How to make your Christmas garlands sparkle with music. How to make color music on LEDs on your own? Color music from led garlands 4.5 volts

It is difficult to find a person who would not like to listen to music. To satisfy this desire, high-quality music centers, speakers and other devices are purchased. For even more fun, many people think about creating special color effects that can brighten up any sound and create a romantic atmosphere on a date or a fun mood in the process of organizing a holiday party. Color music, like music centers, can be purchased, or you can do it yourself. The best option is to make color music on LEDs according to one of the proposed schemes.

Advantages of LED products

The modern electronics market represents a wide variety of LED strips, which have a wide variety of color effects. With their help, you can create high-quality spot lighting, it is possible to make color music with flashing or blurry effects.

Unlike conventional light bulbs, LEDs are big amount positive features. Among the main advantages of LED strips are:

• wide and varied color range;
• transfer of saturated colors;
• different versions - rulers, modules, discrete elements, RGB tapes;
• high response speed;
• the minimum amount of energy consumed.

Ribbons can be used at home, in clubs and cafes, you can effectively highlight shop windows. This article will describe the option in more detail. LED color music for normal home use.

A simple scheme with one lamp

For starters, it's worth exploring a simple circuit color music. This is a device that runs on a single LED, transistor and resistor. Power for such color music can be supplied from a constant current source with a voltage of 6-12 volts. The device works on the principle of an amplifier stage with a common emitter. The impact in the form of a signal changing in frequency and amplitude enters the main base. As soon as the oscillation frequency exceeds a certain threshold value, the transistor opens and the LED immediately flashes.

This scheme has one drawback - the rate of blinking of the LED depends entirely on the level of the produced sound signal. In other words, the light effect will only be activated at a certain level of produced music center volume. With a decrease in the intensity of the sound, the glow will be constant with rare winks.

Scheme with a single-color ribbon

This color music on a transistor is assembled using an LED strip in the load. To organize such color music, you will need to increase the power supply to 12 V, find and install a transistor with a maximum collector current that exceeds the load current, and you will also need to recalculate the total resistor value. Such color music is quite simple, made on one single color led strip and is ideal for beginner radio amateurs. You can collect it without any problems at home.

Simple three-channel circuit

To get color music, devoid of all the above disadvantages, it is worth using a special three-channel sound converter. Such a scheme feeds constant voltage 9 V and is able to efficiently illuminate one or two LEDs in each channel. Among the main structural elements that characterize such a color-musical scheme, one can note:

• three independent amplifying stages, which are assembled on transistors of the category KT315 (KT3102);
• LEDs of different colors are included in the transistor load;
• for the pre-amplification element, a small step-down network transformer can be used.

The input signal is fed to the secondary winding of the transformer, which in turn performs two main functions - it decouples two devices at the galvanic level, and also amplifies the sound from the main line out. After that, the signal goes to three parallel and included filters, assembled on the basis of RC circuits. They operate on an individual frequency band, which directly depends on the value of the capacitor and resistor.

Color music with RGB tape

This set-top box operates from 12 volts and is ideal for installation on a car. Such color music optimally combines the main functions of the previously considered schemes and is able to work both in the lamp mode and in color music. The second mode is achieved through a special non-contact control of the RGB tape through a microphone. As for the lamp mode, it is based on the simultaneous start of the glow of the green, red and blue LEDs at full power. The mode can be selected by means of a special switch, which is located on a special board.

To understand how this prefix works, it is worth studying its sequence of actions. The main signal source here is a microphone that converts the vibrations of the sound coming from the phonogram. The received signal is insignificant, therefore it requires amplification. This can be achieved by using a transistor or a special operational amplifier. After that it starts automatic regulator AGC level. It effectively keeps sound fluctuations within reasonable limits and prepares it for further processing. Built-in filters divide the signal into three parts, each of which operates in one specific frequency range. In the end, you just need to amplify the previously prepared current signal. For this purpose, special transistors are used that operate in a key mode.

