LED sound meter

M

m.fecho(no spam 20 years ago

Hello

I am a musician and I am trying to build a sound meter with a large LED readout. I will try not to be long winded on describing this one.

I would like a simple LED about a foot long, tri color Red green blue. with the unit acting as a sound meter light as you would find on your stereo or a mixing console , only a larger version that would be easily seen across a large room.

I have seen such a light at this website

formatting link

I don't know if this light completely lights or chases up from one end.

I would like to have the light to have its own sound controler and power supply, batteries preferably but plug in would work.

this unit could be callibrated to a sound meter or could have an integrated sound meter , working levels of the unit would be about 70 db to 105 db.

TI am a musician in a small band without a dedicated sound tech and throughout the night as we are performing our volume may increase , I am thinking that the above unit would help us keep this in check and be able to monitor our sound level throughout the night, we usually do a sound check before the performance.

If anyone has seen such a unit or know of a LED unit with the soundcontroler please let me know.

I have seen a DJ with a LED unit complete with sound controler, I looked for a model number on it but all I could find was

formatting link

He bought it about 2 years ago and I cannot find the integrated unit on their website .

If anyone is interested in taking a stab at building a unit such as this please let me know.

Thanks for any help

M Fecho

Vote

R

Rich Grise 20 years ago

Well, figuring out what you want would be the logical first step here. Are you looking for essentially an illuminated VU meter, kind of like a "gas gauge" for your volume? Or are you looking for something like a color organ?

A bar graph display is almost trivial, to a competent tech, but since we know nothing about your electronic/soldering skills, it's hard to make a recommdation. One thing that springs to mind is the LM3914/15/16

formatting link

which will give you the gas-gauge effect; what you'd have to do is add some drivers for your bigger display.

Good Luck! Rich

Vote

T

tom 20 years ago

hi if you produce electronic boxes y may need gas springs for the doors.

there is a supplier:

formatting link

he is in germany but supplies world wide

tom

Vote

M

m.fecho(no spam 20 years ago

Good example as you put it is the gas gauge effect for volume. we would like to be able to see how are volume is progressing through the night, we know the volume will increase even if we do not touch a volume knob , this is done because of song selection, slower mellower songs in the first part of the evening and building up to more uptempo songs where the performers are exerting themselves more during the later part of the evening. thus I would like to use this gas gauge type meter to see if it is even worth turning volume knobs down if needed.

I have done a little soldering but honestly I would have to say I am not very competent in the soldering dept.

looking at the PDF on the unit you suggested it looks well over my head.

If it is a small project I would be interested in hireing someone to build this unit for me.

Thanks Mark

Vote

R

Rich Grise 20 years ago

to be able to see

increase even if we do

mellower songs in the

performers are

like to use this

needed.

competent in the

this unit for me.

Your best bet in that case would probably to look and see if you have a ham radio club in your area,

formatting link

Or ask around at the repair departments of local stores that carry electronics and stuff.

If I had a properly equipped shop, and you were just down the street, I could do it for just a few hundred bucks, plus parts; but since I don't, and you aren't, I'd say, just keep asking around. Sorry. )-;

Good Luck! Rich

Vote

LED sound meter

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?