Visible metronome for Groups.

On 19 Feb, 17:58, "Bob Monsen" <rcmon...@gmail.com> wrote:
"Somebody" <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message

news:80346475-a723-4420-82fa-06b8f755aa37@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

Thanks.

(Sorry - complete electronics ignoramus but worth a try none the less.)

Can you build circuits? Here is what you will need:

100k trimmer/potentiometer
A plug input
3 100k ohm resistors
1 470 ohm resistor
1 NPN transistor (2N2222 or 2N3904 will work. TO-92 case is fine)
1 LMC555N timer chip
1 0.1uF Capacitor
1 High Brightness white LED
1 5V regulated plug adapter (wall wart), or 3 AA batteries

Connect them together like the following diagram:

(view in monospace font, like courier)

5V --o---------------------o--------o---------------------o--.
| | | .---------------. | |
| .-. | | | | .-.
| | | .--)--o 1 GND Vcc 8 o--' | | 100k
| 100k | | | | | | | |
| Input '-' | | | | '-'
|From Drum Machine o-----)--)--o 2 Trig Dis 7 o--. |
.-. / \ ___ |/ | | | | | |
100k | |<---(- +)--|___|--|NPN | | | | | |
| | \_/ 100k |> .--)--)--o 3 OUT Thrs 6 o--o--o
'-' | | | | | | |
Sensitivity | | | | | | |
| | | | '--o 4 Rst CV 5 | --- 0.1uF
| | | | | | --- Capacitor
| | | | '---------------' |
| | | | LMC555N |
| | | | |
GND --o----------o----------o--)--o---------------------------'
| |
| V -> LED Out
| -
| ___ |
'----|___|----'
470
(created by AACircuit v1.28.6 beta 04/19/05www.tech-chat.de)

Plug in your drum machine, and adjust the sensitivity of the trimmer so that
it lights up when the drum machine thumps.

I have not built this circuit, but I simulated it using LTSpice, and it
appears to work for inputs down to about 300mV.

The LED will have about 9mA through it with the resistor shown. To go
brighter, use a smaller resistor (down to about 220 ohms min)

Note that the NPN transistor has the base connected to the input, the
collector connected to the trig input, and the emitter connected to the
ground. The package will generally say which leads are which, so you can
connect them up properly.

Have fun.

Regards,
Bob Monsen
Blimey! Thanks Bob, that's fantastic. With a little help from a friend
with a bit more electrical know-how, I think we may give this a go.

Thanks again.

Steve.
 
Somebody wrote:
On 19 Feb, 12:05, Somebody <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

On 19 Feb, 00:09, David Harmon <sou...@netcom.com> wrote:


On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:59:21 -0800 (PST) in sci.electronics.basics,
Somebody <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort?

Does the user manual tell you anything about what kind of signal you
get from that jack? Or, what do they normally suggest connecting to
it? I guess a module sold as a "solid state relay" might do just
what you want, depending on what that signal is.

Sadly I no longer have the user manual. But it's a simple headphone
jack like on mp3 players walkmans etc. Can the type of signal vary? I
know it's not a 'line out' because it has the headphone symbol just
above the hole.



A friend of mine (an electrician not an electronics expert) suggested
a PNP or NPN transistor. He used one when he was younger to make his
fishing alarm louder using the original current from the alarm to
switch on a much louder buzzer/battery circuit. Do you think this
could be viable with the signal from a headphone socket?
Yes, absolutely - but you indicated that you have no
knowlege of electronics so it's questionable if you can
build the circuit to use the headphone output to
flash a light (or lights). It seemed you needed an existing
commercial solution.

If you have sufficient interest and perseverence, you can
learn to build a circuit that will do the job.

Ed

Tomorrow I'll
see if I can get a measurement from a jack lead plugged into the
metronome with his ammeter.
 
"Somebody" <stevegregson@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:80346475-a723-4420-82fa-06b8f755aa37@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

Thanks.

(Sorry - complete electronics ignoramus but worth a try none the less.)