Acquisition of a finished CMU

If there is no desire to make color music for use at home, you can purchase a CMU, that is, a color music installation. This is a ready-made functional solution, which includes a controller. It will process the sound, converting it into a light and music visual representation. In the process of reproducing light, its intensity and color scheme will change, thereby creating the effect of a real disco. The CMU device also includes a panel with built-in diodes.

These devices can be based on a spectral decomposition by frequency, where each of them will correspond to a certain color scheme or pre-set adjustments with a variety of effects and their alternation. You can configure them using the included remote control.

Important! Modern DMUs are very easy to install and configure. This is the perfect solution for organizing a home party or disco.

Conclusion

There are a lot of schemes for independent implementation of color music settings. You can choose a fairly simple option, where the color of the RGB tape will simply change, to quite complex ones, which in the process of work will create a large number of various effects, overflows and attenuations. In direct proportion to the skills, you can choose and perform the appropriate option. It is enough to work a little and create something truly unique, it will be lighting equipment that pleases with overflows of various color shades. Also, do not forget that there is always the opportunity to buy a ready-made color music solution and fill your home with color shades and joy.

This is the simplest light music has only one element. Yes, absolutely alone and nothing but: no resistors, no transistors ... It is quite possible to assemble such a light and music installation in 30 minutes. All you need is one solid state relay.
Solid-state relays appeared on the market relatively recently and have already confidently conquered the radio electronics market. It is understandable, I will give the main advantages.

• - Performance.
• - Galvanic isolation by voltage.
• - Silent, compared to a conventional relay.
• - Zero crossing detector.

There are many more pluses, I have listed only a few.
A solid state relay, in fact, except for the name, has nothing to do with a mechanical relay, which everyone usually imagines when they hear this name for the first time. This is an ordinary triac key, with control and decoupling circuits.
This miracle is quite inexpensive and you can easily buy it on our favorite aliexpress.com

There are a lot of different versions of relays on the radio market: small and large, powerful and low-power. I took this:
First, it has screw terminals for connection. Secondly, it can switch a load with a voltage of 24-380 V and a current of up to 60 A. Of course, I took it with enumeration for other purposes. To control the garland, it is enough to take from 2 A. Thirdly, the control voltage is from 3 to 32 volts, pulsed. That's what we need, since we will control the relay directly by the sound given from the output of the low frequency amplifier.

Scheme of light music

A solid-state relay is switched on to break the circuit of a lamp or garland. And the input of the solid state relay is sound from sound column. The scheme couldn't be simpler. The main thing is not to confuse the conclusions. Now, as soon as the music starts playing in the column, the garland will immediately start flashing to the beat of the music.
We take the output from the amplifier from any channel, left or right. You can connect between outputs to make the garland flash for stereo effect. If there is a subwoofer output, you can connect to it. And you can take two garlands and two relays and connect to different channels. There are many options, pick whichever you like.

I added a park of toggle switches to the circuit, for switching. The first toggle switch in the diagram so that you can simply turn on the garland in normal mode. And the second is to turn off the influence of music on it.
Due to galvanic isolation, high mains voltage is reliably isolated and will not cross the speaker and amplifier.
I took a plastic container, placed sockets there to connect the load. I made holes for the toggle switches and connected the entire system.

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Surely you have already watched the video, where christmas garlands flashed in sync with the music. The single from one of the most watched YouTube videos of all time, PSY's "Gangnam Style", also featured an extravaganza of holiday lights. (See video below). If you want your garlands to twinkle to your favorite song, make a plan and get some equipment that will impress your friends and create a dazzling display. It will take a lot of time, garlands and tools to realize the plan, but the result will be amazing.

Steps

Decide on the size of your garland show. You can hang the whole house with garlands - both inside and outside - or choose a separate area on your house and in the front garden. Keep the following in mind as you plan your garland show:

• A strip is a section of strings that can be individually controlled. For example, a single patio branch can be a strip if you hang it with one set of garlands.
• All garlands in the strip work as a single section. Unfortunately, you cannot light a separate garland light bulb.
• Bands 32 to 64 are a great size to start with if you've never programmed string lights to match the music. Any streaks greater than these will cause you to curse the day you decided to take on the project (or the day your wife forced you to take it on).

