Disco Frame

I moved to NYC 4 months ago, but I was still looking for special items to decorate my apartment. So I came up with the idea of a frame that change colors according to the volume of the music, and it fits perfect in my bar kitchen table.

Also an ideal option for partying, having dinner with friends or just playing music at home.

Instructables link:

https://www.instructables.com/Disco-Frame-That-Beats-According-to-the-Volume-of-/

Materials:

The process

  1. Building the circuit and the code:

For this digital circuit, I used a potentiometer to simulate the behavior of a microphone, but it can be replaced by a microphone without problem.

The code:

*/
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
// These constants won't change. They're used to give names to the pins used:
const int analogInPin = A0;  // Analog input pin that the potentiometer is attached to
const int analogOutPin = 9; // Analog output pin that the LED is attached to
// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1:
#define LED_PIN    6

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define LED_COUNT 200

// Declare our NeoPixel strip object:
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
// Argument 1 = Number of pixels in NeoPixel strip
// Argument 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Argument 3 = Pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
//   NEO_RGBW    Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)

int sensorValue = 0;        // value read from the pot
int outputValue = 0;        // value output to the PWM (analog out)

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communications at 9600 bps:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  strip.begin();           // INITIALIZE NeoPixel strip object (REQUIRED)
  strip.show();            // Turn OFF all pixels ASAP
  strip.setBrightness(50); // Set BRIGHTNESS to about 1/5 (max = 255)
}

void loop() {
  // read the analog in value:
  sensorValue = analogRead(analogInPin);
  // map it to the range of the analog out:
  outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
  
  if(outputValue >=230)
  {
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue, outputValue, outputValue), 100); // White, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=215)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue,120,0), 50); // yellow, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=200)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue,outputValue+130,outputValue-60), 50); // Pink, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=190)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue, 255, 0), 50); // White, half brightness
  }

else if (outputValue >=170)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue,150 , 200), 50); // Blue, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=160)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(30,80,outputValue+60), 50); // blue, half brightness
  }
else if (outputValue >=145)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue-40,outputValue+130,outputValue-60), 50); // pink, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=130)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(outputValue,50,0), 50); // Orange, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=115)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(200,0,0), 50); // Red, half brightness
  }
  else if (outputValue >=80)
{
theaterChase(strip.Color(140,200,30), 50); // Green, half brightness
  }
else {

  AudioReact();
 
}
  // change the analog out value:
  analogWrite(analogOutPin, outputValue);
  // print the results to the Serial Monitor:
  Serial.print("sensor = ");
  Serial.print(sensorValue);
  Serial.print("\t output = ");
  Serial.println(outputValue);

  // wait 2 milliseconds before the next loop for the analog-to-digital
  // converter to settle after the last reading:
  delay(2);
}

void AudioReact() {
  // read the analog in value:
  sensorValue = analogRead(analogInPin);
  // map it to the range of the analog out:
  outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
  for(int i=0; i<50; i++) { // For each pixel in strip...
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(255,   outputValue,   outputValue*2));         //  Set pixel's color (in RAM) 
  }
    strip.show();                          //  Update strip to match
    delay(50);                           //  Pause for a moment

   for(int i=50; i<100; i++) { // For each pixel in strip...
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(255,   outputValue,   outputValue));         //  Set pixel's color (in RAM) 
  }
  for(int i=100; i<150; i++) { // For each pixel in strip...
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(outputValue,  outputValue,   255));         //  Set pixel's color (in RAM) 
  }
  for(int i=150; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) { // For each pixel in strip...
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(outputValue+55,  255,   outputValue+30));         //  Set pixel's color (in RAM) 
  }
    strip.show();                          //  Update strip to match
    delay(1000);                           //  Pause for a moment
}

// Theater-marquee-style chasing lights. Pass in a color (32-bit value,
// a la strip.Color(r,g,b) as mentioned above), and a delay time (in ms)
// between frames.
void theaterChase(uint32_t color, int wait) {
  for(int a=0; a<10; a++) {  // Repeat 10 times...
    for(int b=0; b<3; b++) { //  'b' counts from 0 to 2...
      strip.clear();         //   Set all pixels in RAM to 0 (off)
      // 'c' counts up from 'b' to end of strip in steps of 3...
      for(int c=b; c<strip.numPixels(); c += 3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(c, color); // Set pixel 'c' to value 'color'
      }
      strip.show(); // Update strip with new contents
      delay(wait);  // Pause for a moment
    }
  }
}

2. Assembling the frame and LEDs

3. Playing music

Challenges

My microphone suddenly stopped working. So, I tested my code using a potentiometer while searching for another mic.

In addition, sticking the lights to the Bristol board was so challenging. I tried double contact tape, silicone glue, silicone glue and double contact tape, silicone and duck tape. Any of them worked.

I ended up using epoxy glue and duck tape as a clamp mount.

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