Lights blink to the beat?

Discussion in 'General Hardware' started by Exfoliate, Aug 27, 2005.

  1. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    The same friend I'm building a computer for had this idea that you could configure a bunch of LED lights to blink to the beat of his music. I told him it's very unlikely you'll find any software for this and neither of us would have any chance at screwing around with a bunch of LED's and getting to to work like that but it's his computer. So do any of you know of any way to do this? Hardware or software methods of course. Thanks.
     
    Exfoliate, Aug 27, 2005
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  2. Nic

    Nic Sleepy Head

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    can you not programme a PIC chip to do it?? We scraped the surface of PIC chips in electronics and we had LEDs that went on and off in time with the song.
     
    Nic, Aug 27, 2005
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  3. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    You could get a cold cathode tube (which is basically just a big LED). They make some which are sound responsive, and you can change the sensitivity with a built-in potentiometer.
     
    Anti-Trend, Aug 27, 2005
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  4. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    Wow sounds pretty sweet. Build in potentiometer? Is that included with the light you say? Do you know where I could get any?
    Sorry Nic what are PIC chips?
    Thank you both though, I never thought it would be that easy:)
     
    Exfoliate, Aug 27, 2005
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  5. Addis

    Addis The King

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    Winamp has a beat thing when you play music. The PIC will only work with digital signals, not analog frequencies.
     
    Addis, Aug 27, 2005
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  6. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    Okay, so get Winamp and some sound sensitive cathode tubes, cool. Thanks.
     
    Exfoliate, Aug 27, 2005
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  7. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    Exfoliate, Aug 27, 2005
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  8. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    I always recommend Newegg for such things, but I digress. :)
     
    Anti-Trend, Aug 27, 2005
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  9. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

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    I myself have a Sunbeam 12" blue cathode and can only recommend it!
    It's a fantastic tube and is highly responsive, lights up the whole room!
     
    pelvis_3, Aug 28, 2005
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  10. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    i've got some cold cathode tubes on order with my PSU and AeroCool GateWatch LCD fan thingy....i dont think they're sound response though, oh well i'll try and find a kit that is (and has 2 cathode tubes) so i can have 4 cathode tubes!
     
    Matt555, Aug 28, 2005
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  11. ninja fetus

    ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta

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    you could connect some 5v christmas lights to your usb, add a transistor on the green (data) wire and write a program to make them blink to pulses :)
     
    ninja fetus, Aug 28, 2005
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  12. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    Thanks guys, wow I just assumed Newegg didn't carry sound responsive cold cathodes but guess I was wrong. So you think voice activated once would keep up with the beat? Good idea ninja, that's what I had in mind first except I wouldn't know where to start with the program:(
     
    Exfoliate, Aug 28, 2005
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  13. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

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    Most of them keep up pretty well!
    Sunbeam and Flexiglow are the only id recommend!
     
    pelvis_3, Aug 28, 2005
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  14. Willz

    Willz MiCrO$oFt $uK$ :D

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    i have a colld cathode that responds to sound using this mox with mic in it, i am sute you can just connect led's to it :p
     
    Willz, Aug 28, 2005
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  15. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    Yes, they 'keep up' very well, assuming you have the sensitivity level set properly for the sound amplitude. It's a nice affect, but the novelty quickly wears off. Good thing the good ones come with an on/off switch! BTW, Vantec and Thermaltake are both good choices.

    -AT
     
    Anti-Trend, Aug 29, 2005
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  16. Exfoliate

    Exfoliate Geek Trainee

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    Yeah I can really picture it driving my up the wall when it's blnking like crazy when two people are talking. Thanks for the heads up:)
     
    Exfoliate, Aug 30, 2005
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