Can you build circuits? Here is what you will need:

100k trimmer/potentiometer
A plug input
3 100k ohm resistors
1 470 ohm resistor
1 NPN transistor (2N2222 or 2N3904 will work. TO-92 case is fine)
1 LMC555N timer chip
1 0.1uF Capacitor
1 High Brightness white LED
1 5V regulated plug adapter (wall wart), or 3 AA batteries

Connect them together like the following diagram:

(view in monospace font, like courier)

5V --o---------------------o--------o---------------------o--.
| | | .---------------. | |
| .-. | | | | .-.
| | | .--)--o 1 GND Vcc 8 o--' | | 100k
| 100k | | | | | | | |
| Input '-' | | | | '-'
|From Drum Machine o-----)--)--o 2 Trig Dis 7 o--. |
.-. / \ ___ |/ | | | | | |
100k | |<---(- +)--|___|--|NPN | | | | | |
| | \_/ 100k |> .--)--)--o 3 OUT Thrs 6 o--o--o
'-' | | | | | | |
Sensitivity | | | | | | |
| | | | '--o 4 Rst CV 5 | --- 0.1uF
| | | | | | --- Capacitor
| | | | '---------------' |
| | | | LMC555N |
| | | | |
GND --o----------o----------o--)--o---------------------------'
| |
| V -> LED Out
| -
| ___ |
'----|___|----'
470
(created by AACircuit v1.28.6 beta 04/19/05 www.tech-chat.de)

Plug in your drum machine, and adjust the sensitivity of the trimmer so that
it lights up when the drum machine thumps.

I have not built this circuit, but I simulated it using LTSpice, and it
appears to work for inputs down to about 300mV.

The LED will have about 9mA through it with the resistor shown. To go
brighter, use a smaller resistor (down to about 220 ohms min)

Note that the NPN transistor has the base connected to the input, the
collector connected to the trig input, and the emitter connected to the
ground. The package will generally say which leads are which, so you can
connect them up properly.

Have fun.

Regards,
Bob Monsen
 
On 19 Feb, 12:05, Somebody <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
On 19 Feb, 00:09, David Harmon <sou...@netcom.com> wrote:

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:59:21 -0800 (PST) in sci.electronics.basics,
Somebody <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort?

Does the user manual tell you anything about what kind of signal you
get from that jack? Or, what do they normally suggest connecting to
it? I guess a module sold as a "solid state relay" might do just
what you want, depending on what that signal is.

Sadly I no longer have the user manual. But it's a simple headphone
jack like on mp3 players walkmans etc. Can the type of signal vary? I
know it's not a 'line out' because it has the headphone symbol just
above the hole.

A friend of mine (an electrician not an electronics expert) suggested
a PNP or NPN transistor. He used one when he was younger to make his
fishing alarm louder using the original current from the alarm to
switch on a much louder buzzer/battery circuit. Do you think this
could be viable with the signal from a headphone socket? Tomorrow I'll
see if I can get a measurement from a jack lead plugged into the
metronome with his ammeter.
 
On 19 Feb, 00:09, David Harmon <sou...@netcom.com> wrote:
On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:59:21 -0800 (PST) in sci.electronics.basics,
Somebody <stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort?

Does the user manual tell you anything about what kind of signal you
get from that jack? Or, what do they normally suggest connecting to
it? I guess a module sold as a "solid state relay" might do just
what you want, depending on what that signal is.
Sadly I no longer have the user manual. But it's a simple headphone
jack like on mp3 players walkmans etc. Can the type of signal vary? I
know it's not a 'line out' because it has the headphone symbol just
above the hole.
 
On 18 Feb, 19:40, et...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Black) wrote:
Somebody (stevegreg...@hotmail.co.uk) writes:
Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

But isn't the drum supposed to keep the beat, in which case you
ought to have a good drummer that is the one for the rest to follow.

Or get a drum machine, and have it keep the beat.

I can't help but wonder if a visual signal will be an issue. It's
easier to copy morse code when it's sent as sound than as a light,
and that makes me think there may be a lag for drummers trying to follow
a visual beat.

So if a good drummer or drum machine doesn't work, run a metronome
to an audio amplifier, and then feed that to a single headphone for
each of the drummers. They will hear the "standard beat" but still
be able to hear the sounds around them.

Michael
The problem here is that there are 30+ of us all playing drums
(surdo's, snares, repiniques etc). So an audio signal would be
logistically very difficult given the amount of head phones cables and
getting round our hearing protection. You're right about the sound
versus light thing. It's much harder to feel the pulse visually, but
many digital metronomes these days have a sound off function with
LED's that flash in sequence. Sadly not bright enough. We often do, as
you suggested, have one particular drummer who plays a very simple
ostinato pattern and concentrates on keeping time, but as the majority
of people in the group are amateurs (community project) it's not
always very accurate. So I'm hoping that some kind of visual aid
during rehersals will help to at least strengthen our abilites to spot
the common places where we are likely to speed up or slow down.
 
