BRZ Custom Remote Audio Controls
 

Just finished making and installing a set of remote switches for controlling various functions of the stock BRZ headunit:

http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/Final.jpg

I really wanted steering wheel controls, but after weighing all of my options, this seemed like the best compromise. The case and buttons are 3-D printed and painted Satin Nickel. Icons were created in Illustrator, printed on waterslide decals and then covered with an acrylic clear coat. Circuit board was just a piece of protoboard that I cut out in the shape of the controller and installed the switches and various resistors on. The connector is a repurposed computer power connector. If there's any other clarification needed or questions, ask away!

Huge thanks to @nalc and others who posted up their findings with the stock head unit, pinouts and resistor values.

Additional pics:

Circuit Board:
http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/CircuitBoard.jpg

Prototype:

http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/Prototype2.jpg

Prototype Installed:

http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/..._Prototype.jpg

Underside:

http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/boot_underside.jpg

Painted case with icons:

http://s170010772.onlinehome.us/BRZ/...d_w_Icons2.jpg

Wow what an amazing home brew sort of a project! Came out looking really well.

Does your hand normally sit around that area as you drive? I imagine after a while your fingers would find the appropriate control easily.

Thanks, it's been a drastic improvement in the functionality of the stock system :)

For me, the controller works out very well ergonomically as my hand naturally rests right in that area. The ridges do a good job of preventing accidental button pushes and the offset center button makes it easy to find the correct button without looking down.

Nice. I did the same thing. Tho sometimes my track/volume up buttons don't respond right away for some reason

If I didn't have the heated seat switches there, I definitely would have used that area for placement, as well.

U cud always relocate them lik jive turkey did

@reallifeonhold - What did you use for the button labels? They look pretty clean.

The labels are waterslide decals that I printed with a laser printer. The designs were created in Illustrator. After application, I sealed them with an acrylic clear coat.

This man knows what he's doing. Great job!

Haha, thanks! It was a fun project.

haha those are cool credits for that!! but... the head unit is not even far so.. lol for fun DIY!!

You FR-S guys have no idea how truly horrible the stock BRZ headunit is to use. If it had come with physical buttons, this thread probably wouldn't exist.

Wait woah I thought the brz had the same head unit? @_@


just checked lol your dilemma sorry

Nope. The BRZ unit has no [useful] physical buttons:
http://services.edmunds-media.com/im.../BRZ_Audio.jpg

lul damn that killed it hm?

You think thats bad, try the Canadian BRZ head unit. It just sucks! The touchscreen is crap, really slow to respond. The GUI is ugly and poorly laid out. The NAV data is WAY out of date and very expensive to update. Not to mention the completely ghetto installation of the microphone, clipped to the edge of headliner!

Attachment 136564

woah what? it's double din with a fitment kit? geez