if there’s another forum where this would be a better question. Thanks!
This might be tricky since a lot of those stereos aren’t really designed to let you write data to them. If you want that pixelated aesthetic, maybe consider using an LCD screen that fits a single-din receiver. You could connect that to a motherboard that supports an SD card for video playback. Check out tutorials on YouTube and Adafruit for the parts you’ll need. You could 3D print or laser-cut a faceplate that fits your screen and board into the single-din size. If you’re working with a double-din space, you could stack it on top of a single-din and pop it in your dash. You might need to remove an ashtray or modify the dash bezel depending on your car model. It’s a good idea to keep the SD card slot easy to reach in case you want to change the graphic later. After that, it’s all about creating a video sequence for the screen. Programs like DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro will let you make videos with pixelated effects. Hope this helps!
@Auden
Thank you so much!!! This is such a great idea, I appreciate the suggestion. I just bought my first car, a 2011 Toyota Rav4, and I’m looking for ways to customize it (including adding Bluetooth)! Also, just to clarify, I’m a girl :3
@Quinlan
Edit: Hope this helps! I’m driving a 1991 Toyota Crown (imported from Japan) and working on my own stereo setup. I’ve even thought about installing a stereo head unit in a place like the glove box or hidden in the center console. If your car doesn’t have a ‘double-din’ slot, this might be an option for you. Most stereo harnesses use color-coded wires, so you could extend the harness wire by wire to put the stereo wherever you want. Just cut the wire, strip it, and solder the new wire to the old one. Make sure the colors match, and you’ll have your receiver wherever the wire can reach! This way, you could have a cool graphic on the dash while the stereo controls are hidden under the seat or in another spot. It might not be the ‘proper’ way, but creativity pays off!
If you’re using an Android-based unit, you should have a lot of options for customizing the launcher and UI. If not, your choices might be more limited.