Sound reactive lights

[thebucketmouse]

Any ideas on how I could make some sound-reactive light bulbs, like those on DDR machines?

[Hoopz]

You want to MAKE them?  Or do you want to USE them?

[thebucketmouse]

I need to know where I can get them. Not the bulbs, the sound-reactive part.

[Q*Bert_OP]

how bout some sound active disco lights?

PM me...

[quarterback]

When I was a kid in the 70s we used to have this wooden box that had a bumpy/textured plastic diffuser on the front and colored lights on the inside that would glow and flash with music.   Because of the pattern on the plastic, the little lights would appear as diamond shaped overlapping glows on the front.

I haven't thought of that in years, but it must have only had about 50-cents worth of electronics in it.  Anybody got a DIY link to make something like that?

[PetitMorte]

I had to repair a couple of those, quarterback, and inside them they just had christmas lights... the big bulbed ones from the 70s, but that was about it.  and a PCB.

[tristan]

Most of the cold cathode kits for PCs now come with a sound activation feature:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16800701306

[quarterback]

I had to repair a couple of those, quarterback, and inside them they just had christmas lights... the big bulbed ones from the 70s, but that was about it.

[Ayrk]

My dad used to make those boxes. I still have one.

He made a 5 sided cube and cut multiple slots (one for each decreasing panel size). I believe he used posterboard for the panels and just stapled christmas lights alont the outsides in a decreasing spiral. On the front he cut thin wood in the shape. Plug it in, let it warm up and watch it blink. Play any music near it and it seems like it is moving to music.

Groovy.

Let me know if you need more information.

[daywane]

check the screen savers arcives.
there was a short segment on there once were they had lights blinking to music

[Mr. Bubblehead]

When I was a kid in the 70s we used to have this wooden box that had a bumpy/textured plastic diffuser on the front and colored lights on the inside that would glow and flash with music.   Because of the pattern on the plastic, the little lights would appear as diamond shaped overlapping glows on the front.

I've got one of those 70's console stereos that has that on the front.  I will be using it in a jukebox I am building.  The translucent panel is the same as what is used over ceiling flourescent lights; they can be purchased at home improvement stores for cheap.  The lights are just large colored outdoor Christmas bulbs.  As for the controller that syncs them with with music you could try hacking one of those kits from an electronic/hobby store.

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=131684

[quarterback]

My dad used to make those boxes. I still have one.

He made a 5 sided cube and cut multiple slots (one for each decreasing panel size).

I'm not sure I'm picturing this correctly.  Did each panel have a hole in the center (to reveal the panels below it)?  Or were the panels side by side?

Play any music near it and it seems like it is moving to music.

Yeah, these were actually sound reactive,  they would pulse and there was a sensitivity dial on the side.

I've got one of those 70's console stereos that has that on the front. I will be using it in a jukebox I am building.

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=131684

I just can't beleive how expensive these light organs are.  I may have to go thrift-store shopping to see if I can just find an original one from the 70s.  Paying even $20 for a kit is too much for me.

I (and perhaps the OP) should just buy some of those cheap car cold cathode tubes that are sound reactive and tear them apart.  I know I've seen them on sale for like $5 or $10.

Thanks for all the replies (and sorry about the hijack, OP )

[PileDriver]

The translucent panel is the same as what is used over ceiling flourescent lights; they can be purchased at home improvement stores for cheap.

I just ripped the one I had from the kitchen ceiling and it doesn't do the starburst effect that I remember. Any suggestions for a lens that will create that effect? Starburst that is.

[jhanson]

When I was a kid in the 70s we used to have this wooden box that had a bumpy/textured plastic diffuser on the front and colored lights on the inside that would glow and flash with music.   Because of the pattern on the plastic, the little lights would appear as diamond shaped overlapping glows on the front.

I've got one of those things around here somewhere.  I had no idea they were mass produced.  I thought someone had made it in shop class or something!

[koolmoecraig]

I mounted sound activated cold cathodes underneath the front and side of my Q*bert cab. I also put a couple on the back that flash against the wall during gameplay.

The ones mounted underneath make the machine look like it is hovering when they are left on without sound activation.

Pretty cool effect if I may say so myself

[quarterback]

When I was a kid in the 70s we used to have this wooden box that had a bumpy/textured plastic diffuser on the front and colored lights on the inside that would glow and flash with music.