Brett,
Your best bet for this project is to use a "Universal Remote" and train it for the few functions you desire.
Once you have it working, you can build (or have built) your control panel. It would have buttons for the few functions you desire. These should be momentary contact, normally open, S.P.S.T. (single pole single throw) pushbuttons. You can use just about any buttons that you like and mount and label them in your custom enclosure. On yes, make the enclosure large enough to hold the guts of your "universal remote" and a set of batteries.
Then, remove the outer plastic housing on the universal remote and under each of its buttons you will find pads on the circuit board they contacted when pressed. Solder two wires to the pad for one of specific buttons you programmed (and have already tested) to a pushbutton in your enclosure. Test it. Now do he same for each of the remaining buttons.
Lastly, you may need to extend (use longer wires) on the remote's infrared LED so it is located in a spot able to control your equipment. Be aware that it is polarity sensitive, so if you unsolder it from the remote circuit board and extend it with two wires it will not function if you get the two wires transposed. (it won't get damaged, it just will not light up and control anything) If it does not work, transpose the two wires and try again.
This is not an expensive DIY project, but it will take a bit of time to find a set of pushbuttons you like and to make an enclosure to hold them. Don't forget the labels so your guests will know how to advance tracks, etc.
One last thing, unless your Radio Shack is
very different than mine, you are unlikely to find a "Guru" to help you in this project. In fact, they might not even know what a SPST, normally open, momentary contact pushbutton is, even if one is hanging on their parts wall. You are far more likely to find someone who will be happy to sell you a new Cell-telephone. The days when the Radio Shack salesperson knew basic electronics are in the past. (On the other hand, they don't pester you for your phone number any more, so go for it, who knows, perhaps you need a new Cell phone anyway.
)
Unfortunately, I do not know of anything (inexpensive) you could use to train the IR codes other than a "universal remote" You might want to use a "learning" remote so you can teach it the basic functions from the existing remotes. This would be far better, in my opinion, since you will eventually need to teach it different codes when you upgrade your DVD player, etc some day.
Good luck with your project.
Joe L.
PS.
If you do find a guru, try this link for tons of info:
www.epanorama.net/links/irremote.html
