Paul,
I believe you bring up a good point.
A DIY solution should never be undertaken from a position of desperation, i.e., I need to have something working now! I don't know what I need, and I don't know how to do it yet...
That is going to be an exercise in frustration and failure. Far better off getting (buying) a known, working solution. If you don't have alot of money, keep your eyes out on Ebay, Craigslist, etc. and buy something used. Don't bother making it.
Wizards can look at a problem, a bundle of parts and know how to put something together on the fly to solve it...and it works!..well they are the exception. But that is based on years (decades) of experience and deep understanding (and also great resourcefulness in knowing where to find the missing pieces of the puzzle to get it working).
The problem with seeking advice from wizards, is that it IS EASY for them, but they sometimes don't understand how it can be hard for others. For someone used to Linux, command line, Raspberry Pi (or any computer hardware), networking, computer audio, electronics, etc. know what is needed to put a working solution together, they see a path through the constituent parts and can get something working in short order. They naturally think it can be easy for everyone else because it is easy for them. It is really hard to communicate the nuances that differentiate between easy and hard.
A DIY approach also should not be undertaken because it saves money. This is the motivation for many. You can often save money, and a lot of money if you are building something that competes with high-end products, but it is not necessarily cheap to get there. If you are building something on a extremely tight budget, you might find a new or used ready made solution is cheaper. You cannot complete with the cost savings available in large scale production, and certainly the used market.
The better approach to the DIY route is: 1. I want to LEARN!!! REASON NUMBER ONE! 2. I want to build something BETTER that I can buy (or afford to buy). 3. I want something I cannot easily find or get. 4. I have a new idea I want to tryout. 5. I am an artist and want to create.
A good rule of thumb before undertaking any DIY project is to already have a working solution that can hold you until you complete your project. Your successful DIY project should REPLACE that. You need to have the time for learning, for failure, for troubleshooting, and for refinement. If you need to have something working in short order, then you are setting yourself up for a world of trouble, having to use something that is barely functional or even dangerous because of the rush to complete. A DIY project should be enjoyable, even if it can be frustrating at times. You need to have the liberty of walking away, thinking about it, and coming back to it later.
Anyway, got to get back to work.
David
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