Need suggestions for lights that go to music

[Shieldwolf]

I thought about using my FX machine or elwire, but I think I would rather use some LEDS or lights that light up different colors to the beat of music for my ddr games. Anybody know how I could go about doing this?

[Valence]

Last week I was in a comp store and saw these lights that plug into the usb port. These lights pulse to music that is played. I only gave them a passing glance. I'm not sure if there is software installed or if they are just PNP. They are supposed to be taped to the sides of your monitor. They we about 2 1/2" tall and about 1/2" wide. They also had three colors. red/blue/purple.  I'm not sure if there was multiple lights incased in it or not. Nor do I know if they change intensity. The store that has them (Altex computers) has a web site but they are not listed. I also did a quick google and couldn't find them either. They cost 14.99 at altex. Sorry I couldn't be more help but you could use these, If you can find them.

[tmasman]

Here they are!!!
They look pretty cool... Not sure how bright they'd be though...

[ErikRuud]

The generic term is "Color Organ".  If you do a google search you will find many sites that sell them or kits to build them.  You can also find schematics to build your own.

[Brad Lee]

Wow.. those USB lights are a great concept

I wonder if they're using the USB merely to power it, or if it gets any kinda info that'd trigger the flash, such as rec levels or freqs(low or high)?

I'd thought about something like this before. Cold CAthode lights (google for "CCFL mod") are the same thing- basically a flourescent tube riggered to a sensor to vary the intensity.
I thought about getting 2(or more) and putting one in the marquee area where it'd get triggered by the 2 speakers, and one under the CP with the sensor near or on the subwoofer- This way they'd light to whatever's going on, and maybe even independent of each other. How cool would that be?
Previously everything Id seen either needed to be manually wired to one of your power supply leads, or had it's own pwer supply transformer "brick", or needed an inverter for power; nothing as simple as a selfcontained USB device

[Snarbald]

The usb just powers it. There's a little box that has a button to select what mode its in and something in the box senses vibrations or something to make them pulse along with music.

I'm going to use one to light my coin door.