1. Stock up. The best time to buy garlands is the day after Christmas. So, you will find garlands for the price of 20 rubles, although they cost 80 rubles. Compare prices at different department stores so as not to miscalculate. Compare prices online.

   Get a regulator. You will need hardware that connects to your computer. This control can be bought in the assembled state, in a kit or a home-made system.

   • The whole assembled system works right out of the box. It will cost approximately 700 - 800 rubles per strip. This regulator can be purchased online. Settle on this option if you don't want to mess around with any electrical work (especially soldering) or have no idea where to start.
   • The kit partly requires control through the keyboard. It costs from 500 rubles per strip, but it is almost the same as the whole control, only without the case. Since it is very easy to fit the electronic board into the case, this kit is a great option if you want to save money. Some dealers sell everything you need to assemble a regulator, including the bare circuit board and parts. If you want to solder a little, check it out.
   • The DIY system costs from 200 rubles per strip. The price depends on how much you have to do yourself. The system consists of a controller, which is adjacent to the computer, and a solid state relay (SPR), which actually lights the garlands. PPR can be bought or made by yourself. If you bought this system, you will have to take a long time to make this equipment, but you save money. You will also have the ability to fully customize your hardware and troubleshoot problems easily.

2. Ask for help. This project can be very significant and difficult, so at first you may be overwhelmed. Invite friends and family or join the forums below where they can help you.

   • Depending on the degree of difficulty, give yourself 2 to 6 months of preparation before your garland show is fully completed. It sounds terrifying, but that's how much time you'll need.

3. Install software. If you are a low tech professional, buy some software that will help you program the lights to flash. There is also free program for do-it-yourself systems (see links section). If you are ambitious and claim to be a technical master, codify this program manually in any major programming language. However, please note that you cannot use this option for pre-assembled products, since most of their protocols are closed source.

   • The software of your choice will break the song you want your strings to sync to into very short segments (.10 seconds), allowing you to program each string of lights to turn on, off, flash or twinkle. There are three commercial versions of the software.
     • Light-O-Rama is the supplier for most residential garland displays. However, it is very complicated, because to compare a minute of a song with 32-48 bands, you will have to take four whole hours.
     • Animated Lighting is much more expensive, but easier to handle. Some residential garland demos also opt for Animated Lighting.
     • D-Lights is the second least expensive option, but you will need to familiarize yourself with information about control systems and electrical engineering.
     • Hinkle's Lighting Sequencer is free software that is easy to use yet powerful in lighting bulbs, LEDs and RGB LEDs.

4. Create your own decoration. Create outdoor decorations. You need to include the following common elements:

   • Mini lights or naked garlands that extend throughout the garden area.
   • Light icicles or garlands-moons that hang from the roof.
   • Mini trees are two or three foot trees made from a tomato cage that needs to be wrapped in garlands of one or more colors. Arranged in a line or in a triangle, they are often used in animated scenery.
   • The megatree usually consists of a large pole adorned with garlands that extend from the top to a large ring around the base. Again, it is used in animated scenery.
   • Frames - metal frames, decorated with garlands. Compressed forms - plastic luminous sculptures of deer, Santa, etc. Often they are placed throughout the yard.
   • Garlands C9 - bulbous, convex and multi-colored lights, which are usually placed around the perimeter of the yard.

5. Program your show. And here you have to sweat! Select the music to which you will synchronize the twinkling of the garlands. And then start programming on the timeline. Don't take on everything at once. It will most likely take a couple of months, depending on the length of your show and the number of bands available. The show will depend on which software you choose.

6. Let them hear you. Enjoy an effect that will create a great sound that keeps everyone calm. Playing the same music over and over again on the speakers will infuriate the neighbors, so in most cases you will need to broadcast music on the FM frequency. Please see the Warnings section at the end of this article.

   • Be sure to inform the neighbors of your intentions to create an animated demonstration. It is important that you have the support of your neighbors if you want your demonstration to last long enough for other people to see it.
   • Run one show at the top of every hour, as well as once or twice a night. If the neighbors find out that the show is only three minutes long and will air at 8 or 9 p.m., they will be more understanding than if you run it from 6 to 9.