Using LEDs in conjunction w/ music?

[2minutehate]

This is more of a general question but, is it at all possible to wire,
let's say, an iPod to a series of LEDs that you'd pick up at RadioShack?
Something along the lines of having the LEDs emit in response to the
music, similar to how a stereo's LED indicator will pulses in response
to what;s playing. If it is possible, how difficult (and costly) would
this endeavor be? Thank for any help you can give.

 

[Damn Dan]

"2minutehate" <solarpoweredx@yahoooo.com> wrote in message
news:solarpoweredx-25F393.01281225102004@individual.net...

This is more of a general question but, is it at all possible to wire,
let's say, an iPod to a series of LEDs that you'd pick up at RadioShack?
Something along the lines of having the LEDs emit in response to the
music, similar to how a stereo's LED indicator will pulses in response
to what;s playing. If it is possible, how difficult (and costly) would
this endeavor be? Thank for any help you can give.

Depending how complex you want to make this, it could actually be pretty
easy. Speakers work by translating voltage frequencies into sound. Those
frequencies correlate directly to the music being played. So, if you bought
a cheap set of headphones (speakers), you could cut off the ear pieces and
stick the ends of the wire into your LED circuit. The LEDs would respond to
the voltages in the headphone wire. I think the easiest way to do that is
use an op-amp that would multiply the headphone wire's voltage (which is
probably too low for the LEDs) to the operating voltage of the LEDs. You'd
have to have an external battery. A 9V would work well for 2 or 3 LEDs,
depending on the LEDs' colors.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"2minutehate" <solarpoweredx@yahoooo.com> wrote in message
news:solarpoweredx-25F393.01281225102004@individual.net...

This is more of a general question but, is it at all possible to wire,
let's say, an iPod to a series of LEDs that you'd pick up at
RadioShack?
Something along the lines of having the LEDs emit in response to the
music, similar to how a stereo's LED indicator will pulses in
response
to what;s playing. If it is possible, how difficult (and costly) would
this endeavor be? Thank for any help you can give.

Search for LED color organ. Here's one:
http://fast.horrorseek.com/home/halloween/mccarthymnr/thirdpage.html

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Damn Dan" <a@a.com> wrote in message
news:qV0fd.115196$Lo6.2783@fed1read03...

"2minutehate" <solarpoweredx@yahoooo.com> wrote in message
news:solarpoweredx-25F393.01281225102004@individual.net...
This is more of a general question but, is it at all possible to
wire,
let's say, an iPod to a series of LEDs that you'd pick up at
RadioShack?
Something along the lines of having the LEDs emit in response to the
music, similar to how a stereo's LED indicator will pulses in
response
to what;s playing. If it is possible, how difficult (and costly)
would
this endeavor be? Thank for any help you can give.

Depending how complex you want to make this, it could actually be
pretty
easy. Speakers work by translating voltage frequencies into sound.
Those
frequencies correlate directly to the music being played. So, if you
bought
a cheap set of headphones (speakers), you could cut off the ear pieces
and
stick the ends of the wire into your LED circuit. The LEDs would
respond to
the voltages in the headphone wire. I think the easiest way to do
that is
use an op-amp that would multiply the headphone wire's voltage (which
is
probably too low for the LEDs) to the operating voltage of the LEDs.
You'd
have to have an external battery. A 9V would work well for 2 or 3
LEDs,
depending on the LEDs' colors.

The headphone voltage would be too low for the LEDs, or else blast your
eardrums.

The battery should be heavier than a 9V, since LEDs will take a few
dozen milliamps, and the 9V won't last long.

One transistor will drive a string of a few LEDs, all that's needed is a
diode to rectify the audio AC and maybe filter it with a 10 uF or so
capacitor. If the volume must be turned up too loud, then another
transistor could be used to boost up the level a bit. No opamps should
be needed. Do a google search for LED color organ.