On 18 Feb, 17:56, JeffM <jef...@email.com> wrote:
Does anyone on this group know of a device
which I could plug into the jack plug of a digital metronome
that could be used to control a light of some sort?
I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome
for our community percussion project.

Always investigate the *buy* route first.
Your first move should have been
using one of Google's numerous specialized search engines:http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:BNRWhS8EKYAJ:www.google.com/help...

*Product Search*http://froogle.google.com/products?scoring=p&price=between&price1=8&q...

I have quite a few metronomes,
all which generate a signal for head phones.

This appears to meet your spec:http://allphasevideosecurity.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/media/RLC-737...

Scroll down ~80%http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:vyd4deGVyHQJ:allphasevideosecuri...
I don't see a spec for its lower limit for standalone flashing speed,
but it may even do the job unassisted.
In contrast to Chris's suggestion, this can use standard incandescents
and you can place numerous indicators in various lines of sight.

More vendors:http://www.google.com/images?q=RLC-737
Thanks chaps,

Good suggestions. I should have mentioned that we've tried to use a
strobe light before. The problem is twofold really. Firstly the
comfort factor - it's a little disorientating having the room lit up
so brightly, and secondly many of our pieces have parts which speed up
which is why I wanted to use it with my metronome so I can control
changes in tempo accurately.
 
On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:59:21 -0800 (PST) in sci.electronics.basics,
Somebody <stevegregson@hotmail.co.uk> wrote,
Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort?
Does the user manual tell you anything about what kind of signal you
get from that jack? Or, what do they normally suggest connecting to
it? I guess a module sold as a "solid state relay" might do just
what you want, depending on what that signal is.
 
Somebody (stevegregson@hotmail.co.uk) writes:
Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

But isn't the drum supposed to keep the beat, in which case you
ought to have a good drummer that is the one for the rest to follow.

Or get a drum machine, and have it keep the beat.

I can't help but wonder if a visual signal will be an issue. It's
easier to copy morse code when it's sent as sound than as a light,
and that makes me think there may be a lag for drummers trying to follow
a visual beat.

So if a good drummer or drum machine doesn't work, run a metronome
to an audio amplifier, and then feed that to a single headphone for
each of the drummers. They will hear the "standard beat" but still
be able to hear the sounds around them.

Michael
 
Does anyone on this group know of a device
which I could plug into the jack plug of a digital metronome
that could be used to control a light of some sort?
I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome
for our community percussion project.

Always investigate the *buy* route first.
Your first move should have been
using one of Google's numerous specialized search engines:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:BNRWhS8EKYAJ:www.google.com/help/features.html+Definitions+Translation+Product.Search+Maps+du+news.stories+find.a.product.for.sale.online

*Product Search*
http://froogle.google.com/products?scoring=p&price=between&price1=8&q=flash+light+variable-speed

I have quite a few metronomes,
all which generate a signal for head phones.

This appears to meet your spec:
http://allphasevideosecurity.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/media/RLC-737.jpg

Scroll down ~80%
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:vyd4deGVyHQJ:allphasevideosecurity.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page2.html+Speed+Flash+Sound.Sensitivity.Control+Standard.Bulbs+Page+1,200W+Rope.Light.Controller
I don't see a spec for its lower limit for standalone flashing speed,
but it may even do the job unassisted.
In contrast to Chris's suggestion, this can use standard incandescents
and you can place numerous indicators in various lines of sight.

More vendors:
http://www.google.com/images?q=RLC-737
 
Somebody wrote:
Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

Thanks.

(Sorry - complete electronics ignoramus but worth a try none the less.)

Why not just search for a strobe light. They often have the ability to
vary the frequency of flash over a wide range, not need to use an
existing metronome as the signal source.

found this in 2 min on google...

http://www.epartyunlimited.com/75w-round-strobe-light.html








--
Chris W
KE5GIX

"Protect your digital freedom and privacy, eliminate DRM,
learn more at http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm"

Ham Radio Repeater Database.
http://hrrdb.com
 
S

Somebody

Guest
Hi,

Does anyone on this group know of a device which I could plug into the
jack plug of a digital metronome that could be used to control a light
of some sort? I want to attempt constructing a visible metronome for
our community percussion project. Sadly we're so loud there's no
chance of us being able to hear any sort of click track and I can't
seem to find anything suitable on the market. I have quite a few
metronomes, all which generate a signal for head phones. How hard
would it be to use that signal to make a large bulb flash?

Thanks.

(Sorry - complete electronics ignoramus but worth a try none the less.)
 

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